KUMBHALGARH FORT | TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT & TRAVEL GUIDE TO KUMBHALGARH
Heritage
About Kumbhalgarh
#11 of 12 Places to visit in Rajasthan
Ideal Trip Duration: Full Day
Nearest City to Kumbhalgarh: Udaipur (89 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Kumbhalgarh: October to March
Peak Season: December to February
At a distance of 48 km from Rajsamand, 52 km from Nathdwara, 89 km from Udaipur, 191 km from Jodhpur, 347 km from Jaipur, and 605 km from Delhi, Kumbhalgarh, also known as Kumbhalmer, is a historical fortress located in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan. It is a World Heritage Site included in Hill Forts of Rajasthan, and among the best historical places to visit near Udaipur.
Among the must include places in Kumbhalgarh tour packages, Kumbhalgarh Fort is a Mewar fortress built by Maharana Kumbha in the 15th century AD. It is the second most important fort of Rajasthan after Chittorgarh. The original fort of Kumbhalgarh is believed to have been built by King Samprati, the Mauryan prince. Kumbhalgarh is also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great king, and warrior of Mewar. Although Kumbhalgarh was built in the 15th century it was extended during the 19th century. It can be visited along with Udaipur tour packages.
Kumbhalgarh Fort was designed by Rana Kumbha keeping the defensive aspect of the fort in his mind. Encircled by thirteen elevated mountain peaks, the fort is constructed on the top most ridges around 3, 500 feet above sea level and is virtually inaccessible in earlier times. 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 impregnable Kumbhalgarh Fort boasts of seven massive gates, seven ramparts folded with one another with designed walls toughened by curved bastions and huge watchtowers. The strong structure and solid foundation of the Fort made it unbeatable to date. With a wall over 38 km long, the fort has the second largest wall in the world after the Great Wall of China. The front walls are fifteen feet thick.
The fort houses more than 360 temples, including 300 ancient Jain ones, and the remaining are Hindu temples. Amongst all of them, Shiva Temple is worth visiting that comprises a huge Shivlinga (Phallic form). Badal Mahal or the Palace of Cloud, Lakhola Tank, Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mammadev Temple are the other places to visit in Kumbhalgarh.
Maharana Pratap Airport, Udaipur is the nearest airport, which is about 97 km from Kumbhalgarh. The airport is served by flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur. Udaipur Railway Station is the nearest railhead, which is about 89 km from Kumbhalgarh and is well connected by trains with Delhi, Kolkata, Jalpaiguri, Jaipur, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Indore, and Khajuraho. Kumbhalgarh is well connected by bus with Udaipur, Nathdwara, Jodhpur, and Rajsamand.
Being the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, Kumbhalgarh has become a top tourist destination in Rajasthan. Visitors will find a wide variety of hotels in Kumbhalgarh, ranging from luxury heritage hotels to economical resorts. Club Mahindra Kumbhalgarh, The Haveli Resort, Kumbhalgarh Forest Retreat, and The Aodhi are some popular hotels in Kumbhalgarh.
The best time to visit Kumbhalgarh is from October to March while the peak season is from December - February. The temperature remains comfortable and is apt for visiting the monuments and other places of interest in Kumbhalgarh.
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