In terms of importance, the Kumbhalgarh Fort can be ranked second after Chittorgarh in the entire Rajasthan. Situated around 64 kilometres away from Udaipur of Rajasmand district, the massive Kumbhalgarh fort can be reached very easily from the Udaipur city. The Aravalli ranges make this unconquerable fortress far more unconquerable due to the protection received from the mountain ranges. Maharaja Rana Kumbha, in the fifteenth century got the fort developed, from which the fort got its name.

Surrounded by thirteen high mountain peaks the Kumbhalgarh fort is built 1914 metres above the ground level, on one of the highest points of a peak. The fort has got a fortification extending to about 36 km. Such a huge length of the wall has made the fort enter into the books of one of the most prestigious world records. This lengthy wall has not just entered into the world records, but it has been ranked the second lengthiest wall after China’s ‘great wall of China’. To include to the magnificence of the massive and complex fort, there are temples, gardens and palaces inside it. While you are heading towards the Kumbhalgarh fort, it is most likely that you shall confront a zigzag path that stretches through the thick forests and deep ravines. Following this path you would be able to get to the Arait pol for entrance. Further on moving ahead, you would be able to get to other doorways as well, like the Bhariava Pol, Nimboo Pol, Top-khana Pol, Paghra Pol, Hanuman Pol, Hulla Pol and Ram Pol.

Architecture

There are around seven huge gates to the unconquerable Kumbhalgarh fort. There are also seven ramparts that are folded with each other along with decorated walls made further tough by mammoth watch towers and curved bastions. The structure of the fort is so strong and its foundation is so solid that fort remained an unconquered till date. The massive walls of the Kumbhalgarh fort are so broad that on it, around eight to nine horses can be made to stand side by side. Inside the Kumbhalgarh Fort’s complex there are around three hundred and sixty temples. Among all these temples the Shiva temple, attracts a lot of visitors and pilgrims because of the huge Shivalinga, which depicts the phallic form.

Badal Mahal

At the top of the Kumbhalgarh Fort there is a famous palace, which is very popular and attracts tourists from many distant locations. The palace is called the ‘Badal Mahal’, in the local language. However, its interpretation in English means, the Palace of Cloud. This palace is also the birth place of one of the bravest warriors and rulers of India, Maharana Pratap. There are many beautiful rooms in the palace that has lovely colours such as turquoise, white and green showing a bright distinction with the Fort’s earthy colours. Due to the palace’s elevated location that anyone would get the impression that the palace is situated on the clouds. Anyone who goes to the Badal Mahal would be able to get a mesmerizing panoramic view of the entire Udaipur city.

Near the end of nineteenth century, Rana Fateh Singh took steps to build the palace once again. When enemies attacked Mewar the Kumbhalgarh fort offered shelter to Mewar’s rulers. When battles took place during the reign period of infant King Udai Singh he was kept safely inside this fort. The big complex inside the Fort allows a person to explore the various ancient reminiscences. Anyone who loves to stroll around during the evening hours can easily do so in the Kumbhalgarh fort ravines.

Temples

There are a large numbers of temples inside the Kumbhalgarh fort. The road that leads to the palaces has got a Ganesha temple that was built by the builder of the Fort, Maharana Pratap. Another famous temple is the Vedi temple, which was also built by Rana Kumbha so that he could perform the rituals required to be conducted after the construction of the Kumbhalgarh Fort. The Vedi temple is a two storey building and it is erected on high platform. The temple facing the west was built in the year 1457 AD. The most famous among the temples is the temple having the Shivlinga, which is known as the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple.

Reaching Kumbhalgarh Fort

Any visitor willing to visit this palace of both historical as well as artistic value must get to Rajasthan’s Udaipur first. Kumbhalgarh is located nearest to the Udaipur city and hence, anyone willing to reach Kumbhalgarh in train or railways must get on to the Udaipur city. While the railway station in the Udaipur city is 80 km from Kumbhalgarh, the distance from the Udaipur airport to the Kumbhalgarh Fort is 95 km. Which is one has to take to cover using roadways. There are also many national and state highways that helps in smooth communication between various other cities like Amhedabaad, Mumbai, New Delhi, etc and Kumbhalgarh by roadways.