The Great Wall of India: Kumbhalgarh
Everyone knows about the Great Wall of China but have you ever heard about the Great Wall of India? Don’t be surprised. It is gaining popularity now but still considered as a hidden gem of our incredible country INDIA. Amazingly, the Great Wall of India is a wonder of Rajasthan situated in Kumbhalgarh Fort. This wall is, in fact, the second longest wall in the world after China’s wall. The wall is extended up to 36 km around the Kumbhalgarh Fort and is a world heritage site. It is located in the wilderness of Aravalli hills in Rajasthan at 86 km North of Udaipur – City of Lakes.
Know the rich heritage of Kumbhalgarh
Kumbhalgarh is the birthplace of great king and warrior of Mewar dynasty – Maharana Pratap.
Kumbhalgarh Fort was built in 15th century by Rana Kumbha of Mewar dynasty from the Sisodia Rajput clan. It took 15 years to complete the construction of the fort with the aid of famous architect of the era-‘Madan’ The fort is now declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is considered under group Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
Kumbhalgarh Fort
The Kumbhalgarh fort gets its name from Rana Kumbha who built this fort on a hilltop at 1100 m above sea level The Fort has been the place of refuge to kings of Mewar on many occasions. This was the place where King Udai Singh was hidden during his childhood after he was rescued from the attack of Balbir in Chittorgarh. The Kumbhalgarh Fort is known as the jewel of Mewar kingdom. It is protected by the second longest wall in the world and includes magnificent 360 temples inside it. Out of these 300 are Jain temples and 60 are Hindu temples. There were many additions done by Maharanas of Mewar in the fort but the original structure built by Rana Kumbha remains.
The fort was occupied until late 19th century and is now open to the public. It is among the largest fort complexes in the world and the second largest fort in India after Chittorgarh fort.
The Fort Wall- Great Wall of India
The Great Wall is extended up to 36 km perimeter. The frontal walls are 15 feet thick. There are 7 fortified gateways. One can see sand dunes of the Thar Desert from the fort wall. From the top of the fort palace, one can possibly see kilometers into the Aravalli ranges.
Popular Folklore– Rana Kumbha used to burn massive lamps to provide light for the farmers who worked during nights in the valley. This consumed around 50 kg of ghee and 1000 kg of cotton to light the lamps daily.
Cultural Activities
In the remembrance of the passion of Rana Kumbha towards art and architecture, the Rajasthan Tourism Department organizes a three day annual festival in the fort during winters. Light and sound shows are organized in the fort every evening. Various concerts and dance events are organized from time to time in the fort.
Other places to visit in Kumbhalgarh
1. Badal Mahal
The Mahal is part of Kumbhalgarh fort and is divided into two sections :
Zanana Mahal– The hall of royal ladies
Mardana Mahal– The hall of royal men
Both these sections have astounding architecture and the surrounding view from the top of the tower is spell-bounding.
2. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva whose 6 feet Lingam is situated inside the temple. The temple is located within the vicinity of Kumbhalgarh fort.
3. Mammadev Temple
The temple is right below the Kumbhalgarh Fort. It has a couple of royal cenotaphs in the memory of Rana Kumbha and Prithviraj Chauhan. There is also a huge water reservoir next to the temple.
4. Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its 40 strong wolf pack, which is rarely found elsewhere. It covers a total surface area of 578 sq km stretching across the Aravalli ranges. The various variety of endangered and rare animal species and almost 200 different species of birds are found in the Sanctuary.
How to reach Kumbhalgarh?
By Air: Maharana Pratap Airport at Dabok is the nearest airport. It is situated 22 km east of Udaipur and at 85 km from Kumbhalgarh. From Dabok, one can hire a taxi or bus to reach Kumbhalgarh.
By Train: The nearest railway station is at Falna and Udaipur which are 80 km and 85 km away from Kumbhalgarh respectively.
By Road: There is no bus station at Kumbhalgarh. But there are regular buses of Rajasthan State Government which connect Kumbhalgarh to various cities. One can take a bus from Udaipur, Falna, Jodhpur, Ajmer, and Pushkar to reach Kumbhalgarh.
Where to stay?
The Kumbhalgarh is a place where you need to stay as this is located in the vast wilderness of Rajasthan. We have some suggested stays out there. You can go for any among our top picks for a stay in Kumbhalgarh:
The Aodhi, Fateh Safari Lodge, Kumbhalgarh Safari Camp, Palace Rajkumbha, Via Lakhela Resort & Spa, and Kumbhalgarh Fort Resort. These all are less than 8 km away from Kumbhalgarh Fort.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Kumbhalgarh is in winter from October to March. Book your trip from Get your guide for the best exploration around Kumbhalgarh ?
Traxplorers’ visit experience to Kumbhalgarh fort wall
We were totally captivated by the magnificent architecture of the Kumbhalgarh fort and quite impressed with the 20-feet thick encircling walls which snake over the hills for around 36 km with seven fortified gates!
Our walk to the top of Kumbhalgarh palace along with our youngest trekker, Karen was the wonderful experience to hold. We enjoyed the sunset view from the top glorifying the fort walls in Aravalli ranges. We personally, loved the silhouette at the top during sunset.
Pro-tips
- Do not visit Kumbhalgarh in the summer or rainy season. It is extremely hot and uncomfortable outdoor.
- The Fort entry closes at sharp 5 PM after that only light and sound show entry is available. If you can then don’t miss the show telling stories of glorious past of Mewar Kingdom Rajputs. So, prepare your itinerary likewise.
- The usual time duration for the Fort visit is 2-3 hours but we suggest a day for the whole Kumbhalgarh trek.
- As the fort is huge, you need to walk a lot. At some points, a strenuous uphill walking is required. So bring good walking shoes.
- Spend some time in the wilderness of Kumbhalgarh.
Watch the video below to get a glimpse of the Great Wall of India ?
Where to next?
Next, we will be heading towards another place full of an incredible history of Rajasthan – Chittorgarh. Stay tuned! ?
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