The Great Wall of India

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Kumbhalgarh, also known as the Great Wall of India is a Mewar fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills, in the Rajsamand district near Udaipur of Rajasthan state in western India.

Located 84 kms north of Udaipur in the wilderness, Kumbhalgarh is the second most important citadel after Chittorgarh in the Mewar region. Cradled in the Aravali Ranges, surrounded by thirteen hill peaks of the ranges and is perched at an elevation of 1,914 m. the fort was built in the 15th century AD by Rana Kumbha. Being the Second longest wall of the world after the Great Wall of China, it is a World Heritage Site included in Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

Named after the King Kumbha, the Kumbhalgarh fort was cleverly designed on a hilltop to provide the strategic position to the Mewar kings to protect them against the attacks of the enemy. Kumbhalgarh is famous for its magnificent monuments, royal chhatris and glorious palaces. The Kumbhalgarh Fort with its intricately carved temples and superb artistry is one of the strongest fortresses in the country. Once the seat of Prince Samprati, during the 2nd century, Kumbhalgarh was the birthplace of Mewar’s legendary king, Maharana Pratap. Rana Kumbha, Kumbhalgarh’s most important ruler is credited with having designed 32 out of the 84 fortress that protected Mewar.

The inaccessibility and hostility of the topography lends a semblance of invincibility to the fort. It served the rulers of Mewar as a refuge in times of strife. Located at the foothills of pebbly mountains, the city is filled with tales of valor and heroism of the legendary Rana Kumbha. Kumbhalgarh Fort has a fort within itself.

History of Kumbhalgarh Fort

A famous story revolves around this striking fort according to which when Rana Kumbha began constructing the fort, he came across several difficulties after which he thought of giving up on the construction. One day, he met a holy man who advised him not to give up hope and that one day all his problems would vanish away provided a pure-hearted man sacrificed his life willingly. Hearing this, the king got disappointed after which the holy man offered his own life to the king. He told the king to build the entrance of the Kumbhalgarh Fort where he was going to get beheaded and palaces where all his body would fall. Following his advice, Rana Kumbha did exactly what was told to him and succeeded in building the majestic fort.

Architecture of the Fort

The Kumbhalgarh Fort lies on a hilltop which is 1100 meters above sea level. The fort comprises of around seven gates and a total of 360 temples within, 300 of which are ancient Jain while the others are Hindu. The gate of the striking fort is humongous and is also known as Ram Gate or Ram Pol. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva inside which showcases a huge Shivalinga. There is a Lakhola Tank present inside this resplendent fort which was constructed by Rana Lakha between 1382 and 1421 CE. Aaret Pol, Halla Pol, Ram Pol and Hanuman Pol are the major gates of the fort. On the foot of the Hanuman Pol is the presence of an inscription indicating its detailed construction. Bad Shahi Bavdi is a stepped tank which was constructed when Shahbaz Khan invaded India in 1578. The Ram Pol is an architectural wonder from where one can witness all the other buildings easily.

Kumbhalgarh Fort- The Great Wall of India

The grand wall of Kumbhalgarh fort which runs through the entire fortress is considered to be the longest wall in the world right after 'The Great Wall of China'. Hence, it is fondly known as 'The Great Wall of India'. The wall stretches over a distance of 36 km. It is 15 m wide which is wide enough for eight horses to walk abreast.

The Kumbhalgarh Fort wall is built out of the stone bricks and passes through the valleys of the Aravali ranges and ends at the top of the hill. Some stretches of the wall have been ruined with time. It has a great resemblance to the Great Wall of China and is one of the hidden gems of India.