Kumbhalgarh Fort – Second Longest Wall In The World

Rajasthan translates to a kaleidoscope of delicious food, vibrant turbans, royal palaces, and forts! The grandiose citadels mirror the legendary history of the state. Of the many, the impregnable Kumbhalgarh Fort, with the second longest wall in the world, glorifies the spirit of Rajasthan the most. Built strategically in the foothills of the Aravalli mountain range and enclosed with its thirteen hill peaks, Kumbhalgarh stands at a height of 1,914 m with a 36-km long fort wall. Kumbhalgarh also claims the position of the second largest fort in India after the Chittorgarh Fort, both in Rajasthan!

In This Article

• Kumbhalgarh Fort – The Second Longest Wall in the World
• Reconstructing the History
• Strategic Location
• Architecture
• Inside the fort
• Temples
• Hindu Temples
• Jain Temples
• Water Supply
• Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Interesting Facts
• Tips
• Timings and Tickets
• How to Reach
• Hotels Near Kumbhalgarh
• Nearby Attractions
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions

Kumbhalgarh Fort – The Second Longest Wall in the World

Kumbhalgarh Fort, also called the ‘Great Wall of India’, belongs to the Mewar group of fortresses. The fort stands tall on the west range of the Aravalli Hills, situated in the Rajsamand district. A small town in Rajasthan and a district headquarter, the town acquires its name from the artificial Rajsamand Lake, built by Rana Raj Singh of Mewar. Initially, the district fell under the district headquarters of Udaipur before becoming an independent district in 1991.

The district lies 84 km north in the wilderness of Udaipur city of Rajasthan state in western India. The fort also recorded new heights being the second-highest point of escalation in the state after Mount Abu! In June 2013, during the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, six forts of Rajasthan made it to the list of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amber Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Gagron Fort, Ranthambore Fort, Jaisalmer Fort, and Chittorgarh Fort, the six forts, gained recognition for their Rajput military hill architecture and cultural properties.
Read: 6 Things to Know Before Visiting Bara Imambara at Lucknow

Reconstructing the History

Rana Kumbha, the Rana of Mewar from the Sisodia Rajput clan, built the fort in the 15th century. Owing to the lack of recorded evidence, a vivid picture of the history of the fort cannot be painted from its origins till Alauddin Khiliji’s invasion in 1303. Before Rana Kumbha’s structure, a small fort purportedly existed within the small hilly area. Apparently, Jain King Samprati, the grandson of Asoka, of the Maurya Age constructed this fort in the 6th century and called it Matsyendra Durg or Machhindrapur. The Kumbhalgarh Fort built by the Rana stands on the ruins of this old fort.

In the late 14th century, Rana Lakha conquered Mewar and the plains of Godwar from the Chauhan Rajputs of Nadol. Rana Kumbha, grandson of Rana Lakha, after coming to the throne, built 32 of the 84 forts under his rule, of which the Kumbhalgarh was the most magnificent. Post Rana Kumbha’s murder by his son, Udai Singh I in 1468, the fort remained forgotten for years. Its importance was revived when Udai Singh II was transported to the fort for protection, after his brother, Maharana Vikramaditya Singh, was killed by their cousin Banvir.

The coronation of Udai Singh II took place in the fort in 1540, and the valiant Maharana Pratap, his son, was born here. It is because of this reason that of all the forts and palaces of Rajasthan, the Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajsamand has emotional significance for the people. But Pratap spent most of his time on the throne fighting the war with the Mughals. Mughals captured the Kumbhalgarh for a few years before Maharana Pratap recovered it in the Battle of Dewair in 1582. In the 17th century, Rana Amar Singh I reluctantly surrendered to the Mughal Emperor, Jahangir, in 1615. From then, the glory of the fort waned followed by the violent invasions of Marathas in the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the fort again came under the dominion of the Mewar rulers. In 1818, the threat of capture of the Kumbhalgarh by the English prompted a band of sanyasis to pick up arms and form a garrison to protect the fort. James Tod, an officer of the British East India Company, convinced the garrison to surrender the fort to the care of the British. Thus, in the same year, Maharana Bhim Singh entered into an alliance treaty with the Company that put the fort under the care of the imperial power.

