Complete history of the Kumbhalgarh Fort – The Great Wall of India

The Kumbhalgarh Fort is one of the best examples of the Rajput architecture. Kumbhalgarh fort was built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. It was one of the very few forts in history, which no one could win. It is situated in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan and 82 kilometers northwest of the city of Udaipur. It is located at 25.1528 Latitude and 73.587 Longitude.

Kumbhalgarh Fort is encircled by thirteen elevated mountain peaks of Aravalli Ranges and 1100 meters above the sea level. From the place top, it is possible to see kilometers into the Aravalli range. The Sandhill of the Thar desert can be seen from the fort wall. There are seven main gates into the fort, known as ‘Pols‘. These are Aret Pol, Hanuman Pol, Pagda Pol, Hulla Pol, Bhairon Pol, Ram Pol and Nimboo Pol. You may like to visit around 360 temples of the Hindu and Jain religions in the Kumbhalgarh Fort.

Quick Information of Kumbhalgarh Fort

• Built By: Rana Kumbha of Mewar Kingdom
• Built in: During the 15th century
• Address: Kumbhalgarh, Rajsamand 313325, Rajasthan, India
• Facts: World’s Second Longest wall, UNESCO World Heritage Site, 360 Hindu and Jain temples around Fort, The Giant Lamp used for light when was built

Kumbhalgarh Fort History

In 1443 CE, the maharana of Kumbhalgarh, Rana Kumbha, was repeatedly unsuccessful in an attempt to build the fort wall. A saint was consulted about the problem and advised Rana that a voluntary person sacrifice could solve the problem. For some time, no one volunteered. But one day, a saint volunteered and was ritually decapitated. They built a temple, where the head fell, is known as Hanuman Pol, and built the wall and the fort, where the rest of his body laid.

The current form of Kumbhalgarh was built and ruled by Hindu Sisodia Rajput king Rana Kumbha in the 15th century between AD 1458. Under the direction of Madan, who was a very renowned architect of that time.

The oldest name of the fort is considered Machhindrpur, while a historian Sahib Haqim named it Mahore. It is believed that the original fort was built by king Samprati, the grandson of Samrat Ashoka during the 6th century.

Kumbhalgarh fort was included in the UNESCO world heritage site list during the 37th meeting of the world heritage committee in Phnom Penh in June 2013.

The longest wall in India - Kumbhalgarh Fort Wall

Everybody knows about the great wall of China which is 21,196 km (13,171 miles). But are you know which is the longest wall in India and the second longest wall in the world? When was the great wall of India discovered? It is Kumbhalgarh fort wall, also known as "The great wall of India". Which is 36 km (22.369 miles) long. The width of the wall varies from 15 to 25 feet. It has been mentioned in various books of history that eight horses could run side-by-side on the wall and this fact has made this fort to be in the international records.

Around Kumbhalgarh

Other beautiful structures in the Kumbhalgarh fort are the following:

Rana Kumbha Palace

Rana Kumbha Palace is located close to the Pagda Pol. This palace is one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture. It is a two-storeyed building which has a beautiful blue darbar hall. Palace is divided into the Mardana(Men's) palace and the Zanana(Women's) palace.

Badal Mahal

Badal Mahal was built by Rana Fateh Singh. It is the highest point in the Kumbhalgarh fort. Badal Mahal is famously known as the "Palace of clouds". The whole building of the palace is parted into two interconnected distinct portions called the Mardana Mahal and Zanana Mahal. Palace rooms have turquoise, green and white color schemes on its well.

Jhalia ka Malia

This building is also known as the palace of queen Jhali. This is the place where Maharana Pratap was born. This simple palace is situated near Pagda Pol. This palace is made of rubble stone with simple walls and a flat root.

Temples in the Kumbhalgarh Fort

There are around 360 temples in the Kumbhalgarh fort, 300 ancient Jain and the rest are Hindu. A Ganesha's Temple is considered the earliest of all temples built inside the fort. There are other Hindu Temples like Neelkanth Mahadeva temple, Vedi Temple etc.

There are three main Jain temples in the fort, The Parshva Natha temple, The Bawan Devi temple and the Golerao group of temples. Kheda Devi temple, Mamdeo temple, Pital shah Jain temple and Surya Mandir are the other major Jain temples inside the Kumbhalgarh fort.

Kumbhalgarh Fort Timings

Kumbhalgarh fort is a perfect place for Adventure seekers, Historians, Architectural Photographers and Wildlife enthusiasts. You can visit Kumbhalgarh fort during 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM daily. Indian government takes a little entry fee for maintenance. Approximately entry fee is Rs 15 for Indian and SAARC country tourists, Rs 200($3.08 USD) for others. Management team allows photography. So you can take some incredible shots. Here I suggest you some tips:

1. August to April(Monsoon and Winter) is the best suitable time for visiting Kumbhalgarh Fort. Although you can visit in any session.
2. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
3. keep water bottles and food packets.
4. Don’t miss the Rana Kumbha Palace, Badal Mahal, Jhalia ka Malia, Rajasmund lake, Kumbalgarh Sanctuary, and Temples.

How to reach Kumbhalgarh Fort

• By Air: Kumbhalgarh fort does not have an airport. But you can go through nearest airport Dabok of Udaipur city which is around 85km from Kumbhalgarh. After reaching Dabok, You can easily find taxi or bus to reach Kumbhalgarh fort.
• By Train: There is no railway track to connect Kumbhalgarh. But you can reach through nearest railway station Rani city which is 35km away from Kumbhalgarh fort. Then you can hire a taxi to reach Kumbhalgarh fort.
• By Road: You can reach by bus or taxi from Udaipur, Falna, Ajmer, Jodhpur, and Nathdwara to reach Kumbhalgarh fort.

Kumbhalgarh Fort Hotel

There are a lot of hotels near Kumbhalgarh Fort where to stay and eat. Here I listed some Kumbhalgarh fort resorts:

Via Lakhela Resort and Spa

• 3.2km Away
• They provide Indian, American and Chinese recipes
• Swimming Pool, Outdoor pool, Spa, Airport Shuttle, Free Parking, Bar, WiFi and Daily Housekeeping
• For Reservation: 091161 30105

Times Kumbhalgarh Fort Resort

• 3.4km Away
• Swimming Pool, Outdoor Pool, Free Secured Parking, Breakfast in the Room, WiFi and Daily Housekeeping
• For Reservation: 089800 16255