Walk the second longest wall in the world at Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan

India is full of wonders and one of the lesser-known ones is the second longest wall in the world at Kumbhalgarh Fort. Kumbhalgarh has the Largest Wall after The Great Wall of China.

If you are visiting Udaipur and have more than 3 days in Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh fort is a lovely place to explore. Kumbhalgarh kila is a perfect one day trip from Udaipur as well as a weekend trip.

Having been to Udaipur many times, we decided to explore the Kumbhalgarh Fort and Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Kumbhalgarh Fort Facts

The list of Forts of Rajasthan is endless. Each fort in Rajasthan has a distinctive character and each one of them is worth visiting! Kumbhalgarh Fort wall length is 36 km and is the second-longest wall in the world spanning 36 km. I think that is a reason enough to visit Rajasthan.

The Mewar Fortress situated in the Aravalli Hills in the Rajsamand district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort is surrounded by Kumbhalgarh forest which is now protected as Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. From the peak, one can see most of the wall and the hills of the Aravalli Range. 

A watchtower overlooking the Kumbhalgarh fort

Built on a hilltop of 1,100 m (3,600 ft) above sea level, the Kumbhalgarh fort has perimeter walls that extend 36 km. The frontal walls are fifteen feet thick to protect the army from attack.

Kumbhalgarh has seven fortified gates called pols. The walls were so broad that 7 to 8 horses could go side by side.

There are over 360 Jain and Hindu temples within the Kumbhal fort premises.

The fort was never ever conquered in battle due to its thick walls and mountain terrain making it camouflaged. However, the Mughals did manage to capture it briefly when they poisoned the water supply of the fort.

Kumbhalgarh Fort seen from the ground level

Kumbhalgarh Fort History

The Kumbhalgarh Fort was built by the then ruling King, Rana Kumbha in the 15th Century. The interesting bit is that the king attempted to build the fort several times but it kept failing. A saint offered himself as a human sacrifice with a promise from the king, to build a temple where his head fell and the main fort where his body lay and a wall to be built along the entire stretch. The king obliged and the rest is history. 

Occupied until the late 19th century, the fort is now open to the public and is lit each evening.

Aravalli ranges as seen from the fort

The great wall of India: Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan

We reached Kumbhalgarh Fort on a hot November afternoon. We decided to go up the fort and promised ourselves to check out the temples early morning of the next day.

We started walking towards the fort. After entering the main doorway and paying Rs. 15 as the entry fee, we started climbing up. The walk to the peak from the ticketing area is over 1 km. Each gate narrows down so that beyond a certain point horses and elephants can’t enter. There are watch towers that make for a good viewing gallery.

Entrance gate of Kumbhalgarh fort

We walked on the well-laid path which was bordered by blooming flowers providing fantastic views of the windows and pillars. It took us one hour to climb to the peak including all the photo sessions we stopped for.

We finally reached the top of the fort called ‘Badal Mahal’ meaning ‘House of clouds’. From up here, the views were even more spectacular. 

There are no sign boards or interpretation signs showing what we were looking at there. The fort as such is in ruins. It is the birthplace of King Maharana Pratap. There is absolutely nothing inside the fort to be seen other than a horse stable, rainwater harvested well, a watch tower, Rana Pratap’s purported room, some empty rooms and an ancient temple inside and 2 smaller shrines (one for the head and one for the body of the saint whose penance supposedly helped build the fort).

The light and sound show did help put a perspective together but some information would have really helped.

We started our descent as it was getting dark and we wanted to catch the light and sound show.

Ruins of Kumbhalgarh

Kumbhalgarh Light and Sound Show

The light and sound show at Kumbhalgarh explains the history of the fort. The duration of the show is 1 hour. The cost for the show is an additional INR 100 for adults and INR 50 for children.

The light and sound show starts at 7 pm and takes the visitors through the history of Mewar and its rulers. It showcases the bravery of Maharanas of Rajasthan and the loyalty of the servants.

It showcases how Rana Kumbha built the fort after many attempts and the birth of Maharana Pratap and his bid to save the fort from Mughal attacks. The light and sound show also showcases how Prince Udai was smuggled out of the palace when the fort was under threat.

Light and sound show at Kumbhalgarh fort

Each part of the history is elaborated with good sound effects and lights and good voice-over artists which makes the visitors glued to their seats to know more.

The show definitely brings a sense of pride to the visitors. Post the show, the whole fort is illuminated for one hour and it’s absolutely spell-binding.

After a good dose of history and in total awe we left the show only to come back for more.

The fort lit up at night

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary

The next day on the way to the fort, we stopped to inquire about the wildlife sanctuary safaris and were informed that it is happening now. We jumped with excitement and decided to go for it.