Maharana Fateh Singh, from 1884 to 1930, conducted several restoration works at Kumbhalgarh. After the independence of India, Udaipur State took over the fort with the second-longest wall in the world. It became a part of the protected monuments of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Strategic Location

Kumbhalgarh served as the boundary between the kingdoms of Mewar and Marwar. Because of its strategic location between mountains and forests and the Kumbhalgarh Fort wall length, many rulers of Mewar escaped to the fort for refuge in times of danger. Panna Dai smuggled Udai Singh II to the Kumbhalgarh Fort to save him from his cousin Banvir, who wanted to kill him after murdering the brother of the prince.

The difficult topography and strong fortifications create a façade of invulnerability for the fort. It has remained insurmountable to direct attacks, and the hills act as an unbreakable boundary. When facing a prolonged blockade, the fort was built to be self-sufficient in all aspects. Sultan of Gujarat, Ahmed Shah I, unsuccessfully attacked Kumbhalgarh in 1457. He also destroyed the Banmata deity temple in the fort, which, according to the locals, protected the citadel. Mahmud Khilji also made futile attempts to capture it in 1458-59 and 1467.

The only successful siege is attributed to Shahbaz Khan, Akbar’s general, in 1577. Combined armies of Akbar, Mirzas of Gujarat, Raja Uday Singh of Marwar, and Raja Man Singh of Amer breached the defenses of the fort. The siege was possible only when the water supply of the fort was poisoned, creating a water scarcity inside. Even then, the fort was only captured and not won in a battle.

Architecture

The Kumbhalgarh Fort built by Rana Kumbha, and named after him, took 15 years to construct from 1443-1458. Earlier Mewar rulers had realized the strategic and defensive potential of the site, but it was only Rana Kumbha, who exploited and cultivated the site and took advantage of the geographical contours of the hilly area. Astonishingly, the establishment of the fort was in a single phase.

When Maharana Kumbha began the construction of the fort in 1443, it faced many obstacles. A worrisome king on the verge of giving up the construction of the fort met a saint with whom Rana Kumbha discussed his problems. After listening to the Mewar raja’s troubles, the priest advised that the construction could proceed peacefully and successfully only after a voluntary sacrifice of an individual for the fort. Another saint, whose name is believed to be Mer Baba, agreed to sacrifice his life on the condition that he will be beheaded at that place on the hill where he stayed. His wish was honored, and the place where his head fell, Hanuman Pol was constructed.

Another legend has it that a layman or saint named Bhairon consented to sacrifice but demanded that the places where his head and body fell would be dedicated to him. After being decapitated, the place where his head fell, Bhairon Pol, one of the main seven entry gates, was constructed. And his body fell inside the Badal Mahal, one of the three palaces of the fort, where a temple named Bhairon Temple was created. After the sacrifice, the construction of the fort did not face any problems, and 15 years later, the Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajsamand was constructed.

The architecture of the fort is credited to the famous architecture of his time, Mandan. He has documented his construction method in his book Rajvallabh. He and Rana Kumbha experimented with medieval Rajput architecture and devised many innovations. The fort is a fabulous example of the Rajput military hill architectural style that effectively makes use of the topography of the hills.

The construction of the fort and its 36 km long wall follows the natural contours of the hills. On your way to the fort, the huge rounded bastions catch your attention from afar. On the way, you will weave a zig-zag route passing through gorges and dense forests before reaching the Arait Pol, the first gate of the fort. A well-planned strategy, the sharp turns and deep contours of the fort complicated the ascent of enemy troops and decelerated the speed of the elephants and horses.

Fort comprises seven huge gates (pols), ramparts, curved bastions, and huge watch towers (eg. Tara Burj) that aided in the protection of the fort and the people inside it. Small enclosures are built throughout the fort above the wall to enable the soldiers to attack. To send messages, during daylight, pieces of mirrors or glass were used from which sunlight was reflected towards the place or the person to whom the message was to be sent. At night, torches of fire were used in the same way.

The second longest wall of the world extends for 22 miles, and its frontal walls measure 15 feet in thickness. Soaring for 1100 meters on the Aravalli Mountain, you can see far into the Aravalli Range when on the top of the fortress.

