Kumbhalgarh: The Great Wall of India

MONUMENTS OF INDIA SERIES | EPISODE 2 Kumbhalgarh Fort | THE GREAT WALL OF INDIA After the largest statue in the world we moved to the longest wall of the country, our journey to explore the great monuments India can never be complete without exploring the Kumbhalgarh fort. Every fort in India has its unique architecture and history, but there is probably no fort that can match the grandeur of the Kumbhalgarh fort. The road approaching to Kumbhalgarh is really narrow, yet it provides one of the best road trip experience in the country in fact the remoteness is real beauty of the place. This single strip of road will introduce you to the lush green landscape of southern Rajasthan. But one has to be mindful of the turns and unexpected fellow travellers. Standing on the Aravali ranges at a height 1100 meters. The fort was built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century and that’s where it derived its name Kumbhalgarh. While the early history of the fort could not be traced back, the original fort is believed to have been built by King Samprati of the Mauran Age, his inclination towards Jainism is reflected in the fact that out of the 360 temples in the fort premiseS 300 of them are Jain temples. Out of the 84 forts in his dominion, Rana Kumbha is said to have built 32 of them, of which Kumbhalgarh is the largest and most elaborate. Kumbhalgarh also separates Mewar and Marwar region and was used as a place of refuge for the rulers of Mewar at times of danger. It was the year 1443, when continuous attacks by Alauddin Khilji and other powerful forces has reduced the influence of Mewar kingdom significantly. In order to wade of the imminent danger Rana Kumbha made an ambitious plan to construct the largest fort of the area. Truly a symbol of human determination overpowering the improbable. Kumbhalgarh fort also holds the honour of being the birthplace of the brave Maharana Pratap, the great warrior of Mewar who didn’t succumb to the mighty Mughal empire. The strategic location of the fort made made it impregnable to direct assaults. Ahmed Shah I of Gujarat, who is known as the founder of Ahmedabad city, attacked the fort in 1457, but could not breach its strong defence it was a local belief then that the forest deity or the Banmata deity in the fort, protected it and hence he destroyed the temple. The Kumbhalgarh fort remained almost invincible throughout the Mewar rulers era. Though it was captured only once in the history by the joint army of four kings - Mughal king Akbar, Amer’s Man Singh, Mewar’s Udai Singh, and the Sultan of Gujarat. But it was again recaptured by Maharana Pratap in 1585. There were additions made by Maharanas of Mewar, but the original structure built by Maharana Kumbha remains. The fort is among the largest fort complexes in the world, and the second largest fort in India after Chittorgarh Fort. The wall that defines the perimeter of the fort is the world’s second largest wall after ‘ The Great wall of china’. It continuously stretches to 36 Kms in length and is 15 feet wide, enough for two cars to move together. After reaching the top of the Kumbhalgarh fort you can see miles into the beautiful landscape, even the Marwar and dunes of the Thar desert are visible in the clear weather. The Fort is bestowed with mesmerising natural beauty. If you are traveling in the monsoon, which is the best season to visit, you will find lush green Aravali ranges surrounding the fort, the clouds flying over your head and occasional showers.The ‘ Badal Mahal’ at the top of the fort is like a crown on the mountain peak and truly justifies its name. The Fort is indeed an architectural wonder, which gives a testimony of the art and culture of that era. The complex has 7 gates in all that has both artistic and strategic significance. The fort has dark congested stairs, which is a common feature of all the historical forts as it acts as an obstacle for the invading army. If you are truly up for it, you can fancy scaling the whole 36 km stretch of the wall that moves through scenic valleys and thick forests. The sanctuary is home to a wide diversity of species that can be found thriving in this unique landscape. Kumbhalgarh is truly a MOMENT OF REFUGE FOR SOMEONE WHO LIKES HISTORY, NATURE ……… …….WILDLIFE OR JUST A MOMENT OF PEACE. The fort is open from 9:00AM to 6:00PM every day throughout the year.The best time to visit the fort is during winters between the months of October to February when the climate is cooler. a film by - Amit