We all know that the Great Wall of China is the longest contiguous wall in the world, but did you know that the second longest wall is in Rajasthan, India?
Kumbhalgarh Fort was conceived, designed and built by Rana Kumbh, a descendant of the Sisodia rulers of the Mewar kingdom of Rajasthan, in the 15th century . The fort stands 1100 meters above sea level, and its wall extends 36 kilometers.
There is an interesting legend involving the construction of the wall. From Wikipedia:
"According to legend, in 1443, the Maharana of Kumbhalgarh, Rana Kumbha, was initially repeatedly unsuccessful in attempts to build the fort wall. A spiritual preceptor was consulted about the construction problems and advised the ruler that a voluntary human sacrifice would solve whatever was causing the impediment. The spiritual advisor advised building a temple where the head should fall, and to build the wall and the fort where the rest of his body lay. As can be expected, for some time no one volunteered, but one day, a pilgrim, or some versions suggest a soldier, and some the spiritual preceptor and the pilgrim were one and the same, volunteered and was ritually decapitated. Today the main gate of the fortress, Hanuman Pol, contains a shrine and a temple to commemorate the great sacrifice."
Compared to other places in Rajasthan, Kumbalgarh shows up on fewer people's itineraries, but it, along with the Jain temples at Ranakpur, makes an excellent daytrip from Udaipur.
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