Tag: Kumbhalgarh fort

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Places to Visit

Scenic Places near Udaipur you can Visit in a Day: Part 1

Source:
Source: Trans India Travels

It’s famously believed that a beautiful thing leads to another beautiful thing. Udaipur is one such thing, rather a place, neighboring with surplus beautiful destinations. All we need from a monotonous week is a trip that resembles a chain reaction leading to bliss. A day to stock mental energy that lasts the whole week ahead. You deserve that off-day, travel as you mean it.

Places to visit in Udaipur are innumerable, but this piece of writing serves you a list of places encompassing Udaipur. It includes places that are almost or a bit more than at 2 hours of distance from Udaipur. If you are a tourist, then we hope that we have successfully extended your trip to Udaipur.

Jaisamand Lake 

Source: Clear Holidays

Planning a day trip to Jaisamand, you can expect breathtaking scenery, beautiful resorts, maybe haunted summer palaces, both flora, and fauna. It’s the second-largest artificial lake in Asia. You can relish in a serene boat ride at Jaisamand lake and have a lovely stay at Jaisamand Island Resort.

Jaisamand is at a distance of 75km (1hour and 40 minutes) from Udaipur.

Haldighati + Kumbhalgarh day out

Source: TFIPOST Haldighati
Source: Culture Trip Kumbhalgarh Fort

Kumbhalgarh is a magnificent fort near Udaipur. It is also a world heritage site included in Hill Forts of Rajasthan. It is the second-largest wall after the Great wall of China. The fort is as glorious as its tales and makes a suitable place for a day trip. On the way to Kumbhalgarh, Haldighati can also be visited. The ferocious war between Mughal emperor Akbar and Mewar King Maharana Pratap was fought here. Your time here can share with you the gore behind the name Haldigathi.

Haldighati is 50 km from Udaipur and on the way towards Kumbhalgarh. Distance between Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh is 85 km

Ranakpur Village 

Enchanting Travels

Ranakpur is an antiquated and charming village situated inside the cozy hug of Aravalli Mountain Range. It also has an artistically appealing and famous Jain temple. The temple is widely known for its intricate carving, exquisite finesse and not one pillar being identical to the other in terms of patterns chiseled on them. When you travel here, you can also visit the attractive Ranakpur Dam and Ranakpur Fort.

Ranakpur village is at a distance of 94km (1hour and 50 minutes) from Udaipur. 

Chittorgarh Fort 

Source: Housing

One of those great forts near Udaipur, it’s also called the Water Fort as a result of having 84 water bodies inside. Vijay Stambh and Kirti Stambh are the main attractions of the fort. A day trip to Chittorgarh will make you privy into the folds of history and severity of Jauhar.

At a distance of 115km (2 hours) from Udaipur, this fort stands tall atop a low mountain. 

Mount Abu District

Source: The Statesman

Acknowledge your desire to breathe in the crisp air of a hill station by planning a drive-up to this hill station near Udaipur. Anciently known as Arbudaanchal, you’ll be the spectators of gorgeous scenic beauty. There are various tourist attractions at Mount Abu, you may feel the need to extend your trip from a day to at least two days to revel in its tranquility. Dilwara Temple is one such marvel of Mount Abu.

Mount Abu is 163 km (3 hours) far from Udaipur.

Nathdwara

Source: Instagram

Nathdwara is a fascinating city with a river flowing along with it. It is brimming with spirituality and purity. It is also a festive city at certain times. It is advisable to not leave Udaipur before visiting here. The temples in this city are alluring, artistic, and simply beautiful. Worshippers of Shreenath Ji, flock here several times a year.

Nathdwara is 46km (1 Hour) afar from Udaipur. 

Ekling Ji Temple 

eklingji temple
Source: Rajasthantourismbuzz

Also known as Kailashpuri, this temple is excellent in its allure. It’s exquisite and makes one quite thoughtful. A day out for spirituality will undoubtedly cleanse the tiresome week you must have had. Ekling Ji temple is one of a kind in terms of architecture. 

