Kumbhalgarh, Military fortress in Rajsamand district, India
Kumbhalgarh is a monumental structure from the 15th century in Rajsamand district, rising on a ridge in the Aravalli Hills. Visitors approach the site along an ascending path that passes through seven fortified gates and leads into an inner zone where palaces, temples, and water reservoirs remain.
Rana Kumbha commissioned the fort in 1448, as recorded in the Kumbhalgarh inscription, and the architect Mandan built it. Ahmad Shah II of Gujarat attacked in 1457 and Mahmud Khalji in 1458–59 and 1467, all without success. Shahbaz Khan took it in April 1578 after a six-month siege, and Maharana Pratap recaptured it in 1583.
The name comes from Rana Kumbha, who commissioned the fort in the 15th century; "-garh" means fort. The Rajasthan Tourism Department holds a three-day annual festival here in his memory, with sound and light shows set against the walls and concerts and dance events.
Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as the path to the upper levels is steep and uneven. Water and sun protection are advisable in warm weather because shade is limited across the grounds.
The Hindi sources call the fort "Mewar's eye" and record that its wall, about 36 km long, was wide enough for eight horsemen to ride abreast. The 19th-century traveller James Tod compared its bastions and battlements to Etruscan walls.
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