Inside the fort

While the fort looks magnificent and enormous from the outside and when you reach the Arait Pol, it is a whole new world inside the fort, one you need to visit. Let’s take a tour of the fort.

• Arait Pol

The first of the seven fortified gateways to the Kumbhalgarh Fort is the Arait Pol. On your way to the Pol, you can see a watch tower.

• Halla Pol

  

The second gate is the Halla Pol. After you enter the Halla Pol, you can see the Badshahi Bavdi, a stepped tank, built by Akbar’s general, Shahbaz Khan, in 1578 after capturing the fort. The Bavdi provided water to the combined troops during the siege.

• Hanuman Pol

After about a half km from the Halla Pol is the Hanuman Pol. Named after the stone deity of Lord Hanuman located in front of the Pol (before entering), the gateway is a two-storey structure with eight-sided bastions. Maharana Kumbha installed the stone deity at the entrance of the Hanuman Pol. At the foot of the deity, inscriptions provide information on the construction of the fort. Inside the Hanuman Pol, on the left, is the ticket counter.

The huge gate of the Hanuman Pol and all other six gates of the fort contain pointed, sharp iron spikes, put in place to injure the attacking elephants of the enemy troops. A common tragic fighting strategy to breach these defense mechanisms was to get the elephants drunk so that they would not fear away from the spikes and attack the closed entrances aggressively during fights with full strength. The gates would break in, although the elephants would die from the injury.

• Ram Pol

With the Ram Pol, the Kumbhalgarh Fort structure starts. The main entrance gate to the fort, the construction of the Pol is in such a way that almost all the buildings inside (mostly the top) of the fort are visible to the visitors. An architectural marvel! From here, your journey to the Kumbhalgarh Fort begins. On the east of the Ram Pol, Vijay Pol is located, another entrance.

• Bhairon Pol

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outside Bhairon Pol, a pillar is installed that has inscriptions. The pathway to Bhairon Pol is slightly curved to reduce the area available for the elephant to attack in full force. The pathway that leads to Bhairon Pol has small rooms, made to contain and hide soldiers for a surprise attack on the enemy troops.

• Chaugan Pol

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon entering the Chaugan Pol, you can see the palace from below. The pathway to Chaugan Pol contains small temples built of stone on the sides. It contains a banyan tree. This Pol shelters the Canon House, where cannons are kept behind locked grilled gates. An interesting fact about this house is that it contains paintings that depict how attacks were done using cannons and how these cannons were transported with the help of oxen.

• Pagda Pol

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gate was named so since the turban (pagdi) is worn at the top, and it is the topmost gate of the Fort containing the king’s palaces. Before entering the Pagda Pol, there are hollow spaces in the wall of the

fort to throw hot oil or water on the enemies below to prevent them from entering the Pagda Pol, while protecting the soldiers from the enemy attack. Inside the Pagda Pol, there is a room with 9 doors, probably used as a horse stable. No information is available on it.

With Pagda Pol, you finally enter the region where the palaces of the fort stand tall. Kumbha Palace, Jhalia Ka Malia (Palace of Queen Jhalia), and the Badal Mahal constitute the three palaces of the fort.

• Kumbha Palace

Kumbha Palace was a double-storied building where the king resided. The palace is decorated in classic Rajput style and has a magnificent blue durbar hall. The palace is divided into mardana (men) and zenana (women) halls separated by a corridor. The walls of the zenana palace are adorned with beautiful paintings of camels and crocodiles.

The appearance of the palace is not overflowing with luxury since it was mostly used as a refuge by the royal court. As a consequence, the palace was equipped with strong safety features. The entrance doors of the palace, and the fort in general, were drawn short so that the soldiers would have to bend their heads while entering the room. This strategic feature gave the hidden soldiers an upper hand over their enemies, who could attack the entering enemy troops and stop them from moving forward.

In this part of the palace, there is an agricultural ground that was cultivated during enemy seizes to meet the food needs of the people residing inside the fort. A temple of the Nav Durga Chamunda Mata, the dynastic deity of Maharana Kumbha, is also present in this part of the palace. However, today the Kumbha Palace mostly lies in ruins and needs regular maintenance from the government.