Ekling Ji Temple’s distance from Udaipur is 21 km (25 minutes).

Rajsamand 

Source: Patrika

Rajsamand is a small town with a famous artificial lake. For anyone who desires to spend a peaceful day, the lake is quite scenic. It has the ever-golden backdrop of the Aravalli Range. There are a few more tourist spots in this town, it would make for a great day to spend as a holiday.

Rajsamand is at a distance of 62 km (1 hour 10 minutes) from Udaipur.

Plan a one-day trip to any of these places for your deserved holiday. Breath in the beauty and exhale the worry. Let yourself detoxify from the burden of the week spent working. For more such gorgeous places read part 2 of this article.

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Events

The Grand Festival of Kumbhalgarh will Start from Tomorrow

Kumbhalgarh Festival is a 3-day festival organized by the Department of Tourism of Rajasthan every year at Kumbhalgarh fort. The grand event commemorates the contribution of Maharana Kumbha’s contribution towards art and culture. Throughout the fest, the fort is embellished so much so that the tourists and even the locals are just astonished by its beauty.

Source: Oh my rajasthan

This 3-day fest will begin from tomorrow i.e. 1st December 2018, coming to an end by 3rd December 2018. It showcases all the colors of Rajasthani culture through its dance performance and other activities. The competitions and programmes carried out in the fest simply escalates the zeal and enthusiasm of the people and makes them feel what it was like in the bygone era of Mewar.

The fest includes performances by various renowned artists from all over the country. Sound and light shows are conducted too with the Kumbhalgarh Fort in the background.

Day 1 – Dance performances like Ghoomar, Kalbeliya dance and Kachchi Ghodi will mark the beginning of the fest at Yagya Vedi Chowk of Kumbhalgarh. These Rajasthani dance performances will be followed by a Kathak dance by Sayani Chavda of Kolkata in the evening.

Source: Travup

Day 2 – Second would be a fun-filled day with the most happening Tug of war competition between locals and foreigners. In addition to that, turban tying competition will be conducted on all 3 days.

Source: Oh my rajasthan

Day 3 – The last day of the fest will include Sufi song performances, Rajasthani folk dance and music, and classical songs and dance.

Source: Ohmyrajasthan

The most awaited performance of the fest is that of Gulabo who is a Rajasthani dancer. Gulabo has gained international fame from her outstanding dance moves. One of the most famous works of her is ‘Kaalyo kood padyo mela mein’.

Do you have any feedback or suggestions regarding the article? Write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com.

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Places to Visit

Weekend getaways near Udaipur

Talking about getaways, it is quite ironic as Udaipur itself is a popular weekend getaway destination for people living in nearby cities because unlike other metropolitan cities, Udaipur is a relaxed and joyous place to be, still, sometimes the repetitive and tedious schedule gets to your nerves. Hence, it becomes necessary to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and make a quick escape to relax your bones. Surrounded by the magnificent Aravalli hills, there are plenty of weekend getaways from the city.
Here we present you a list of popular getaways from the city of lakes within a distance of 200 km.

1. Mount Abu-

source: The Indian Wire

The most popular travel destination for localities as well as travellers, Mount Abu is the only hill station located in the Sirohi district of the deserted state of Rajasthan. The hill station definitely deserves a visit, especially in this scorching heat season.

