Kumbhalgarh
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History and Construction
King Samprati, the great grandson of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, and the grandson of Ashoka the Great, inherited one half of his grandfather’s immense empire and ruled from 224 BCE. Though not much is known of his political acumen of any military exploits and invasions by others, he is recognized for his contribution to the propagation of Jainism in West and South India. The 300 Jain temples of the 360 temples in the Kumbalgarh Fort are a legacy of his efforts. He also initiated the construction of the Palitana Temples in Rajasthan. King Samprati died in 190 BCE.
For the duration of the construction, the Maharana was continually frustrated during his initial efforts to build the walls of the fort because they would collapse immediately after they were built. He approached an enlightened soul for advice. The sage told the Maharana that a man would have to volunteer to sacrifice his life before the construction could be successful. A temple was to be built where the beheaded man’s head fell and the main gate was constructed where his headless body lay. A volunteer did come forward and was ritually sacrificed. The main gate of the fortress, Hanuman Pol, has a shrine and a temple to commemorate the immense sacrifice.
Located on the banks of the Banas River
and 1,100 meters high into the mountains
of the Aravali Range, the thick walls of the fort are undulating due to the terrain and fold into one another. As one
approaches the fort, Arait Polis, the first massive gate that one sees with watch towers. Hulla Pol,
Hanuman Pol, Ram Pol, Bhairava Pol, Paghra Pol, Top-khana Pol, and Nimboo Pol in that order, are the
other six gates with Hunuman Pol being the main entrance. It is said that the Maharana used to burn 50 kilograms of ghee in the lanterns on the fortifications in
order to provide light for the farmers in the valleys below.
The fort, surrounded by 13 mountain peaks of the Aravali Range, is considered one of the most impregnable fortresses in India. It was captured once. But to the might of the four greatest armies of the time, those of Moghul Emperor Akbar, Raja Udai Sing of Mewra, the Sultan of Gujarat, and Raja Man Singh of Amber. The siege laid by the three armies deprived the fortress of water and had to be surrendered. The fortress served as a refuge for the Rajput Royals in times of distress. Prince Udai Singh was smuggled into the fort from Chittorgarh in 1537, to avoid being killed by his uncle who killed the Prince’s father and usurped the throne. Maharana Pratap, considered by the Rajput community as one of the bravest warriors ever, was born in the fort in 1540.
Visiting Kumbalgarh
The Kumbalgarh Fort, is 82 kilometers away from Udaipur City, which is equipped with a domestic airport connected by daily flights to Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. A drive to the fort will take two hours from the city. The fort is open to visitors on all days of the week and foreigners are charged an entry fee of ₨ 100 ($1.60). The Badal Palace has been converted into a museum. Other places that are worth visiting in Kumbalgarh are Haldighati, where the Maharana Pratap's Memorial is built, Kumbalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Muchachal Mahavir Temple, a Jain Temple.Around the city are several places of interest to a tourist. Several lakes, one within the compounds of City Palace, and Jain and Hindu temples and museums all make a visit to Udaipur and Kumbalgarh a cultural adventure.
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Author: jackmartis. Last updated: Dec 13, 2014
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