The Merwar fortress of Kumbalgarh is a major fortified citadel in Rajasthan, India. It stands as the second most important citadel after Chittorgarh. It is located 64 kms north of Udaipur in the wilderness. Cradled in the Aravali Ranges amongst the cluster of 13 mountain peaks, the fort was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha. It is the principal fortification after Chittorgarh. Because of its inaccessibility and hostile topography, the fort had remained un-conquered. It also served the rulers of Mewar as a refuge in times of strife. It rises from a prominent ridge-1914 mtrs high from the sea level. The fort served as refuge to the baby King Udai of Mewar. The languages spoken here are Hindi, Rajasthani & English.

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 establishedUdaipur-the beautiful lake city. Within the fort are many magnificent palaces, an array of ruined temples & living quarters . It is also of historical significance as it is the birthplace of Mewar's legendary King Maharana Partap. The massive fort is encompassed by a 36 km long wall with around 360 temples as well as Palaces & 700 cannon Bunkers. It has 7 majestic gates and 7 ramparts &entrance to the fortress is possible through the 7 heavily fortified doors -one within the other. Rounded bastions and soaring watch towers 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 Pul’. It was last used in the 19th century.

The climate at Kumbalgarh gets very hot in summer & cold during winter especially during the nights. Light tropical cottons for summer & woolens for winters are recommended clothing. The best season to visit is from September to March.

All foreign visitors are required to carry a passport valid at least for the next 6 months. Visa exemptions include Bhutanese and Nepalese who are staying for less than 3 months & Special restrictions apply to Pakistani and Afghan nationals.

The biggest of all tourist attractions in Kumbhalgarh is the Kumbhalgarh Fort. The sprawling citadel on a hilltop is an impressive sight. The fort offers a panoramic view of the surroundings. Absence of royal grandeur and opulence becomes obvious as you visit the tourist attractions in Kumbhalgarh. The austere chambers, vast reservoirs, the easily defendable narrow staircases and the unassuming garden court give you the clear impression that this was actually a warriors hide out. A few other attractions are:

Badal Mahal: The Badal Mahal or the Palace of the Clouds is one of the most beautiful palaces inside the Kumbalgarh Fort. The highest of all the structures inside the fort, this picturesque palace offers a stunning view of the surrounding countryside & the fort as well.

Haldighati:  The scene of the famous battle of 1576 AD fought between Rana Pratap-the heroic son of Udai Singh and the massive forces of the mughal Emperor
Akbar. A beautiful Chhatri with white marble cloumns dedicated to Rana Pratap stands here.

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary: The 586 sq. km. Sanctuary sporting a rich variety of wildlife like the panther, sloth bear, wild boar, four horned antelope & scientifically bred crocodiles in the lake are the major attractions. The sanctuary is also noted for flamingoes, cormorants, spoonbills, rosy pelican & egrets in winter to name a few. The park is a place not to miss if travelling to Kumbalgarh.

Mucchal Mahavir Temple: The Mucchal Mahavir temple that is 5 km away from Ghanerao in the Kumbalgarh Sanctuary is known for its statue of Lord Mahavira with a mustache. The gateway is decorated with statues of elephants which give it a majestic look. A number of colorful Garasia tribal villages located nearby also draw many tourists to this site

Rajsamand Lake: On the way to Kumbhalgarh lies a magnificent dam-the Rajsamand Lake. The royal lake was built in 1660 by Rana Raj Singh. From here one can have a spectacular view the sunset with beautiful ‘torans’ or arches & chhatris adorning the embankment. The lake has of a Rest House of the Irrigation Department on the embankment below with a beautifully laid out garden interspersed with exuqisite sculptures excavated from the ruins nearby.

Where To Eat:

As Kumbalgarh is a small destination, one may not find too many eateries there. There are a few good hotels in Kumbalgarh where accommodation is also available. It is best to rely on these hotels to eat traditional Rajasthani fare.

Where To Stay:

One may not find numerous hotels in Kumbhalgarh but there are quite a few hotels that fall in the heritage category since they are the old forts or palaces opened for tourist accommodation. Prices are within the moderate range. Impressive architecture, beautiful locales and royal splendor distinctly mark the hotels in Kumbhalgarh. The hotels also have good location from where it is easy to explore the Kumbhalgarh Fort. Special evenings & theme dinners are arranged in most hotels in Kumbhalgarh. Bonfire, folk music, puppet shows would offer enchanting glimpses of local Rajasthani culture to the tourists.

A couple of hotels where one can stay are Hotel Aodhi & Hotel Kumbalgarh Fort .

Ranakpur Temples (85 km from Udaipur and 50 km from Kumbalgarh): The beautiful Jain temples are a fine example of the temple architecture.

The town of Kankroli nearby with a marvelous temple and a pretty palace on the hill top offers another scenic experience.

Also the cities of Udaipur at 90kms & Jodhpur at 160kms.

Ranakpur is recommended as a stopover in the tour of Rajasthan but not as a sole travel destination.