The Mountain Fortress In The Wilderness
Cradled in a cluster of 13 mountain
peaks of the Aravalli ranges, the formidable medieval
citadel - Kumbhalgarh stands a wary sentinel to the
past. Rising from a prominent ridge, 1914 meters high
from the sea level, the fort was built in by Maharana
Kumbha (1419-63 AD) and is the principal fortification
after Chittorgarh lying 90-kms north-west of Udaipur.
The massive fort, encompassed by a 36-km long wall,
has seven majestic gates and seven ramparts, one within
the other. Rounded bastions and soaring watchtowers
strengthen the crenellated walls of the fort making
it an impregnable structure.
Fascinating chambers are built on the western side
of the last gate - the 'Nimboo Pol'. According to
history, the infant Udai Singh was smuggled from Bundi
and hidden in these chambers by his faithful maid
Panna Dai to save him from the murderous intentions
of his uncles who desired the throne.
Udai Singh ascended the throne of Mewar with Kumbhalgarh
as his residence and later established Udaipur - the
beautiful Lake City.
Within the fort are many magnificent palaces and
an array of ruined temples.
The most picturesque of the palaces is the 'Badal
Mahal 'or the palace of the cloud. The palace has
got its name for being the highest of all the structures.
It offers a superb bird's eye view of the countryside
surrounding the fort as well as of other ruins within
the fort.
The ancient ruins of the temples within the fort
date back to the Mauryan period built during the reign
of the grandson of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka who
belonged to the Jain community. Most of the ruins
in Kumbhalgarh are of the Jain temples of various
periods.
As one moves to the East, Kali Temple and the Namadev
Kund with royal 'Chhatris' can be seen. Another noteworthy
temple, a little further; enshrines a fine black marble
'lingam'. The 'mandap' or the hall of the temple has
beautiful pillars, finely fluted and having a tapering
shape.
