Set amidst a cluster of thirteen mountain peaks of the Aravali range, the formidable medieval citadel of Kumbhalgarh Fort stands a wary sentinel to the past glory of its kings and princes. Rising from a prominent ridge, 1,914 m above the sea level, the fort was built in 15th century AD by Maharana Kumbha (1419-63 AD) and is the principal fort after Chittaurgarh Fort. There are many palaces within the fort like Rana Kumbha Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace, Tower of Victory and Padmini's Palace, which are a must see for the tourists. This hilltop fortress of Chittorgarh epitomizes the romantic and doomed ideal of Rajput chivalry. There are 157 steps and the stairs are circular. It is believed that the tower took 10 years to be completed. The tower was built around the 15th century AD, by Rana Kumbha, one of the most powerful Mewar kings.
The fort is self-contained and has within its amalgam almost everything to withstand a long siege. The fort fell only once that too to the combined armies of Mughal and of Amber for scarcity of drinking water. Many magnificent palaces an array of temples built by the Mauryas of which the most picturesque place is the Badal Mahal or the palace of the clouds.
The fort also offers a superb birds view of the surroundings. The fort's thick wall stretches some 36 kms and is wide enough to take eight horses abreast. Maharana Fateh Singh renovated the fort in the 19th century. The fort's large compound has very interesting ruins and the walk around it can be very rewarding. The Kumbhalgarh Fort also has a great significance by being the birthplace of Maharana Pratap and as the finest examples of defensive fortification in Rajasthan. The most interesting part is that this fort has a fort within itself. Named Kartargarh, the inner fort has a palace built by Maharana Fateh Singh after he had pulled down the old palace built by Rana Kumbha. Kumbhalgarh tour also offers nature lovers endless acres of greenery, sheltering many forms of wildlife at the game sanctuary, which boasts of panthers, sloth bears, sambhars, wild boar and the rare gray jungle fowls. For the spiritual, at a short distance lie the 15th century Ranakpur Jain Temple that are a fine example of the temple architecture and Charbhujaji. The Rajsamand Lake built in 1660 by Rana Raj Singh offers a spectacular view of the sunset with beautiful 'torans' or arches and chhatris adorning the embankment. Today, like most forts and palaces in Rajasthan being converted into heritage hotels, the majestic Kumbhalgarh Fort is reputed as one of the best heritage hotels in Rajasthan. Over looking the Kumbhalgarh valley, the Hotel Kumbhalgarh Fort offers a perfect blend of age-old hospitality and modernity. For tourists who travel to Rajasthan to experience the real essence of royalty, the Kumbhalgarh Fort is the perfect place to enjoy. Apart from the historical relics, the tastefully decorated rooms with marble inlay and individual open terrace with uninterrupted countryside are sure to leave you spellbound. Vijay Stambh Vijay Stambh or Victory Tower is an attraction, you will never miss on your trip to Chittorgarh. Even while you are exploring other areas of Chittorgarh Built in 1440.AD by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over Mohamed Khilji this 9-storyed tower is adorned by sculptures of Hindu deities around. There are around 157 narrow steps leading to the terrace where the balconies give a beautiful top angle view of the whole town.When illuminated in the evening, the tower reflects a mesmerizing effect and the view is worth capturing in the camera. This tower is the piece-de-resistance of chittaurgarh. Kirti Stambh Kirti stambh (Tower of fame) is a tower situated in Chittorgarh in Rajasthan. The 22 metre high tower was built by a Jain merchant Jijaji Kathod in 12th century. It is a seven story intricate structure and is full of figures from Jain pantheon. It is dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar Lord Adinath and is decorated with figures of various tirthankars .Kirti Stambh is older than Vijay Stambh situated in Chittorgarh. A narrow stairway goes through seven storey of the tower to the top. The tower stands beside a small Jain temple. |
