You might sometimes feel that Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and even Jaisalmer seem to be overrated. Everybody has once or twice been to these gems of Rajasthan. But have you ever visited the Kumbhalgarh Fort? It’s a magnificent fort that is isolated but never fails to sing the epic tales of the gracious and bellicose Rajputana period. Located about 80km northern side of Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh’s fortifications stands second in comparison to the size of the Great Wall of China. Kumbhalgarh Fort is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to Maharaja Kumbha who led the construction of this magnificent fort in the 15th century. If you are visiting this enormous fort, make sure you pay a visit to the jagged Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary as well.

Let’s take a brief guidance on traveling to the Kumbhalgarh Fort-

History-

The fort took a span of 15 years and the construction was supervised by the expert architect Mandan. The fort is flawlessly balanced between 11 peaks of the Aravalli ranges. They say this fort is impregnable. Why? It stands high on the edge cloaked by the contiguous mountaintops that makes it one of the most significant forts of Rajasthan. The Mughals captured the fort through their treachery after poisoning the water supply of the fort.

Places to see inside the Kumbhalgarh Fort-

There are several significant structures that await your presence, like the Kumbha Palace, Badal Mahal, and stunning Brahmanical and Jain temples that count to more than 360. Badal Mahal is the birthplace of the legendary Maharana Pratap. The most noteworthy temple is the Neelkanth Mahadev temple as it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is said that Maharana Pratap used to carry with his daily chores only after he offered his prayers in this temple. Other significant temples that you can visit here are the Parsvanath Jain temple, the Bawan Devi temple, Vedi temple, and Ganesh temple. There is this Kumbha Palace which is built in a royal Rajputana style with a stunning blue durbar hall. The birth place of Maharana Pratap is called the Jhalia ka Malia, which is a must-see place. Another significant spot to embrace is the Nimbu Pol, where the faithful Panna Dhai saved the young Maharaja Udai Singh by swapping his place with her own son when the enemies had attacked.

Places to say near the Kumbhalgarh Fort- 

Kumbha Bagh- This royal hotel is located just 200m away from the fort and it gives you some of the most attractive views of the Kumbhalgarh fort from each room of the palace. With just INR 5,500, you can experience its regal and majestic décor and luxurious facilities that this palace provides.

Aodhi Hotel- Not very far from the fort, Aodhi Hotel gives you a luxurious tour of a palace and its wonderful facilities at just INR 4,500.

Best time to visit the fort- You can visit the fort from November to February. You can also visit during the monsoons (July-August) as you’ll find the landscape prettier, greener, and the pleasing weather. It will be a one-day trip only.

The Best Way to Reach Kumbhalgarh Fort-

You’ll find the nearest railway station and Airport at Udaipur and the fort is just a 2-hour long ride from Udaipur city. If you are taking a route from Delhi to Udaipur, take a flight or train as reaching Kumbhalgarh Fort via road may take more than 12 hours. So, the best way to reach the fort would be take a bus or car from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh Fort.

Entry Fees and Timings-

The entry fees for Indian citizens and visitors of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries is INR 15, whereas it is INR 200 for foreigners. The Kumbhalgarh Fort opens from 9am to 6pm every day.

A Few Tips-

The walk inside the fort could be really long, tiresome, and boring. It is suggested you wear comfortable shoes and take water bottles with you. Do not miss the Light & Sound show at 06:45 pm every day. It’s an amazing show that depicts interesting stories of the Rajputs of Mewar.
Tickets for the show: INR 100 for adults and INR 50 for kids.