Distance from Udaipur: 163.3 km (2 hr 46 min)
Ideal weekend duration: 2 days
Popular Attractions: Nakki lake, sunset point, Dilwara Jain temples
Accessible by: Taxi and Bus

2. Kumbhalgarh-

Source: V resorts
Kumbhalgarh Fort

Kumbhalgarh also is known as ‘the great wall of India’ is a perfect getaway destination for people who love history and art. The gigantic fort is said to be the birthplace of Maharana Pratap and will leave you awestruck.
Distance from Udaipur: 102.5 km (2 hrs 12 min)
Ideal weekend duration: 1 day
Popular Attractions: Kumbhalgarh fort, Badal Mahal, Wildlife sanctuary.
Accessible by: Bike, Taxi and bus

3. Ranakpur-

This is probably the most popular destination; bike riders have got up their sleeves. The eye-catching view of the Jain temples made with white marble architecture is beyond description.
Distance from Udaipur: 93.5 km (1 hr 55 min)
Ideal weekend duration: less than 1 day.
Popular Attractions:  Ranakpur Jain temple, Surya Narayan temple, Muchhal Mahavir temple.
Accessible by: Bike, Taxi and Bus.

4. Chittorgarh-

Chittorgarh Fort

Erstwhile the Capital of the Mewar Queen, Padmavati, Chittorgarh stands as the reminiscent of the Royal Mewar period and depicts the valour and bravery of Rajputs. If you are a history buff, then you will have a great time here and it is actually one of the surreal places to be in Udaipur.
Distance from Udaipur: 113 km (2hr 8min)
Ideal weekend duration: less than 1 day.
Popular Attractions: Chittorgarh Fort, Rana Kumbha Palace, Padmini Palace.
Accessible by: Bike, Train, Taxi and Bus.

5. Nathdwara-

Nathdwara

Built in 12th century, in the honour of Lord Krishna, Shreenath Ji is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus. People from all over the world fly down to this pious place to seek blessings of the Lord. This is a must visit place.
Distance from Udaipur: 52 min. (45.4 km)
Ideal weekend duration: Less than a day.
Popular attractions: Shreenath Ji temple, The Dwarkadheesh temple, Charbhuja.
Accessible by: Bike, Taxi and Bus

6. Jaisamand-

Jaisamand Lake

Being a native of Udaipur, if you still desire to explore more lakes, then this place is definitely for you. The calm place is every photographer’s paradise. Interesting fact, Jaisamand lake is also the largest artificial lake in Asia.
Distance from Udaipur: 1hr 4min. (41 km)
Ideal weekend duration: less than a day.
Popular attractions: Jaisamand lake, Jaisamand sanctuary and Jaisamand lake resort.
Accessible by: Bike, Taxi and Bus.

This was a list of major and the most popular travel getaways near Udaipur. How many places have you visited? Do share it with us. We would love to hear from you.

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Places to Visit

Kumbhalgarh : The Great Wall of India

The memories of men are frail …
therefore stands a fortress as thread ..
to hang history from then till now…

Built on a hilltop, Kumbhalgarh is a Mewar fortress located on the banks of Banas River cradled in the Aravalli Hill in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan state in western India. It is the second very most important citadel in Mewar region after Chittorgarh. The palace is known as the silent hill station of Rajasthan standing majestically on the high ridge with elevation of 1100metres (3600feet) above sea level. The longitudinal and latitudinal distance of the fort is 25.1475° N, 73.5831° E.

It was built by Rana Kumbha during the course of 15th century. In Kumbha’s time the kingdom of Mewar extended from Ranthambore to Gwalior, including vast tracts of present-day Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Kumbhalgarh was once the seat of Prince Samprati, who was the Jain descendants of the erstwhile Mauryan Dynasty, who ruled here in the 2nd century defining the boundaries between Mewar and Marwar. Rana took around 15 years to built this fort. The sentimental significance of the fort also accounts as the birth place of Maharana Pratap who was a great king and warrior of Mewar. The fort was built to serve a refuge for Mewar rulers in times of strife.

Kumbhalgarh Fort after the rains

In 1443, when the king started the construction and eventually the structure crumbled to ruins by the sunset .But then a spiritual preceptor addressed the king to offer human voluntarily sacrifice in order to ensure that the battle walls being constructed by Rana would be strong enough to withhold the siege. The king sent out word, but no one volunteered. One day a soldier from the commandment volunteered and been ritually decapitated. Today the main gate of the fortress, Hanuman Pol contains a shrine and a temple named as Vedi temple to perpetuate the great sacrifice. Because of its hostile topography the fort remained inaccessible to the mighty Mughal even after combining the armies of emperor Akbar of Delhi , Raja Mansingh of Amber and Raja Udai Singh of Marwar.

