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.

Udaipur travel can be adventurous if you can plan an excursion to the Kumbhalgarh fort near Udaipur. Kumbhalgarh fort can be included while listing the places of interest in Udaipur. It is more interesting due to its hostile rough surroundings. Even if you want to spend your excursion in acute confinement then the fort in Kumbalgarh, which is near Udaipur, is the ideal destination for you. Kumbhalgarh fort is 64 km north of Udaipur and is standing on the surface of the sky reaching Aravilli ranges. Rana Kumbha built the fort of Kumbhalgarh and it became a safe shelter for the baby and future king Udai Singh. Also it was a safe hideout to countless Mewar rulers during the difficult times. It is also the birthplace of the honorable Maharana Pratap. Several massive armies had to lay their weapons under this massive and tough fort but unluckily the fort once turned out to be aggressive to its own people. Once when the combined army of Mughal and Amber attacked the fort the hideout became their deathbed, as there was a shortage of water. Because of its rough terrains it can also be said as one of the exotic destinations of Udaipur.

» Other Attractions in Udaipur

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary : Spread over an area of 578 sq km, the Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Wolf, leopards, sloth bear, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, nilgai, four horned antelope, chinkara, grey jungle fowl and a number of other animals inhabit this sanctuary. A birds watcher's paradise, the sanctuary serves as a habitat of peacocks, doves, red spur owls, parakeets, golden oriole, gray pigeons, bulbul, white breasted kingfisher, etc.

Haldighati :Haldighati was the venue of the famous battle fought between Rana Pratap (son of Udai Singh) and the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1576 AD. Haldighati has a chhatri (cenotaph) of Rana Pratap with white marble columns. Also present, is a small chatri dedicated to Rana Pratap's famous horse Chetak.

Muchchal Mahavir Temple :Muchchal Mahavir temple is famous for a statue of Lord Mahavira with a moustache, which it enshrines. Guarding the gateways of the temple are two beautiful elephant statues. The temple is situated in the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary, approximately 5 km from Ghanerao.

» Places to Stay in Udaipur

There are several budget hotels and paying guest accommodations available in Udaipur.

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» How to Get there

Air : The nearest airport is at Udaipur which is about 85 km.

Rail : Some train services connects Kumbhalgarh with some of the cities of Rajasthan.

Road : A good network of roads links Kumbhalgarh with many important cities in and outside the Rajasthan.

» Climate of Udaipur

Udaipur weather is quite moderate. The summer season in udaipur extends from April to July and is pretty hot and humid. The average temperature in summers falls in the range of 45° C (max) to 25.8° C (min). The climate of Udaipur in winters is pretty cold. Lasting from October to March, the winter season experiences average temperature in the range of 22° C (max) to 8.3° C (min). The climatic conditions of Udaipur, Rajasthan during this period lead to sunny day and chilly nights. Monsoons start around the latter half of July. However, the city of Udaipur does not receive much rainfall. Best time to visit Udaipur is during the winters.