• Jhalia Ka Malia

You come across this place soon after entering the Pagda Pol and near the fortified gate, Nimbu Pol. It was here that the brave Maharana Pratap was born and where Panna Dhai sacrificed her son to save the young prince. The palace is built from the rubble and plastered with lime.

• Badal Mahal

The topmost palace of the three, Badal Mahal or the Palace of Clouds, is a two-storied structure built by Rana Fateh Singh in 1885-1930. The Mahal is the highest point of the fort from where you get a serene view. It is an architectural brilliance in such a way that the king standing on the Badal Mahal is hidden from the plain eyesight of the enemy troops ascending the Aravalli Range.

Badal Mahal, like the Kumbha Palace, has two sections – mardana and zenana. The Mahal is the most decorated part of the fort, with wall paintings and attractive friezes of the 19th-century style. The lower portions of the wall are adorned with beautiful elephant paintings. The zenana mahal consists net panel made of stone that allowed the queens to witness the court proceedings and other activities of the court in private.

From the ceilings of the palace, hooks protruded from where fans were hung to air the king or long cloth was pulled through to be used as a curtain. There is a structure inside the Badal Mahal called ‘tewari’ as it had three entrances (teen dwar), which consisted of five small jharokhas. It also houses a Bhairav shrine. The stairs inside the Mahal are narrow as a strategy to prevent many enemy soldiers from climbing up at the same time.

The view from Badal Mahal is one of wonder. You get a beautiful sight of the Thar Desert and a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape and downtown. During monsoon months, you see green hills and ravines everywhere.

Temples

The fort is flooded with over 360 temples of which 300 are Jain, while the rest are Hindu temples. Most of the temples are built by the Maurya rulers and are well preserved. The construction of the temples were different from that of the fort and the ramparts. Temples are elaborate, delicately carved, built on stone platforms due to the uneven terrain of the fort, and unlike other fort structures, made of huge strong stone blocks.

Hindu Temples

• Ganesha Temple

On entering the Ram Pol, you come across Ganesha Temple on the left of the Ram Pol. It was constructed by Maharana Kumbha from 1433-1468 and is one of the earliest temples built inside the fort. The temple is built on a high platform accessed through a flight of steps from the south. Inside the temple, there is an image of Lord Ganesha installed at the sanctum, which has a brick ceiling. Dome ceiling cover mandapa and mukhamandapa.

• Charbhuja Temple

Located to the right of the Ganesha Temple, Charbhuja Temple or Laxmi Narayan Temple stands on a high platform, enclosed by a wall on three sides, with an entrance from the east, and dedicated to the four-armed goddess.

• Neel Kanth Temple

Neel Kanth Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, was built in 1458 C.E. by Maharana Kumbha in the Kumbhalgarh Fort. The temple lies to the east of the fort and is among the most revered temple of all the shrines in the fort. The temple has an entrance from all four sides that opens to a mandapa (rectangle enclosure) supported by 24 huge pillars. The temple is evidence of architectural brilliance with 7 domes, an intricate ceiling of the mandapa, and a wide rectangular courtyard.

In the main shrine of the temple, a 5-feet high Shiva lingam made of black stone and depicted with 12 hands is placed. According to the inscriptions, the central shrine was renovated by Rana Sanga. Maharana Kumbha did not start his day without offering prayers to the deity. Legend has it that the king was so tall that when he sat to worship the 5-feet high deity, his eyes were at level with the deity.

• Mamadev Temple

Mamadev Temple or Kumbha ShyamTemple, built-in 1460 by Rana Kumbha, boasts three shrines, each with a pillared mandapa and flat-roofed sanctum. The temple houses the idol of Lord Kuber, the god of wealth, and other gods and goddesses carved into the wall. Ironically, this was the place where Rana Kumbha was murdered by his son, Udai Singh I, when he was kneeling and praying. Hence, the temple contains two chariots erected in memory of Rana Kumbha and Prithviraj Chauhan.

