During our second day stay in Udaipur (check the post here to know the complete itinerary ) we went to Kumbhalgarh Fort. This how we covered Kumbhalgarh Fort In our Udaipur Itinerary
Travel
Kumbhalgarh is around 2 hours from Udaipur. Here you will become so proud of your culture that the 3000 crores statue looks like a gimmick. This is among the largest fort complexes in the world and the second-largest fort in India after the Chittor fort.
We started in the morning and to keep our travel less tiring we booked a taxi from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh, the return fare was around Rs. 1500. There is a very low fee charged for visiting the fort charged by the Archaeology Survey of India. The fort has a very big entrance gate with some monkeys waiting for your welcome.
Entrance and Food
You will have some restaurants at the entrance itself where you can have breakfast, so we had poha (flattened rice) which was good enough to charge us towards the fort also you won’t find any restaurant after this so buy all the water bottles you can.
Kumbhalgarh Fort has a tedious walk, with monkeys everywhere you have to hide all your food. They generally don’t snatch it unless you provoke them. You have to be a little cautious with them as they are not as wild as they seem but quite dangerous.
So when we were walking towards Kumbhalgarh Fort, there was a group of guys who were just creating havoc and provoking monkeys with lays. So my wife who was walking ahead of me unaware of this was suddenly surrounded by monkeys and those guys. She became so scared, she picked up a stone and aimed it towards the boys.
That group and I felt into a verbal argument, but since I was alone and they were 10-15 I just ignored any argument and moved forward.
It took us around 10 minutes to get back to normal from this trauma. We then get surrounded by some nice people. It felt good to have good people around you.
Stories
Kumbhalgarh is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap. One of the greatest King India/ Hindustan ever had. This fort was built by Rana Kumbha. This fort also acts as separation of Mewar and Marwar region.
When Akbar attacked Chittaur, prince Udai was smuggled here for the safety of the heir, who later went on to built Udaipur and Udai fort. This fort only fell once when Raja Mansingh under the Mughal ruler Akbar attacked it. This was after the battle of Haldighati with Maharana Pratap.
Grandeur of Fort
There are over 360 temples within the fort, 300 ancient Jain and the rest Hindu. From the palace top, you can see the Aravalli Range. The sand dunes of the Thar Desert can be seen from the fort walls as well.
The restrictions to go around the fort are very minimal unless there is some restoration work is going on, you can explore every room, every hall, and every rooftop.
This site is generally ignored by popular tourist guides. It should be in your must-visit place.
The marvelous structure, the vastness, the stories which were weaved through the huge gates, domes, and Hall’s flow through you. You can feel how the horses, ladies playing with their kids, big armored soldier, King with their ministry, and the grandeur of the fort would have looked like.
This feeling of joy will engulf you in its charm. You will stand on the rooftop seeing the mighty area where the free flow of air will fill your lungs with pride.
Also, we visited this February, if you are coming from Uadaipur post, itinerary is very detailed there.
Add Ons
Maharana Kumbha used to burn massive lamps that consumed fifty kilograms of ghee and a hundred kilograms of cotton to provide light for the farmers who worked during the nights in the valley.
Don’t forget to visit the Maharana Pratap museum of Haldighati. This will tell you the story which you may not read in textbooks and how United India was. How the war with Akbar was a war of power and religion. It will enlighten you with knowledge and make you go forward in life.
This trip took us whole day as exploration is very wide and the fort is massive, so make your plan accordingly.
FAQ for Kumbhalgarh Fort In Udaipur Itinerary
It’s Kumbhalgarh. Kumbhalgarh is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is near to Udaipur and easily reachable.
Its 85 Kms, 2 hours journey via private vehicle.
There are few resorts which you can look for, but we suggest you to stay in Udaipur.
There is one at fort itself, but after visiting the fort you may feel hungey. There are few just after leaving the kumbhalgarh fort. Do not miss them, else you won’t find any good eating joints otherwise.
Approx 3 hours.
Pingback: Udaipur Royalty and its Magnificence - Udaipur itinerary 4 days - Thought Gem
Pingback: Udaipur Royalty and its Magnificence - Udaipur itinerary 4 days - Thought Gem