The invincible fort is the most formidable in the state of Rajasthan.

The frontal serpentine 36km long and 15 feet thick wall with soaring towers is the most impressive. The wall is claimed to be the second longest continuous wall after Great Wall of China. The wall is not in straight pattern but have many steep ascends and descends throughout its length covering mountain cliffs and valleys. According to the legends, it is believed that eight horses could run on this wall side by side. The wall also serves as an epitome of architectural excellence and exquisite art of Rajput era because the walls are still unblemished and intact inspite of being 700 years old.

Kumbhalgarh Udaipur

The impregnable fort is protected by 13 mountain peaks of Aravalli range, seven huge imposing gates just like the sentinels and 7 steel gray ramparts being folded within another with the walls  empowered by  arched bastions and  colossal watch towers.

The top of the fort offers a spectacular panoramic picturesque of sand dunes of Aravalli range and overlooks the approaches from Ajmer and Marwar.

The fort can be accessed by any of the seven gates which are named as Aret Pole, Hanuman Pole, Ram Pole, Vijay Pole, Nimboo Pole and Bhairon Pole.

At the top of the cliff Badal Mahal, also known as the palace of the clouds is situated. The two-storied structure is divided into two interconnected distinct portions namely the Zanana (quarter for females), and the Mardana Mahal (quarter for men) decorated with pastel colored murals of 19th century. The color scheme of the rooms is a contrast to the grim and earthy fortress. The Zanana Mahal is composed of stone jalis which facilitated the queens to see the court proceedings and other events in privacy. All the chambers are provided with ingenious air conditioning system which draw cool air into the rooms and ventile them from the bottom.

The  fortress consists of 360 temples within the fort out of which 300 of them are ancient jain temples and rest are hindu temples.some of them are Ganesh Temple, Vedi Temple, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Parshvanath Temple, Bawan Devi Temple, Golerao Group of Temples, Mamadeo Temple, Pitalia Dev Temple.

The Neelkanth temple is situated near the base of the plains containing a six feet high sculpture of Lord Shiva. The rana offered regular prayers to the deity in this temple and was decapitated by his own son in this temple while offering prayers.

The fortress of Kumbhalgarh in the Aravalli Hills (Mewar)

The thick woody forests encompass the vibrant and rich foliage along with a rich variety of fauna. The fort is encircled by Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary sprawled in an area of 578 square kilometer (223 square miles). The sanctuary abode a shelter to a number of endangered species. The species found are hyena, panthers, leopards, wolfs, cats, the four horned antelope (chausingha), blue bulls, sambhars, crocodiles, peacocks, bear, wild boars, jungle fowls, flamingoes, spoonbills, parakeets, grey pigeons, yellow footed pigeons, egrets, cormorants, golden oriole and many more. Horse lovers and adventure seekers can enjoy the thrill of riding and camping in the sanctuary. Each group is accompanied by local tour operators. Horses, tents, food and fodder are provided by the Aohdin (owner of castle-type cottages) on prior notice at a very reasonable cost.

The fort is open to the public and can be easily accessed from Rajasthan state government roadways ordinary and deluxe buses (102 km) or from the Udaipur airport (84kms.) or from the Phalna railway station serves to be the closest railhead. The months of September to march serve as the ideal time to visit the palace and in clothing one must prefer cotton tropical clothes in summers and light woolen clothes in winters. One can also enjoy the Kumbhalgarh festival celebrated during the winter season to promote Kumbhalgarh as a heritage site. Tourists can be amazed by the serenity and beauty of the place with its enthralling and verdant landscapes, deep jungles and pretty gorges .The fortress is spectacularly lit by various lights and lamps each evening. Kumbhalgarh is not just these fabulous monuments and magnificent citadels, but abundance of natural splendors is gracefully bestowed on it makes it a pictorial location and an attractive tourist destination.