Near the temple, a beautiful holy water reservoir (kund) is located that acts as the water reservoir of the fort. Originally, it was in this temple that the four stone slabs that narrated the history of the Mewar kingdom from the period of Guhil, the founder of the dynasty, to Rana Kumbha’s reign, were commissioned by Rana Kumbha in 35 shlokas. The ‘Kumbhalgarh inscription’ now finds its place at the Government Museum in Udaipur.
Other Hindu Temples

1. On the southern side of the Neelkanth Temple rests Mataji Temple, or Kheda Devi Temple built in the 15th century with a roof made from bricks.
2. Golera group of temples contains 5 Hindu temples.
3. A Sun Temple or Surya Mandir also constitutes the Hindu temple group. It is located on the western part of the fort and is a contemporary of the Surya Temple of Ranakpur.

Jain Temples

Jain Temples were built because many rich Jain merchants and businessmen settled inside the fort. This shows that the kings were tolerant of religious diversity.

• Vedi Temple

Situated near Hanuman Pol, Vedi Temple constitutes three stories following an octagonal blueprint that was, originally, open on all sides. To enter the temple, you need to climb a flight of steps as it stands on a high platform. The temple owes its construction to Rana Kumbha, who performed yajnas and customary work here, and was renovated by Rana Fateh. It is a three-temple complex with the main temple’s domical ceiling supported by thirty-six pillars. When standing on the back facade of the temple, you can view the roof of the three temples in succession. The Vedi complex consists of a Chhatri, Trikuta, and Tripurush Temple, built in honor of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh by Mandan.

• Bawan Devi Temple

Named after the number of fifty –two (bawan) temples inside the court, the Bawan Devi Temple complex has two big temples situated at the center and other small temples enclosed within an external wall. An engraved inscription on the temple states that the temple was built in 1464.

• Parsvanath Temple

The Parsvanath Jain Temple stands left of the Neelkanth Temple on a high stone platform. It was built in 1513 by Nar Singh Pokhad to worship Parsvanath, a Jain Tirthankara. A domical roof along with shikhara covers the roofs of this temple. It houses the deity of Ganesha and the seated deity of Parsvanath as tall as three feet.

• Other Jain Temples

1. The Golera group of the temple consists of 4 Jain temples that have dome roofs and boasts beautiful carvings of various deities, like Jain Tirthankars and river goddesses.
2. Other Jain temples include Pital Shah Temple and Juna Bhilwara Temple.
3. To the north of the Vijay Pol, 2 Jain temples stand on a raised platform. The temples face east and west respectively.

Water Supply

Inside the fort, there were many water reservoirs and tanks that were constructed to supply water to the king, his family, nobles, and the populace that lived in the fort. They were especially helpful when the fort was under siege. Rainwater was stored in them during the monsoon season, which lasted for a year until the next spell of rain. Lakhola Tank was constructed by Rana Lakha; Badshahi Baori (step-well), a stepped tank, was built by Akbar’s general to provide during the long siege. The fort houses 10 dams and 20 step-wells, among which Langan Baori is the most known step-well, and Bavda Bund is the biggest reservoir.

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary

The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Rajsamand, Udaipur, and Pali districts, spans an area of 610.528 km. and is located 3 km from the fort. The forest stretches to four hills and mountain ranges of the Aravalli Range, namely the Kumbhalgarh range, Sadri range, Desuri range, and Bokhada range. The sanctuary was earlier used as a royal hunting ground, which was converted into a sanctuary in 1971. River Banas flows through the sanctuary and acts as its primary source of water.

The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its rare 40-strong wolf pack. Apart from wolves, the sanctuary is home to various animals, many of whom are endangered. You can find:

Animals: Sloth bear, Indian leopard, striped hyena, golden jackal, Indian wolf, jungle cat, sambhar, nilgai, chausingha (four-horned antelope), chinkara, and Indian hare.

Birds: The sanctuary is host to almost 200 different species of birds – grey jungle fowl, white-breasted kingfisher, doves, peacocks, red super fowl, parakeet, golden oriole, grey pigeon, and bulbul.

Crocodiles and waterfowl can be found in Thandi Beri Lake. The leopard is the main predator of the sanctuary. During the monsoon season, the wildlife is covered with beautiful herbal flora, like Dhok, Khair, Salar, and Churel; and in autumn, the sanctuary puts on russet colors.