Just like a safari is any wildlife sanctuary, we were allotted an open jeep, a driver and a guide. 

This 2-hour safari took in the forest of Kumbhalgarh. While leopard and sloth bear sightings have happened, we could only manage to see a sambar deer. For leopard sightings, Jawai is a better option. 

Recommended Read: Jawai Leopard Safari

A sambar deer at Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary

How to Reach Kumbhalgarh

Udaipur is the closest airport and city. Kumbhalgarh to Udaipur is about 82km and is connected only through the road. Ideally, hire a car from Udaipur and do one day trip to see the fort.

Best time to visit Kumbhalgarh fort

Like most Indian destinations, it is ideal to visit Kumbhalgarh Fort in the winter months which is between November to February. But the monsoon months are fairly decent as well due to pleasant weather. The Aravalli ranges swell green colour due to the onset of monsoon so everything looks very refreshing. Avoid summers as it gets really hot, especially the climb to the peak.

Kumbhalgarh fort wall that accommodated elephants and horses

Resorts at Kumbhalgarh

Kumbhalgarh has ample options for luxurious and semi-luxurious stays. There are many properties that have been camouflaged with the fort wall giving it a look of being part of the fort complex. 

I stayed at The Aodhi, Kumbhalgarh which is a heritage property. The entire property is made up of a fort using local stones and aesthetically strikes the right chords with the visitors. There are pool-facing rooms and suites that are cosy and comfortable. The balcony is really big and offers a good perch for birdwatching. You can book it here.

Other luxurious resorts: Fateh Safari Suites by Fateh Collection, Raajsa Resort Kumbhalgarh

Semi-luxurious resorts: Devi Palace Resort, The Lal Bagh

The Aodhi, Kumbhalgarh_Resorts at Kumbhalgarh

Places to visit near Kumbhalgarh fort

There are many places to visit near Kumbhalgarh so it is a good idea to spend the night here. With good resorts availability and many things to do around Kumbhalgarh, these are some of the places that can be combined:

Haldighati

Haldighati is 63km away from Kumbhalgarh and is a perfect one day trip. It can be covered while going to Udaipur or while coming to Kumbhalgarh fort from Udaipur. Haldighati (translated as a turmeric-coloured pass) is a mountain pass where the Battle of Haldighati took place between the Mewar forces led by Maharana Pratap, and the Mughal forces.

Haldighati- one day trip from Kumbhalgarh

Ranakpur Jain Temple

Ranakpur Jain Mandir is one of the most important Jain temples in Jainism and ranks in the list of top 5 holy shrines of Jains. Ranakpur Jain temple is the largest Jain temple in India and has exquisitely ornamented interiors with sculptures made of marble. Read more here: Ranakpur Jain Temple.

Three storied heavily ornamented Ranakpur Mandir, Rajasthan

Eklingji Temple

Located 70 km away from Kumbhalgarh, Eklingji Temple is one of the most popular pilgrimage spots of Rajasthan. Other than the Eklingji temple which makes the area famous, there are many other places to visit near the Eklingji temple. Read about it here: Places to visit near Eklingji Temple.

Eklingji temple complex, Udaipur | Image Credit: Trawell

Kumbhalgarh Travel Tips

• If interested in history the light and sound show in the evening is best.
• There are no signboards or interpretation centres that will guide you through the fort.
• The fort is open all days of the week.
• Wear sports shoes or flat footwear as you need to walk on the slope to reach the top of the fort.
• It will get chilly during winter, especially in the evening so wear warm clothes.

View from the peak of Kumbhalgarh fort

Sustainable tips for Kumbhalgarh Travel

• Kumbhalgarh is in the middle of a protected area under a sanctuary so respect it with no littering.
• Drive slow and don’t play music too loud as you may disturb the animals nearby. Remember the neighbouring area is a Wildlife Sanctuary.
• If you plan to visit the Wildlife Sanctuary, buy tickets and fix up vehicles only with registered forest vehicles. There are a lot of agents posing as ‘real forest guys’ outside the fort charging much more.
• Do not write or scratch the stones of the fort. It is a heritage site for many years so let us do our bit to preserve it.
• Do not pluck flowers from the flower bed of the fort pathway. Let us keep it beautiful the way it is.

Read More Rajasthan posts:

• Panna Meena ka Kund, Jaipur
• 3 days Jaipur itinerary and guide
• Souvenir shopping in Jaipur
• Instagram worthy places to visit in Jaipur
• Jaipur Blue Pottery
• Anokhi Museum Jaipur
• Places to visit in Mount Abu

Pin this post!