Kumbhalgarh: The Pride of Maharanas of Mewar

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Kumbhalgarh has played an important role in the history of Mewar, particularly from the time of Maharana Kumbha to Maharana Pratap. It is located at a distance of 80 km north-west of Udaipur and about 48 km to the west of Rajsamand in Rajasthan. Due to the strategic location of the Fort, Maharana Pratap continued to retain his second capital here at Kumbhalgarh.

In this monograph, an attempt has been made to highlight the historical background of the Mewar State and Kumbhalgarh, its architectural heritage and also the conservation problems and their remedial measures initiated.

Profusely illustrated with maps, line drawings and photographs, this monograph will be useful to the scholars, students and visitors in carrying out further detailed studies on the monumental heritage of Kumbhalgarh.

C. Dorje (b. 1953) obtained his M.A. and M.Phil. degrees in History from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and PG. Diploma in Archaeology from the School of Archaeology (now Institute of Archaeology), ASI, New Delhi. He joined the ASI as Dy. Superintending Archaeologist in 1979 and is presently working as Director. Ever since his joining the ASI, he has been actively involved in the field work and has carried out archaeological conservation and research in different parts of the country particularly in H.P., Punjab, Haryana, J&K including Ladakh and Rajasthan. He has contributed a number of articles and research papers in reputed journals and other scholarly works. He is also the co-author of the book — Historical Documents from Western Trans-Himalaya: Lahul, Zanskar and Ladakh (1996) and co-editor of Indian Archaeology 1994-95 — A Review (2000) and Inventory of Monuments and Sites of National Importance, Vol. I, Part I, Srinagar Circle (1998).

D.N. Dimri (b. 1959) has brilliant academic pursuits. He did his MA. in Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology from H.N.B. University, Srinagar (1980), P.G. Diploma in Archaeology from the School of Archaeology, ASI, New Delhi (1981-82) and Ph.D. from Kumayun University, Nainital (2002). Dr. Dimri joined ASI in 1984 and served as Dy. Superintending Archaeologist in Delhi and Jaipur. Presently, he is posted as Superintending Archaeologist in Agra Circle, Agra. He has contributed many articles in the journals/periodicals of both national and international repute.

This monograph is an outcome of continuous three years’ conservation measures initiated by the authors in centrally protected monuments of Rajasthan including Kumbhalgarh Fort. In the year 2002, immediately on our posting in the Jaipur Circle, Shri Jagmohan, the then Hon’ble Minister of Tourism & Culture, Government of India, paid a visit to the Mewar region including Kumbhalgarh Fort. Based on his instructions, the status of the each and every monument was assessed and items were identified. Accordingly, conservation measures were initiated at the Fort under a comprehensive conservation project. The progress of this initiative was reviewed by him from time to time in Delhi as well as during his subsequent visits to the Fort. While carrying out this project, Shri B.M. Pande, former Director of ASI suggested to the authors to prepare a monograph on forts of Rajasthan and accordingly this monograph was prepared by incorporating all the aspects including the historical background of Mewar and Kumbhalgarh, art and architecture followed by heritage conservation and management. There are a number of publications on the history of Mewar as well as on Kumbhalgarh. An attempt has been made in this monograph to present each of the monuments, in brief, at one place for the r’ scholars, students and visitors for carrying out further study on the monuments in detail. With a view to provide a glimpse of the heritage management, the 4 conservation measures undertaken during the period under review, have also been incorporated in this monograph.

In Chapter I, the brief history of Mewar from pre-historic time to India’s independenE has been given while Chapter II dwells on the details of the Fort laying emphasis on its historical background. In Chapter III, monumental remnants including water bodies and other structures - have been described. In Chapter IV, epigraphical records from Kumbhalgarh have been briefly enumerated while the conservation measures initiated in the past as well as during the last three years have been compiled in the last chapter.

The authors are grateful to Shri B.M. Pande for his guidance in preparing this monograph. We would like to record our appreciation for the efforts put in by the executing staff of Udaipur Sub-circle in carrying out this great project in such short time. We sincerely thank Sarva-shri D.C. Sharma, M.S. Rawat, Giriraj Sharma and Ramjilal. Special thanks are also due to Shri V.K. Uppal, S.K. Apharya and M.S. Khoth for preparing maps of Kumbhalgarh Fort and line-drawings and Shri S.C. Gupta and R.P. Mathur for preparing the illustrations. Thanks are due to Shri Rajendra Yadav, Assistant Archaeologist and Ms. Nalini Sharma, Library & Information Assistant for providing references from time to time. We are very thankful to all our colleagues in Jaipur Circle who have helped us in one or the other way while working in the field as well as in the office for shaping the manuscript. Last but not the least we are thankful to Shri P.C. Bohra who painstakingly undertook the typing work and made camera-ready copy of this monograph. Authors are thankful to Shri Vikas Arya of Aryan Books International, New Delhi for taking up this work, for laying out a new design and for publication in a record time.