Kumbhalgarh Fort

Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second most important fort of Rajasthan after Chittorgarh. Located at a distance of 64 kms from Udaipur in Rajasmand district, Kumbhalgarh Fort is easily accessible from the city of Udaipur. This unconquerable fortress is secured under the kind protection of the Aravali ranges. Kumbhalgarh Fort was built by Maharana Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. The fort derived its name from the same factor.

Encircled by thirteen elevated mountain peaks, the fort is constructed on the top most ridges around 1,914 meters above sea level. The fortifications of the fort extend to the length of 36 kilometers and this fact has made this fort to be in the international records. It is stated to be the second longest wall in the world, the first being ''the Great Wall of China''. The huge complex of the Fort has numerous palaces, temples and gardens making it more magnificent.

On your way to Kumbhalgarh fort, a few kilometers before, you will find yourself on a zigzag road going through deep ravines and thick forests. This way would take you to the Arait Pol, where you can trace the watch-tower and then Hulla Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ram Pol, Bhairava Pol, Paghra Pol, Top-khana Pol and Nimboo Pol will come across your track.

The impregnable Fort boasts of seven massive gates, seven ramparts folded with one another with designed walls toughened by curved bastions and huge watch towers. The strong structure and solid foundation of the Fort made it unbeatable till date. The hefty walls of the fort are broad enough to stand eight horses side by side. There are not less than 360 temples inside the complex of the Fort. Amongst all of them, Shiva Temple is worth visiting that comprises a huge Shivalinga (Phallic form).

The Fort is also known for its famous palace that resides on the top of structure. This beautiful palace is known as 'Badal Mahal' or the Palace of Cloud. It is also accredited to be the birth place of great warrior Maharana Pratap. This palace has beautiful rooms with lovely color combination of green, turquoise and white presenting a bright contrast to the earthy colors of the Fort. This place gives the appearance of being wandering in the world of clouds. Cloud Palace also offers a fantastic panoramic vista of the down town.

In the late 19th century, Rana Fateh Singh once again took the initiative to rebuild this remarkable palace. In the times of dissension, the fort also offered refuge to the rulers of Mewar. Even, the baby king Udai Singh was kept here safe during the time of battles. The large complex of the Fort offers ancient remnants to explore and one can spend a pleasurable evening while strolling through the ravines of Kumbhalgarh Fort.

History
Kumbhalgarh is named after Mewar king Rana Kumbha, who built it from 1443 to 1458. During his reign, the king focused on fort planning and architecture. He and his architect, Mandan, are acclaimed for experimenting with and perfecting medieval Rajput fort design, adding many new innovations. Apparently, Rana Kumbha constructed or restored 32 forts — quite an achievement! This included strengthening the walls of Chittorgarh Fort.

It's said that site of Kumbhalgarh Fort was originally settled by a Jain prince, Samprati, in the 2nd century BC. Its isolated and concealed position, atop a lofty hill surrounded by concentric hills and valleys, gave it a commanding view and strategic importance. Previous Mewar rulers were familiar with the site's potential. However, it was Rana Kumbha who harnessed it and meticulously developed it, by taking advantage of the terrain's natural contours. What's particularly ingeniousness about the fort's colossal wall is that it follows the contours instead of a straight path.

The wall snakes for an astonishing 36 kilometers (22 miles) over 13 hills. Making such an extensive protective boundary around a fort hadn't been done before. What also sets Kumbhalgarh apart from many other forts in India is that it was conceived and constructed in a single phase.

Unfortunately, Rana Kumbha was killed by his son Udai Singh I in 1468, not long after Kumbhalgarh was built. The fort lost its glory for many decades after that but was revived to play a key role in the Mewar kingdom's history. After Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat besieged Chittorgarh Fort in 1535, the heir to the throne, Udai Singh II, was sent to Kumbhalgarh for safety. He was coronated inside the fort in 1540 and his son, heroic king and warrior Maharana Pratap (great great grandson of Rana Kumbha), was born there the same year.

Udai Singh II went on to found Udaipur, before dying in 1572. Maharana Pratap spent much of his reign at war with powerful Mughal Emperor Akbar. Unlike neighboring Rajput rulers, he refused to give in to the Mughals. This resulted in the horrific battle of Haldi Ghati in 1576. Although the Mughals won, Maharana Pratap managed to escape.

The Mughals continued to try and capture Kumbhalgarh but failed. To gain access, they had to resort to poisoning its water supply, in 1579. This enabled them to occupy the fort for a few years, until Maharana Pratap recovered it in the 1582 Battle of Dewair near Haldi Ghati. The Mewar king's victory was overturned in the 17th century though, when Rana Amar Singh I (Manarana Pratap's son) reluctantly gave up the fight and surrendered to Mughal Emperor Jehangir in 1615. Kumbhalgarh's importance waned from then on.

Violent invasion of Marathas, from present-day Maharashtra, became the main threat in the 18th century after the decline of the Mughals. It wasn't until the early 19th century that the fort was finally returned to the Mewar kings, when Maharana Bhim Singh signed an alliance treaty with the British East India Company in 1818.
During his reign from 1884 to 1930, Maharana Fateh Singh carried out restoration works at Kumbhalgarh. The visionary king was an avid builder. He added the Badal Mahal at the fort's highest point (he constructed the magnificent Shiv Niwas Palace Hotel, which is part of the City Palace complex in Udaipur, too).