You have three options available to take a tour of the sanctuary – trek, horse, and jeep. Trek through trekking trails – Kumbhalgarh to Thandi Beri and Ranakpur to Kumbhalgarh. One popular trail is Tirthankar Natural Trail (3.7 km) to honor the Jain Tirthankaras. Here, you will find trees under which Jain Tirthankaras achieved enlightenment. During the trek, you can view much fauna of the region, and if you are lucky, you might be able to spot leopards, bears, and sambar.

Another mode of taking a tour around the sanctuary is by horse. The horse route goes from Kumbhalgarh to Ghanerao, Ranakpur to Thandi Beri, Thandi Beri to Sumer, and Roopmantra to Ranakpur.

The most popular mode is through jeep safari. It extends from Kumbhalgarh to Thandi Beri and takes around 3.5 hours to reach Thandi Beri and back. The jeep carries 6 persons and charges INR 2500.

The visiting hours of the sanctuary are from 7 a.m.-6 p.m., similar to Kumbhalgarh Fort hours. It usually takes 3-4 hours to go around it. Entry is permitted into the sanctuary based on the ticket purchased for the Kumbhalgarh Fort. The best months to explore Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary are March to December. Many Garisia and Bhil tribals live here in their traditional huts. Around 22 villages are located inside the sanctuary. There are lodging options (Forest Rest Houses) near the sanctuary, and to reach here, you can hire a cab.

Interesting Facts

• The Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary was among the places that were considered for reintroducing the Asiatic lion.
• The toilets in the Kumbha Palace used an advanced ventilation system that allowed fresh air inside the restroom when it was in use.
• The massive walls of the fort are wide enough that eight horses could walk side-by-side.
• The original structure built by the Jain king still exists.

Tips

• Wear comfortable footwear and carry water bottles to stay hydrated since the walk along the fort is quite long.
• Carry sunglasses and a hat, as the sun can be quite harsh owing to the geography of the fort.
• A light and sound show occurs every evening between 6-7 and lasts for around 45 minutes. The show narrates everything about Kumbhalgarh Fort, its history, and the kings. The whole fort gets illuminated for an hour after the show rendering it magical. The charges for the show are INR 100 for Indians and INR 250 for foreigners.
• Carry a torch since the lightning inside the fort is poor during the evening.
• It is strongly advised to visit the fort during the months of October-March as the weather is pleasant. Summers are scorching, and the heat might be unbearable to complete the tour of the fort.
• If you are visiting in December, plan your trip around 1-3 December since the fort hosts Kumbhalgarh Festival organized by Rajasthan Tourism. The three-day festival is culturally enriching and filled with dance and music performances by celebrity folk artists, puppet shows, traditional games, and a heritage walk.

Timings and Tickets

The entry charges to the fort are INR 40 for Indian citizens and SAARC members and INR 600 for foreigners. It is free for children below the age of 15, and camera charges are INR 25. If you bring your vehicle to the fort, you are charged INR 35 for parking at the entrance of the fort.

The Kumbhalgarh Fort opening time is from 9 in the morning to 5 in the evening from Monday-Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. It usually takes 3-4 hours to explore the entire fort.

How to Reach

Kumbhalgarh does not have any airport or railway station.

• Air

The nearest airport to Kumbhalgarh is Maharana Pratap Airport at Dabok, Udaipur. Taxis can be availed from the airport to the fort directly. The distance from Kumbhalgarh to Udaipur is around 84 km, and most major cities are connected to Udaipur by air. Ajmer (227 km), Jaipur (327 km), Delhi (568 km), and Chittorgarh (96 km) are connected to Udaipur by air.

• Rail

The nearest railway station to Kumbhalgarh is Falna, around 80 km from Kumbhalgarh. From the station, taxis can be hired for the fort. Falna is well-connected to major cities, like Ajmer (206 km), Jaipur (341 km), Jodhpur (170 km), Delhi (570-645 km, depending on the route), Chittorgarh (392 km), and Jaisalmer (463 km).
Udaipur City Railway Station is around 87 km from Kumbhalgarh. The station is well-connected to other cities, like Ajmer (290 km), Jaipur (426 km), Delhi (659 km), and Chittorgarh (110 km). Taxis can be availed from the station to Kumbhalgarh Fort.

