Kumbhalgarh Fort - The Glory of Rana Kumbha and Mewar

Kumbhalgarh Fort 

by @Kurt993

Inside of the Kumbhalgarh Fort Walls

A hill fort that was built on the highest peak on the westerly range of the Aravali hills. This Fort has seen the death of a king by his own son. This fort is the second largest fort of Rajasthan and known by the name of Kumbhalgarh. This fort was built by Rana Kumbha on the ruins of a fort which is believed to have been built by the Mauryan King Samprati during the 6th century. Earlier the fort was believed to be named as Machhindrapur. 

Walls of the Kumbhalgarh Fort

The Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second longest wall complex in the world after the Great Wall of China. This fort had protected the Mewar families for 100s of years. This fort houses many palaces and temples. There are some 360 temples inside the fort walls, Of which 300 are known to be as ancient Jain temples and the rest Hindu temples. But I one I personally love is the Nilkanth Mahadev Mandir (Lord Shiva Temple). This temple houses a 5-6 feet black marble Shiva Linga. The locals say that Rana Kumbha used to worship the Shiva Linga placed in this temple every morning. This temple consists of a sanctum and an open pillared mandapa all around it, you can enter this temple from all four sides.

Shiva Linga placed in the Nilkanth Mahadev Mandir 

Kumbhalgarh Fort is known to be one of the massive Forts in Rajasthan after Chittorgarh Fort. The Fort is known for its glorious past, the past which is also related to a spiritual preceptor, who sacrificed himself as a voluntary human sacrifice after the unsuccessful attempts of building the fort wall. 

Rana Kumbha was said to own 84 forts in his kingdom, also it is said that he had designed 32 forts of them, of which Kumbhalgarh fort is the largest and the most complicated one. The main palace in this fort is situated next to the Pagda pol (Pagda Gate - Just another gate in the fort) that is Kumbha palace. This palace is the actual place where the Rana Kumbha used to live. One can have the full panoramic view of the whole fort from the windows of this palace.

From the windows of Kumbha Palace

The Kumbha Palace is not that grand, as it is said that Rana Kumbha was a very sober man. The Kumbha palace is a 2 storey palace which consists of two rooms and a corridor which opens to an open space in the front of the palace. You will also find the rooms of this palace quite small as compared to the other Rajasthani palaces. 

From the terrace of the Balal Mahal's Mardana Mahal

Right next to the Kumbha palace is the Badal Mahal (Palace of Clouds). This palace is the newest built palace of the fort and is situated at the top of the Kumbhalgarh Fort. This palace is a two-storied structure and is divided into two interconnected distinct portions and are named as the Mardana Mahal (Palace for males) and the Zanana Mahal (Palace for females). There are many rooms in both the portions. These rooms are painted with the Rajasthani pastel-colored murals from the 19th century.

Image from the top of the Badal Mahal

As Kumbhalgarh Fort also separates Mewar from Marwar. One can watch Marwar from the terrace of the Badal Mahal. This fort at times was used as a place of refuge for the rulers of Mewar.

"There are more stories about Kumbhalgarh Fort, I'll write them in my next blog on Kumbhalgarh Fort. Till then keep reading - Kurt"