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Places to Visit

Historical Architecture: Palaces & Forts in and around Udaipur

City Palace

city-palace-udaipur
Source: Udaipur Tourism

City Palace was built by Maharana Udai Singh in 1559. It is situated at the eastern bank of Lake Pichhola and has many other palaces built within the City Palace. It is a must visiting place whosoever wishes to travel Udaipur and has a keen interest in the history of Rajasthan.

Impressive Gateways or Poles pave access to the City Palace complex. The different poles of the City Palace include Bara Pole, Tripolia Pole, Toran Pole etc.

The other complexes which are made within the premise of the City Palace are Amar Vilas, Badi Mahal, Chinni Chitrashala, Choti Chitrashali, Dilkhusha Mahal, Darbar Hall, Fateh Prakash, Jagdish Mandir, Krishna Vilas, Laxmi Vilas Chowk, Manak Mahal, Mor Chowk, Rang Bhawan, Sheesh Mahal etc.

The famous Jagdish Temple is only 150 meters away from the Palace. From the Palace, you can have a beautiful view of Lake Palace and Jag Mandir, which are both located in the midst of Pichhola Lake. The City Palace’s major part has been converted into a museum, displaying a diverse range of preserved monuments and armour. The museum exhibits a wide collection of weapons, gears, clothes, furniture etc.

Fateh Prakash Palace

The_Sunset_Terrace_Fateh_Prakash_Palace_Udaipur
Source: Wexas Travel

This palace was constructed during the time of Maharana Fateh Singh, who ruled from 1885 to 1935. The purpose of the venue was to serve the esteemed guests during the royal functions. Fateh Prakash Palace has also been converted into a luxury hotel which is now run & managed by the HRH group.

In 1909 the Viceroy of India, Lord Minto, laid down the Darbar Hall’s foundation stone. Henceforth the name was originally called Minto Hall to respect the honour to the Viceroy. The interiors are decorated with royal artefacts, miniature painting, armour etc. which would take you to the legendary historical time of the Mewar dynasty.

The Darbar Hall, Crystal Gallery, Suites and Rooms are decorated with original paintings, furniture of the historical era and would take you on the journey of the authentic heritage of that time. The scenic beauty of Lake Pichhola through the decorative valued windows would soak you in real ecstasy. The Palace offers 21 Decorative Rooms and 45 Decorative Premier Suits. It is equipped with period furniture, portraits and original miniature paintings, private sitting areas and facilities like air-conditioning, international direct dial telephone, satellite TV and a mini-bar.

Taj Lake Palace

taj lake palace udaipur
Source: Exquisite Travel Collection

Lake Palace, the name is enough to draw a picture of Udaipur and Pichhola Lake. It is another epithet of the Udaipur after the City Palace. To most of us, if asked anything about Lake Palace, the first answer comes out – it is a luxury hotel. Obviously, it is a luxury hotel, but earlier than a luxury hotel, it was a place to relax for the kings and had many different interiors.

Lake Palace was formerly known as Jag Niwas. Lake Palace is built on a natural island of around 4 acres, which was earlier called Jag Niwas Island and surrounded by Lake Pichhola. It was built in the year 1743 to 1746 by the Maharana Jagat Singh II of Udaipur. The Palace was built as a palace to spend summers. It was named after its founder Maharana Jagat Singh and hence was called Jag Niwas.

In 1971 the Taj group took over Lake Palace’s management, and the new name came out to be the Taj Lake Palace. Taj added another 75 rooms to it. Jamshyd D.F. Lam became the first General Manager of the Taj Lake Palace. Later in 2000, another restoration of the hotel was undertaken. Now Taj Lake Palace is certainly a luxury hotel surrounded by Lake Pichhola. The Lake Palace offers Luxury Rooms, Palace Rooms, Royal Suites, Grand Royal Suites and Grand Presidential Suites with all facilities like Spa, Bar, Fine Dinning etc.

