Palace on Wheels
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Welcome to the unpublicized rugged appeal of Kumbhalgarh, a UNESCO World Heritage site, situated in Rajsamand, Udaipur, Rajasthan. The grand Kumbhalgarh fort, built in the 15th century by Maharana Kumbha, stands on a 1180m high ridge and gives a panoramic view of the countryside and the thirteen mountain peaks of the Aravali. The fort has seven gates and is surrounded by watch towers, and has 360 temples inside.
The fort walls are 7-20 meters thick, 40 meters high, and extend up to 10 km. A walk along the fort wall reveals the rugged beauty of the Rajasthani countryside and its natural beauty. The winding fort wall comes after the ‘Great Wall of China’.
The Lakhola Tank, constructed by Rana Lakha, is located on the Western side of Kelwara town. Other architectural structures are Aaret Pol, Halla Pol , Ram Pol and Hanuman Pol near Bavadi, which are the gates of the fort. There are inscriptions on the foot of idols in Hanuman Pol detailing the construction of the fort. Most of these buildings are visible from the Ram Pol.
The earliest temple built inside the fort is believed to be a Ganesh temple. The Neel Kanth Mahadeva temple is located on the eastern side of the fort. The central shrine of Shiva is supported by 24 huge pillars. Here, the idol of Shiva is made of black stone and has 12 hands.
Parsva Natha temple is a Jain temple built on the eastern side of the fort along with Bawan Jain temples and Golera Jain temple. The other temples within the fort are Mataji temple, Neelkanth temple, Mamdeo temple, Pital Shah Jain temple, and Surya Mandir.
Both the Hindu and the Jain temples are examples of the exquisite beauty of Indian architecture. You cannot help but be awed by these century-old beauties.
The Kumbhalgarh Fort was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2013. This fort is an example of Rajput military hill architecture. Kumbhalgarh includes a beautiful Kumbhalgarh Forest Retreat with a view of the lake, and it will give you a countryside feeling and charm.
The Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary is just 4 km away from the fort. You can enjoy the jeep safari and spend a day in the lap of nature, witnessing the wildlife through the crocodile farm and watching the birdlife at the Thandi Beri Lake. Some hotels also offer horse riding.
It is truly a magnificent temple surrounded by mountains and has 1444 pillars, but no two pillars are alike. This Jain Temple complex is in glittering white marble. The architecture inside the temple will take your breath away.
So, while visiting Rajasthan, make sure that Kumbhalgarh is in your list.
Kumbhalgarh is 80 km away from Udaipur Railway Station, 85 km from Falna Railway Station, and 95 km from Udaipur Airport. For a lifetime memory of Kumbhalgarh, the best way to travel is by the “Palace on Wheels”, one of the most renowned luxury trains of India. The train has a 7-night and 8-day itinerary departing from New Delhi, and covers Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, Agra, and then finally arrives at New Delhi.
On the 4th day, the train reaches Udaipur, from where you can see the Kumbhalgarh fort. The expert guides of Palace on Wheels give you a vivid description of the gallant stories of Kumbhalgarh heroes, making your exploration more interesting.
On arriving in Udaipur, you will first visit Lake Pichola and then Kumbhalgarh Fort.