Kumbhalgarh, also known as Kumbhalmer, is a historical fortress located in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan. It is a World Heritage Site included in Hill Forts of Rajasthan and also one of the top historical Rajasthan tourist places. 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. 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
The impregnable Kumbhalgarh 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. 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.
Kumbhalgarh Fort is one of the five hill forts of Rajasthan that were declared the UNESCO world heritage site in 2013. It is situated in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan and lies 82 kilometres northwest of the city of Udaipur. Constructed on the foothills of Aravalli ranges, it is surrounded by thirteen hill peaks of the ranges and is perched at an elevation of 1,914 m. The magnificent fort is situated in the middle of a forest which has been turned into a wildlife sanctuary. It is the second largest and the most important Mewar fort of Rajasthan after Chittorgarh palace. Under the reign of Mewar kings in Rajasthan, the majestic fort was built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century between AD 1443 and 1458 under the direction of Mandan who was a very renowned architect of that time. The fort was constructed in the exact same place where an old castle existed which was attributed to Samprati who was a Jaina prince of the second century BC. It is named after the King Kumbha. The Kumbhalgarh fort was cleverly designed on a hilltop to provide the strategic position to the Mewar kings to protect them against the attacks of the enemy which is why it is also recognized as the second most important fort of Rajasthan.
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary :-
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan. Covering a total surface area of 578 sq km and stretching across the Aravalli ranges, it encircles parts of Udaipur, Rajsamand, and Pali. The wildlife sanctuary encompasses the historic Kumbhalgarh Fort and is also named after the fort. This hilly dense forest of Kumbhalgarh will definitely prove to be a pleasant surprise for those who consider Rajasthan a desert state. The green tract of the park forms a dividing line between the two different parts of Rajasthan; Mewar and Marwar.
The area where the Sanctuary is located was once a royal hunting ground and was converted into what it is today in the year 1971. Another charm of the sanctuary is the diverse topography that it boasts of. The eastern part is lined by the Aravalli ranges that looms over an altitude of 3,748 ft. River Banas also graces the sanctuary and is the primary source of water.The natural beauty of the sanctuary attracts tourists from far and wide.
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is within the fort vicinity. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva whose 6 feet Lingam is in the temple. This deity is one of the very few ones being worshipped and maintained by the locals. The fort is full of stories about the king, the temple and various chambers which keep tourist mesmerized and lost in time.
Badal Mahal :-
Badal Mahal is also a part of the main fort. It is divided in two sections: Zanana and Mardana Halls for ladies and men respectively. The architecture of both these sections is astounding. Also, the view of the surrounding area from the top of the tower is spellbinding.
Mammadev Temple :-
This temple is right below the Kumbhalgarh Fort. It had four huge slabs with inscriptions on them, but these have been transferred to the Udaipur museum. Now it has a couple of cenotaphs in memory of the Raja of the Kumbhalgarh fort, Raja Kumbha and for Prithviraj Chauhan. There is also a huge water reservoir next to the temple.
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