• Road

The road journey from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh is around 2 hours, and Falna to Kumbhalgarh takes approximately 1 hr and 45 minutes. Kumbhalgarh receives buses from various cities. Rajasthan State Government Roadways buses run regularly connecting Kumbhalgarh to various cities, like Udaipur, Falna, Ajmer, Jodhpur, and Pushkar.
From Udaipur, you can take a bus from Chetak Circle to Kelwara village near Kumbhalgarh. The journey takes around three hours and costs INR 50. You can get down at Kumbhalgarh Circle, around 2 km from the fort, and hire a jeep from there to the fort. Udaipur and Falna are also connected to the cities via road, from where buses or taxis could be taken to the fort.

Hotels Near Kumbhalgarh

• Aodhi Hotel
• Kumbha Bagh
• Fateh Safari Lodge

Nearby Attractions

• Ranakpur Jain Temples

In 1438, Rana Kumbha constructed Ranakpur Jain Temples, located approximately 50 km from Kumbhalgarh. Many shrines and deities were issued by Jain merchants and ministers. Some of the temples in this complex are Neminath and Parasnath. They are adjacent to Chaumukha Temple, built in the honor of Jain Tirthankara Adinath, which has 29 halls and 1444 pillars. Another temple of the complex, the Sun Temple, is adorned with etchings of horses and chariots driven by solar deities that carry warriors.

• Parashuram Mahadev Temple

Situated in a cave, Parashuram Mahadev Temple is 10 km from Kumbhalgarh Fort and has 500 steps that lead you inside the cave. It is believed that the cave was dug by Rishi Parashuram, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu to do meditation. He cut the cave from a rock using his axe. The temple has nine kunds which never dries.

• Muchhal Mahavir Temple

The Muchhal Mahavir Temple is located in the sanctuary of Kumbhalgarh, and it contains a statue of Lord Mahavira with a mustache. The entrance of the temple is adorned with two elephants on either side. An interesting tale envelops the temple. The legend goes that Rana of Mewar once visited the temple after hunting, and the priest there gave him some refreshments. While consuming them, the Rana found a white hair in it and asked the priest if the lord possessed a mustache. The scared priest said yes, and Rana promised to return after three days to worship the deity.

After two days, the priest decided to commit suicide rather than die at the hands of the angry king. It was then that Lord Mahavira appeared and asked the priest to cover the deity with a cloth. He told the priest to ask the king to pray and then, remove the cloth. On the third day, the king returned. The priest asked him to take a bath, pray and then remove the cloth on the idol. After all the shenanigans, when the king removed the cloth, he saw that the deity had a mustache. He sought the priest’s forgiveness, and since then, the temple came to be known as Muchhal Mahavir Temple.

• Maharana Pratap Museum, Haldighati

Haldighati, 52 km from Kumbhalgarh, is testimony to the famous Battle of Haldighati. The museum of the Maharana Pratap gives an insight into the life of Maharana Pratap.

• Rajsamand Lake

Approximately 48 km from Kumbhalgarh, Rajsamand Lake is located in Mewar, constructed in the 17th century, across Kelwa, Gomti, and Tali rivers.

Conclusion

The Kumbhalgarh Fort and its second-longest wall in the world are evidence of its strategic location and magnificence. The fort remains unconquered and the seven gates, zig-zag pathways, and three palaces were constructed with a strategy to provide maximum security to the Mewar rulers. Many Jain and Hindu temples inside the fort indicate the devotion and tolerance of the Mewar rulers. There are buses from Kumbhalgarh to Udaipur and Falna, and these two cities are connected to most of the cities. Kumbhalgarh Fort is one marvel of India that you need to explore once in your lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

(a) Is Kumbhalgarh Fort worth visiting?
Definitely! Kumbhalgarh has everything – history, trek, scenic beauty, flora, and fauna. History lover or not, the fort will leave you in awe.

(b) How to book a Kumbhalgarh Fort ticket online?
Kumbhalgarh Fort tickets can be booked online from Yatra, and ASI. Read the instructions properly before proceeding with the payment.

(c) Does Club Mahindra have a resort near Kumbhalgarh Fort?
Yes, Club Mahindra has a resort in Kumbhalgarh.