Kumbhalgarh Fort, Udaipur 
Located
64 kms north of Udaipur in the wilderness, Kumbhalgarh is the second most important
citadel after Chittorgarh in the Mewar region. Cradled in the Aravali Ranges the
fort was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha. Because of its inaccessibility
and hostile topography the fort had remained un-conquered.
It also served
the rulers of Mewar as a refuge in times of strife. The fort also served as refuge
to the baby king Udai of Mewar. It is also of sentimental significance as it is
the birthplace of Mewar's legendary King Maharana Partap.
The fort is
self-contained and has within its amalgam almost everything to withstand a long
siege. The fort fell only once that too to the combined armies of Mughal and of
Amber for scarcity of drinking water. Many magnificent palaces an array of temples
built by the Mauryas of which the most picturesque place is the Badal Mahal or
the palace of the clouds.
The fort also offers a superb birds view of
the surroundings. The fort's thick wall stretches some 36 kms and is wide enough
to take eight horses abreast. Maharana Fateh Singh renovated the fort in the 19th
century. The fort's large compound has very interesting ruins and the walk around
it can be very rewarding.
The Kumbhalgarh Fort also has a great significance
by being the birthplace of Maharana Pratap and as the finest examples of defensive
fortification in Rajasthan. The most interesting part is that this fort has a
fort within itself. Named Kartargarh, the inner fort has a palace built by Maharana
Fateh Singh after he had pulled down the old palace built by Rana Kumbha.
Some remains of the old palace are still there below the new one which includes
the portion that had been occupied by Prithvi Raj. Kartargarh has 365 temples
and shrines including one with a huge Shivlinga dedicated to Lord Shiva. The sanctuary
is famous for it's wildlife which includes- wolf, leopard, jackal and a variety
of birds. The sanctuary is one of the few parks that allows people on horseback.
"
Kumbhalgarh Fort - Udaipur, Rajasthan Forts Reservation Form "
Rajasthan Forts Mehrangarh
Fort, Jodhpur || Rohet
Fort, Near Jodhpur || Luni
Fort, Near Jodhpur || Bila
Quila Fort, Alwar || Kumbhalgarh
Fort, Udaipur || Junagarh
Fort, Bikaner || Jaisalmer
Fort, Jaisalmer || Taragarh
or The Star Fort, Bundi || Fort,
Chittorgarh || Lohagarh
Fort, Bharatpur || Nahargarh
Fort, Nahargarh || Fort
of Shahbad and Mosque, Near Kota