Monsoon Palace aka Sajjangarh Fort

monsoon-palace-sajjangarh-palace
Source: Udaipur Tourism

An actual jewel in our city, Sajjangarh Fort has been one of the most favourite tourist’s spots, especially in the rainy season when the fort is enveloped by clouds and the mountains are lush green. The Monsoon Palace, formerly known as the Sajjangarh Palace, is a hilltop residence with a scenic view of palaces, lakes, and the surrounding countryside. This palace was designed to keep an eye on the monsoon clouds, as the name implies. The palace, which is located in the Aravalli Hills, glows a golden orange colour in the evening and is a great place to see the sunset. Don’t forget to visit this enchanting palace when in Udaipur!

Jag Mandir Island Palace

jagmandir-island
Source: TripAdvisor

This palace, also known as the ‘Lake Garden Palace,’ is undeniably one of Pichola Lake’s most beautiful views. Built on an island, this palace served as a summer retreat and a pleasure palace for holding parties for royal families. Within the palace, the Gul Mahal, Garden Courtyard, Bara Patharon ka Mahal, Zenana Mahal, and Kunwar Pada ka Mahal are must-see attractions. Don’t forget to dine at the Darikhana Restaurant for an exclusive dining experience!

Bagore ki Haveli (Gangaur Ghat)

Bagore ki haveli
Source: Udaipur Tourism

Head to Bagore ki Haveli to experience the true Rajasthani Folk art and reminisce the beauty and splendour and rich heritage of the city of lakes. In just one hour, you will enjoy a blissful cultural evening of musical dance performances, magic shows, and puppet dances influenced by Rajasthani tradition, all without burning a hole in your pocket! Festivals, weddings, childbirth, and the change of seasons are all included in the show. It’s the ideal location for learning about the Rajput royal lifestyle.

Kumbhalgarh Fort

kumbhalgarh-fort
Source: Bookety

Kumbhalgarh is 82 kilometres away from Udaipur and lies in Rajsamand District, and it is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great warrior of the Mewar. It was built in the 15th century by Maharana Kumbha. In the late 19th century, the fort was opened for tourists. It is the important fort of Mewar after Chittorgarh.

The fort is accessed through seven different gateways named Aret Pole, Hanuman Pole, Ram Pole, Vijay Pole, Nimboo Pole and Bhairon Pole. All gates lead to the palace complex, and some are built with additional structures at a later stage.

The different palaces built in the fort consist of Kumbha Mahal and Badal Mahal. Various religious temples include Hindu and Jain temples of different periods ranging from the 13th century to later. Various temples built and covered in the fort area consist of Ganesh Temple, Vedi Temple, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Parshvanath Temple, Bawan Devi Temple, and Golerao Group Temples, Mamadeo Temple, Pitalia Dev Temple, Kumbha Palace.

Kumbhalgarh fort also has several memorials like Badva Bund, Lagan Baori, Gardens, Stores, Pleasure Pavilions, and a Dam.

Chittorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh Fort
Source: Udaipur Trip

Chittorgarh is situated in the southern part of Rajasthan and is 120 kilometres away from Udaipur. It is midway between Delhi and Mumbai on National Highway No 8. At Chittorgarh National Highways 76 and 79 intersect.

Chittorgarh Fort is the largest fort in India. Earlier it was the capital of Mewar. The fort is spread in an area of 690 acres and situated at the height of 590 feet over a hill that lies on the bank of Berach River.

