Kumbhalgarh
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Kumbhalgarh is located in Rajasthan; precisely in its southern part. It is situated at about 105Kms to the west of Udaipur. It is quite a unique and an interesting destination, which attracts tourists from not only all over the country but also all across the globe. The location of Kumbhalgarh has always given it an added advantage as far as history is concerned. This fort was virtually inaccessible in the 15th century. Rana Kumbha of Mewar designed this fortress. He designed this great defensive fortress on a hill, which was situated at a height of 3,500 feet above the earth's surface, which is approximately 1100 metres high. The person standing on the fort can easily see the approaches made by any individual from Ajmer and Marwar.
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
The Kumbhalgarh travel and tourism is known for its Wild Life Sanctuary. The wild life sanctuary at Kumbhalgarh lies in the flourishing green zone in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan. The wildlife sanctuary surrounds the fortress and is spread over an area of 578 sq km. The Sanctuary also covers regions of Udaipur and Pali district along with Rajsamand, ranging to an elevation from about 500 to 1300 meters.
The Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary is a habitat to a wide variety of wildlife as well as exotic birds. It acts as a home to several animals such as leopards, wolf, hyena, jungle cat, four horned antelope, chinkara, jackal, sloth bear, gray jungle fowl, nilgai and many more. It an also an abode for several types of birds such as peacocks, gray pigeons, red spur owls, bulbul, white breasted kingfisher, doves, golden oriole, parakeets, etc. the sanctuary is a paradise for the bird watcher's.
A barely jeepable, hazardous track takes the visitor to the Sanctuary. Kumbhalgarh is one of the few parks where horse rides are permitted. It is also the only place where the activities of the species of a rarely found wolf can be observed as well as studied. Another main attraction here are the crocodiles, which are bred scientifically in the lake. There is also a crocodile farm where guests are provided with guesthouses to stay over. The guesthouse belongs to the Forest Department.
Thousands of flamingoes, ducks, egrets, spoonbills make use of the forest cover, jungle berries, algae, water grasses and fish to to sustain the cold during winter. The best time when the Sanctuary can be visited is from the month of October till the month of June.
Kumbhalgarh Fort
Rana Kumbha who found the fort of Kumbhalgarh got it constructed in the 15th Century. Kumbhalgarh Fort was one of the very few forts in history, which never got conquered. One of the most important reasons stated for it is the aggressive or the hostile landscape of the fort. A thick wall that is 36Kms long surrounds this remarkable fort. The perimeter of the wall is assumed to be the longest after the Great Wall Of China. The wall stretches across the Aravali Mountains. The fort is about 1100m high from the sea level and offers a marvelous view of the surrounding area. The main attractions of the fort consist of mesmerizing palaces along with about 360 different types of temples inside it with 300 being the Jain temples and the remaining being the Hindu temples.
13 mountain peaks surround the fort of Kumbhalgarh, 7 huge gates guard the fort and immense watchtowers further strengthen it. The Badal Mahal Palace is right at the top of the fort. The palace has beautiful rooms and is painted in the colours of green, white and turquoise, thus providing an interesting contrast to the raw and grim fortress. Kumbhalgarh is also the place where the great warrior of Mewar, the legendary Maharana Pratap was born.
Rajsamand Lake, Kumbhalgarh
One of the most important places to watch at Kumbhalgarh is its wildlife sanctuary. You will never be disappointed once you visit this fortress city because there are several other attractions that cannot be missed out and are definitely worth visiting. Amongst all of them, Rajsamand Lake is one of the most famous one and the most popular excursions around Kumbhalgarh. It is a place visited and enjoyed by people belonging to any class and any age group. It is enjoyed by one and all including the kids; who need a place to play, their parents who come to relax and unwind from their busy schedules and their grand parents who just come to enjoy the scenic beauty.
The Rajsamand Lake, which is situated in Rajasthan, is situated on the way to the Kumbhalgarh city. A marvelous dam was built in the 17th century on this beautiful looking lake. The bank of this lake has a beautiful view and is full of Cenotaphs also called as chhatris. The bank also has several stunning arches commonly known as torans by the people of Rajasthan. There are also a large number of pavilions, which give a gorgeous view to the tourists and the localites staying around.
The bank of the Rajsamand Lake also has a rest house, which has been constructed and built up by the Department of Irrigation. The lavish looking rest house is further decorated with a magnificently laid out garden having several trees and distinct plantations. The garden looks colourful. The main attractions of the lake are the stunningly carved sculptures and the Sanskrit verses which are vividly inscribed in the store.
