Kumbalgarh
Travel Guide
Its location had always been Kumbhalgarh's greatest
advantage. Because it was virtually inaccessible in the 15th century, Rana Kumbha
of Mewar built this great defensive fortress on a 3,500 feet (1,100 meters) high
hill overlooking the approaches from Ajmer and Marwar. Today, precisely because
it is within easy reach of Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, and Pushkar - yet off the
well trodden tourist routes - Kumbhalgarh is an attractive destination.
In
Kumbha's time the kingdom of Mewar spread from Ranthambore to Gwalior, including
vast tracts of present-day Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Mewar's rulers became
patrons of all that was best in Indian martial and fine arts, architecture, and
learning. Of the 84 fortresses defending Mewar, 32 were designed and built by
Rana Kumbha. Of these, Kumbhalgarh with its 36-kilometer long wall and soaring
towers is the most impressive. Kumbhalgarh stands on the site of an ancient citadel
dating back to the second century AD belonging to a Jain descendant of India's
Mauryan emperors.
It defined the boundaries between Mewar and Marwar and
became a refuge for Mewar's rulers in times of strife. Its steel gray ramparts
encircle
the fertile Shero Mallah Valley, with ancient monuments cenotaphs, ponds
and flourishing farms. Kumbhalgarh fell only once in its history, to the combined
forces of Emperor Akbar, Raja Man Singh of Amber, and Raja Udai Singh of Amber,
and Raja Udai Singh of Marwar.
Places to SeeBadal
Mahal The exterior walls of the fort cover an area of several square miles.
The rows of the inner bastion rise to the summit to be crowned by the Badal Mahal
or the Cloud Palace of the Ranas built by Rana Fateh Singh in the late 19th century.
This palace has several apartments furnished in pastel colours in the 19th century
style. The views from the Badal Mahal across the deserts of Marwar are simply
fabulous. Long serpentine lines of the fort walls with loopholed and crenellated
parapets seem to disappear in the surrounding jungles and ravines.
Mandalgarh
Fort It is yet another fort built by Kumbha. The fort is a vast area
of ruins without much human population. The lake and the town lie below the ramparts.
Achalgrah
FortThis Fort near Mount Abu was also built by Kumbha for the defence
of Mewar. This great ruler is credited with nearly 32 forts in Mewar.
Haldighati
It is the scene of the famous battle of 1576 fought between Rana Pratap,
the heroic son of King Udai Singh, and the massive forces of the Mughal Emperor
Akbar. A beautiful chhatri or canopy with white marble columns dedicated to Rana
Pratap stands here.
Kumbhalgarh Fort Located 64 kms north of
Udaipur in the wilderness, Kumbhalgarh is the second most important citadel after
Chittorgarh in the Mewar region. Cradled in the Aravali Ranges the fort was built
in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha. Because of its inaccessibility and hostile
topography the fort had remained un-conquered. It also served the rulers of Mewar
as a refuge in times of strife. The fort also served as refuge to the baby king
Udai of Mewar. It is also of sentimental significance as it is the birthplace
of Mewar's legendary King Maharana Partap. The fort is self-contained and has
within its amalgam almost everything to withstand a long siege. The fort fell
only once that too to the combined armies of Mughal and of Amber for scarcity
of drinking water. Many magnificent palaces an array of temples built by the Mauryas
of which the most picturesque place is the Badal Mahal or the palace of the clouds.
The fort also offers a superb birds view of the surroundings. The fort's thick
wall stretches some 36 kms and is wide enough to take eight horses abreast. Maharana
Fateh Singh renovated the fort in the 19th century. The fort's large compound
has very interesting ruins and the walk around it can be very rewarding.
Mamadev
KundMammadev temple and the kund were again built by Rana Kumbha in the
year 1460. The temple stands exactly below the fort and once had four large slabs
with several inscriptions on them. The writings gave the history of Mewar from
the time of Guhil, the founder of Mewar dynasty, till Rana Kumbha, a great builder
of forts and temples. The slabs are now preserved in the museum at Udaipur. The
temple houses an image of Kuber (God of Wealth) and also has two chhatris (cenotaphs)
in memory of Rana Kumbha and the famous warrior Prithviraj Chauhana. Very near
the temple is a large kund or reservoir close to which is the chhatri cenotaph)
of Prithvi Rajthe knight-errant of Mewar.
Ranakpur Temple The
Ranakpur Jain Temple was built during the reign of the liberal and gifted Rajput
monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. The basement is of 48,000 sq. feet area
that covers the whole complex. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty-four
pillared halls and domes supported by over four hundred columns. The total number
of columns is 1,444 all of which are intricately carved with no two being alike.
The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at
a height of 45 feet are an interesting sight. In the assembly hall, there are
two big bells weighing 108 kg whose sound echoes in the entire complex. The main
temple is a Chaumukh or a four-faced temple dedicated to Adinath. The three other
Jain temples in the same complex, including a temple of the Sun God, are all well
worth a visit. One kilometer away from the temple complex is the temple of Amba
Mata.
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary It is also a place worth
a visit. A rich variety of wildlife like the panther, sloth bear, wild boar, four-horned
antelope, and scientifically bred crocodiles in the lake within the sanctuary
are the major attractions of this sanctuary. During winters, the sanctuary becomes
home to birds like flamingoes, cormorants, spoonbills and egrets, which stay there
through the winter months and fly back once summer arrives.
Kali Temple
East of the Royal Chatris is a temple dedicated to Goddess Kali.