The Mewar Emperors lost the fort thrice to the Mughals in the battles fought in different periods. In 1303 Allauddin Khilji defeated Rana Ratan Singh. Bahadur Shah defeated Bikramjeet Singh in 1535, and Mughal Emperor Akbar defeated Maharana Udai Singh II in 1567, who left and founded Udaipur as his next capital of Mewar. Approximately 13,000 Rajput Ladies committed Jauhar after the successive defeats of Mewar Emperors.

A zigzag hill road of more than 1 kilometres in length from the new town of Chittor leads to the west end main gate of the fort, known as Ram Pol. Within the fort, a circular road provides access to all other gates and monuments. The fort has seven gates or Poles, and they are Padan Pole, Bhairon Pole, Hanuman Pole, Ganesh Pole, Jodla Pole, Laxman Pole and the main gate is known as the Ram Pole. A road within the fort provides access to the numerous monuments, ruined structures, and temples. Once, the fort had 84 water bodies and only 22 are left as of now. It was in the form of ponds, wells, and step wells. These water bodies were filled during the rainfall. The various other historical monuments of interest at the fort include Vijay Stambh, Kirti Stambh.

Photo Credits: Yash Sharma, HRH Hotels, hoparoudindia.com

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Places to Visit

A day like a Tourist [Part 1] : Destination Kumbhalgarh

Powerful kings and their beautiful queens, ruling huge empires, their breathtaking stories, magnificent castles that echo with the glory of their triumph, majestic lifestyle and inspiring victories, all these things always cast their spell on me. And I am sure that years back, while listening to your grandparents at your sleep time, these have enchanted you also.

Today, on occasion of world tourism day, I decided to have closer look of Mewar kingdom when my friends planned a trip to Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur.

As the enchanting sights of the fort, temple and adjoining places completely soaked me, I am hereby sharing my copious memories and experience of the day with all of you, the memories of which are still fresh in my mind.

The first destination of our journey was Kumbhalgarh. Standing at the large entrance leading to the fort, I was completely mesmerized, completely fantasized. Secured against the backdrop of towering mountains of the Aravali ranges, guarded by seven massive gates, seven defending walls and with numerous watchtowers, this mountain fortress has witnessed many battles, is strong founded and so is unbeatable till date. Built on a hilltop of 1100 meters above sea level it is stated to have the second longest wall in the world, with a perimeter of about 36 km, the first being “the Great Wall of China”.

Also called Kumbhalmer, the fortress is inter-weave with the rich history of Mewar rulers. It is the birth place of Maharana Pratap, the great king and warrior of Mewar. It derived its name from Maharana Khumbha who designed and built this unconquerable fort in the 15th century which was further enlarged through 19th century. The second most important and elaborated fort of Rajasthan after Chittorgarh, it was occupied by the royal family till 19th century, but now is open for general public as a museum.

The location of Kumbhalgarh has always given an added advantage to it. Being easily accessible from Udaipur, Ajmer and Jodhpur, it highly attracts and is visited by tourists all over the globe. Situated in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, it is towards the north-west of Udaipur, 82 km by road from the city.

The huge complex offering ancient remnants to explore was worth watching, comprising over 360 Jain and Hindu temples, numerous gardens and palaces, making it more beautiful and magnificent.

The most spectacular place of the fort resides near the clouds, “Badal Mahal”. It is the beautiful palace with fantastic bright contrasting color combinations of green, turquoise and white to the rough, raw and earthy fortress, making the view pleasant. The place, as per its name, gives the pleasure of being wandering in the world of clouds.

The day was quite moderate in temperature. Sunny after a rainy season, the temperature was of the weather was comfortable. During summers, the temperature reaches up to 25-42°C and varies from shivering 2°C to maximum 22°C during winters. The pleasant time to visit Kumbhalgarh is between the months of September to March. During monsoon the humidity may disturb your mood.

The exciting trip hasn’t completed yet. While I’m on my way to Ranakpur, and posting the article for all the UdaipurBlog readers, I will have to currently end this part and gear up for the next destination. Take a look at the pictures of the magnificent place, and I will catch up soon with the other part.