Kumbhalgarh

On the Aravalli ranges, in Rajsamand of Rajasthan, around 82 km northwest of Udaipur at 3600 ft., Kumbhalgarh Fort extends 36 km long. The walls of Kumbhalgarh are around 15 ft. thick with 7 fortified gateways. There are 300 Jain temples & 60 Hindu temples located within Kumbhalgarh Fort. Kumbhalgarh Fort was considered a significant one, just like Mewar’s Chittorgarh. Kumbhalgarh Fort was built by Rana Kumbha during the course of 15th CE. Mewar, Rana Kumbha’s domain stretched within Ranthambore to Gwalior. He had 84 forts in his dominion and 32 was built by him, among which Kumbhalgarh is the longest as well as alluring one.

The fort was used as a place of refuge for the rulers of Mewar. An instance was in the case of Prince Udai, the infant king of Mewar who was smuggled here in 1535 when Chittaur was under siege. In 1576, Akbar’s general took control of Kumbhalgarh, but the fort was recaptured under Maharana Pratap in 1585. In 1818, band of armed Sannyasins formed a garrison to protect Kumbhalgarh, but the fort was taken over by Britishers. In the end of 19th century, it was returned to the Udaipur State.