Hill Forts of Rajasthan Rajasthan is the land of forts

There was no doubt about including Kumbhalgarh Fort in the Rajasthan road trip. I can add 4 forts to this list of 6 hill fort.

Apart from these 6 forts there are 78 more forts on various hills around Rajasthan. Scary Stories of Kumbhalgarh Fort Rajasthan History of Kumbhalgarh Fort What I had read in school did not seem interesting at all. And I know my kids don’t find history interesting either. But I was so happy to see that they took their history books to connect with what they saw. Also, I suggest hiring a guide at the fort. The way they narrate the stories of the fort can excite even the laziest mind. A board put up there by the ASI reads: “Built by Maharana Kumbha, this fort was constructed in 1443-1458 A.D. under the supervision of architect Mandan.” The guide took over from here and told us the events and dates of the attack on this mighty fort. Some important dates… When we climbed to the top of the fort, our guide told us some important dates related to the fort. Of course, his narration included many interesting stories and pointing out important places within the fort. 1457 AD - Ahmed Shah I of Gujarat made a futile attempt to capture the fort. Since it was then believed that the goddess Banmata present in the fort protected it, nobody could capture the fort. So, in a spirit of vengeance, Ahmed Shah destroyed the beautiful temple. 1458-59 and 1467 - More futile attacks by Mahmud Khilji. In 1576 Kumbhalgarh Fort fell to the enemy... that too due to lack of water - the guide stressed. Akbar's general Shahbaz Khan captured Kumbhalgarh Fort. 1585 - Recapture by Maharana Pratap 1818 - Marathas capture the fort. Fort light show after 7 pm. Location The fort is located at an altitude of 1100 m in the Aravalli range and is so hidden by the hills that you won’t be able to spot it until you reach the main gate of the fort.

A massive strong fort with 15 feet wide walls is waiting to be explored; we reached there around 4 pm in the evening, a gentle breeze was blowing, the sky was clear and the sun was slowly setting; what more could we ask for? We took a road trip from Jodhpur to Kumbhalgarh via Ranakpur Jain Temple. Distance from Jodhpur to Ranakpur Jain Temple – 154 km, Distance from Ranakpur Jain Temple to Kumbhalgarh – 55 km.

Haunted Stories of Kumbhalgarh Fort As we climbed up crossing the seven gates, the views around and below became even more breathtaking. And as is the case with every fort, this mighty fort was also full of stories, some sweet, some treacherous. Foundation of Kumbhalgarh Fort The initial attempts to build the fort kept failing. The wall would collapse even before the construction could begin. Then on the advice of a priest, the king asked for voluntary human sacrifice from his people to remove the obstacle in the construction work. None other than a sadhu (Mehar Baba), who was passing by that way, offered himself for the sacrifice. He was ritually beheaded and his head was rolled down the hill. Then as per the guidance and advice of the priest, the king built a temple where the rolling head stopped. And where the body fell, he built a wall. Hearing or reading this is one thing, but seeing the temple in reality is a hair-raising one. Imagine the head of that sadhu buried here! Rana Kumbha was murdered by his own son What a fate it was that the mighty king had to face death at the hands of his own son! In a patricide, Rana Kumbha was murdered by his son Udai Singh (Udai Singh I) and that too in 1468 AD when he was praying. But the murder did not take place in this fort. Udai Singh I treacherously murdered his father Kumbha in the Eklingji temple in Chittor. House of the infant prince Udai Singh II Then there is a story of how a maidservant named Panna Dai sacrificed her own son to protect Prince Udai Singh II, the future king of Mewar. She smuggled the infant prince to the Kumbhalgarh fort in 1535 AD risking her own life. Rajasthan has many such stories of valour and sacrifice. The Lamp of Kumbhalgarh Fort Another story narrated by the guide was that: Rana Kumbha used to light large oil lamps every evening. Their purpose was to provide light to the farmers working below at night.

However it is believed that the queen of Jodhpur was attracted by this light and she left her husband and left for Kumbhalgarh fort. Rana Kumbha very wisely avoided an embarrassing confrontation by making the queen his sister.

I insisted on knowing the queen's name but the guide could not tell her name.

Treachery and Invasion

The fort is said to have lost a battle only once and the reason for this was lack of water. It is believed that the fort was invaded due to betrayal by the 3 Malis. And also armies under the powerful combination of Mughal king Akbar, King Udai Singh of Marwar, King Man Singh of Amber and the Mirzas of Gujarat.

### Rana Kumbha Palace: A Gem of History in Chittorgarh

Rana Kumbha Palace, situated inside the boundaries of Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, is one such splendid monument in the history of Mewar. Built-in 15th Century by Maharana Kumbha this vast area nearly a banquet of architecture and the history the region beholds.

#### Architectural Splendor

The palace is mostly admired for its detailed carvings, vibrant wall paintings and eye-catching courtyards. It has many rooms such as the well-known ‘Rani Padmini’s Palace’ because of its fame derived from the legendary queen. The king’s residence is built in a right-angled triangular configuration which permits a view of the hills and the famous Chittorgarh Fort itself.

#### Visiting Hours and Conclusion

The Rana Kumbha Palace is open for visitors from 9:00 A.M to 6:00 P.M providing enough time to study its historical importance and wonder at its architectural magnificence. When visiting this palace it is not only witnessing the extravagant lifestyle of Rajputs but also the stories of bravery and honor are involved.

To sum up, the Rana Kumbha Palace should be included in the itinerary of all the history lovers and the tourists as well, for it captures the essence of royal Rajasthan.

Rana Kumbha Palace, Chittorgarh