Kumbhalgarh Fort

En un regard

Le château en bref

Perched in the Aravalli Range, about 84 kilometres north of Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh is the highest of the forts in Rajasthan and the second stronghold of Mewar after Chittorgarh. Its wall, some 36 kilometres long and wide enough for several horsemen to ride abreast, follows the ridges and valleys for kilometres on end; it is often cited as one of the longest continuous walls in the world. Seven fortified gates control access. Within, a vast precinct contains dozens of Hindu and Jain temples, including the Neelkanth Mahadev temple, as well as reservoirs, a dam and stepwells, which made the fortress self-sufficient in the event of a siege. At the summit, the Badal Mahal, or Palace of Clouds, offers an extensive view over the mountains and the desert. Built in a single campaign in the 15th century, the fort retains a great overall coherence. It is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap and, since 2013, has formed part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.