Kumbhalgarh

Imagine a dark night when the infant Udai Singh is being smuggled from Bundi and hidden in the inner chambers of the Kumbhalgarh fort by his faithful maid Panna Dhai. The reason: to save him from the murderous uncle who desired his throne. The Kumbhalgarh Fort has borne witness to intrigue in its most intense form.

Cradled in a cluster of thirteen mountain peaks of the Aravali range stands this formidable medieval citadel. Rising 1914 meters high from the sea level, the fort was built in the 15th century AD. by Maharana Kumbha (1419-63 A.D.) and is the principal fortification after Chittaurgarh, 90 kms northwest of Udaipur.

The massive fort, encompassed by a 36 kms. long wall, has seven majestic gates and seven ramparts, one within the other. Rounded bastion and soaring watch towers loom over the crenellated walls of the fort making it totally impregnable. The Nimboo Pol was built on the western side of the last gate. It was here that the infant Udai Singh was hidden.

Udai Singh ascended the throne of Mewar with Kumbhalgarh as his residence. Later he established Udaipur, a beautiful lake city of the many magnificent palaces and temples within the fort. The most remarkable is the Badal Mahal or the palace of the cloud. At a higher level than all the other royal residences, it offers a breathtaking birds eye view of the countryside surrounding the fort as well as of the other ruins within.

The ancient ruins of the temples inside the fort date back to the reign of the grandson of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka who belonged to the Jam community. Understandably most of the ruins in Kumbhalgarh are of Join temples of various periods.

In the east is a Kali temple and the Mamdev Kund with royal Chhatris. Another temple enshrines a black marble lingam. The mandap or hail of the temple is supported by fine fluted pillars with unique tapering shapes.