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Kumbhalgarh Fort :
Located
64 kms north of Udaipur in the wilderness, Kumbhalgarh
is the second most important citadel after Chittorgarh in the Mewar
region. Cradled in the Aravali Ranges the fort was built in the 15th
century by Rana Kumbha. Because of its inaccessibility and hostile
topography the fort had remained un-conquered. It also served the rulers
of Mewar as a refuge in times of strife. The fort also served as refuge
to the baby king Udai of Mewar. It is also of sentimental significance
as it is the birthplace of Mewar's
legendary King Maharana Partap.
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.
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