The Vedi temple Kumbhalgarh draws your attention as soon as you enter the ramparts of the famous Kumbhalgarh fort in Rajasthan. The historic fort is well known for having the second-longest continuous wall in the world after the Great Wall of China. The fort is secured by a series of bastions called, “Pols”, which refer to gates in the vernacular.
The fort complex is made up of more than 300 Hindu and Jain temples, palaces and other living quarters, and also cenotaphs. The Vedi temple complex is an imposing enigma that stands below the fort, and greets you, as soon as you enter the fort complex.
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Vedi Temple Kumbhalgarh – In The Fort’s Shadow
If you have been to Kumbhalgarh, you would not have missed visiting the Vedi temple complex, but if you are yet to visit Kumbhalgarh, make sure to spend some time admiring the perfect contours of the temple and its architectural symmetry.
The Vedi temple in Kumbhalgarh is often ignored as most people, set their sights on the lofty fort which is crowned by the Badal Mahal at the top. They start climbing the zig-zag path to the top of the fort, ignoring the Vedi temple which literally lies in the shadow of the hill-fort.
Visiting The Vedi Temple Kumbhalgarh
On a road trip across Rajasthan that covered Ranthambore, Chittorgarh, Nathdwara, Ranakpur, and Udaipur, we had to include the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kumbhalgarh Fort. The sheer scale of the fort astounded us, but what came as a pleasant surprise was the many temples that adorned the perimeter of the fort.
We crossed the imposing gate which is known as Hanuman Pol. A massive structure made up of stone masonry and secured by gigantic doors. A Hanuman statue of about 2 metres in height stood vigil by the side of the gate.
A little further up we were greeted by another bastion known as Ram Pol which had a 4-metre wide passage. As soon as we emerged from this bastion, the sight of the lofty Kumbhalgarh citadel captured our attention. It was an imposing sight.
But some sixth sense came into play, and we instinctively turned our gaze towards our right. There stood the imposing facade of the Vedi complex. The stream of tourists made its way upwards towards the top of the fort. But we were drawn inexorably towards the enigmatic Vedi temple which seemed to beckon to us with a strange and hypnotic appeal.
Our feet, of their own volition, turned towards the Vedi temple Kumbhalgarh and climbed the steps that led into its enigmatic interiors.
Architecture Of The Vedi Temple Kumbhalgarh
The Vedi temple Kumbhalgarh consists of three structures that are aligned in a straight line. These stand on a raised platform and are bounded by a wall on three sides, the fort wall itself serves as a wall on the fourth side.
The first of these structures that face westwards towards the entrance, is a three-storeyed structure (including ground floor) that is supported by 36 pillars and is crowned by a dome. This structure has an octagonal shape.
Right behind this domed structure, towards the east is a small cenotaph or Chhatri. This is a small structure supported by four pillars and topped by a dome. This structure is dwarfed by the two other structures that stand in front and behind it.
The third structure within the Vedi temple Kumbhalgarh is a triple temple built in the Nagara style of architecture. There is the main temple in alignment with the two structures in front of it. This temple is flanked on either side by connected temples. There is an Ardha Mandapa or entrance porch followed by a Mandapa or Hall, that leads to the Garagriha of the main temple.
All three temples have Shikharas made up of Urushringas or subsidiary shikharas that crown the Garbarihas. At the top of the Shikharas can be seen the Amalaka and the Kalasha. These are standard features of the Nagara style of architecture.
There is no separate raised platform for Parikrama for the temple, as probably the entire Vedi complex was considered as a single temple complex and built on a raised platform or Jagati, with enough space on all sides for circumambulation or Parikrama.
The ceiling of the temples are embellished with friezes of swans and the brackets are adorned with different deities. It is believed that the Vedi temple was used for various religious rituals that were performed here to mark the completion of the construction of the Kumbhalgarh Fort in the year 1457 A.D.
History Of The Vedi Temple Kumbhalgarh
The Vedi temple Kumbhalgarh for most parts remains an enigma. Not much information is available about its history. A board inside the temple complex simply says, “Vedi Complex.” However, what is known is that the Vedi temple was built by the Mewar King, Rana Kumbha, who is also credited with the construction of the Kumbhalgarh Fort and many other forts and temples in Rajasthan including the famed Ranakpur Jain Temple.
After the completion of the Kumbhalgarh Fort, the Vedi temple was built for conducting different Vedic and religious rites and rituals. These rites were to celebrate the completion of the fort and to invoke the blessings of deities on the auspicious occasion.
The Vedi temple is in good condition and has a special aura that haunts you as you leave its precincts, and turn back for another look. As you ascend to the top of the Kumbhalgarh Fort, you are treated to a bird’s eye view of the Vedi temple and its structures.
Places To See Within Kumbhalgarh Fort Complex
The Kumbhalgarh Fort is home to many unique and historical structures. These include a host of temples, palaces, and cenotaphs. Here is a list of the important places to see in Kumbhalgarh.
- The great wall of the fort of Kumbhalgarh
- The gates or Pols of the Kumbhalgarh Fort
- Birthplace of Maharana Pratap
- Ruins of Kumbha Palace
- Badal Mahal
- Vedi Temple
- Neelkantha Mahadev Temple
- Charbhuja Temple
- Ganesh Temple
- Pitaliya Shah Temple
- Parshwanath Temple
- Golerao Group of Temples
- Sun Temple
- Mamadev Temple
- Prithviraj Ki Chhatri
How To Get To Vedi Temple Kumbhalgarh
- The Vedi Temple is located within the Kumbhalgarh Fort in the district of Rajsamand of Rajasthan
- Kumbhalgarh is located about 84 kilometres from the city of Udaipur
- Kumbhalgarh is at a distance of about 344 kilometres from the city of Udaipur
Reaching Vedi Temple Kumbhalgarh By Air
The nearest airport to Kumbhalgarh is the Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur. The airport is well connected to major cities of India. One can fly to Udaipur and then travel by road to Kumbhalgarh.
Reaching Vedi Temple Kumbhalgarh By Rail
The nearest railhead to Kumbhalgarh is Falna which is about 84 kilometres from Kumbhalgarh. Falna is connected to major places in India like Ahmedabad, Agra, Puri, Delhi, Chennai, Jaipur, Mumbai, etc. You can travel to Falna by train and then by road to Kumbhalgarh.
Reaching Vedi Temple Kumbhalgarh By Road
Kumbhalgarh is well connected by road and can be reached from different cities in Rajasthan and India. It can be visited as a one-day road trip from Udaipur also.
If you are planning a trip to Kumbhalgarh in Rajasthan, India then you can book a cheap flight through TripAdvisor or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline right here. You can fly to Udaipur or Jaipur and then from there you can travel to Kumbhalgarh by road. Some of the options to reach Kumbhalgarh could be by self-drive car or cab or bus.
Where To Stay When Visiting Vedi Temple Kumbhalgarh
There are many hotels and resorts to stay in Kumbhalgarh that are not far from the fort. We stayed at the Kumbha Residency, which is a nice resort and we recommend it. You can read our review of the Kumbha Residency here.
If you are looking to book any hotel in Kumbhalgarh or anywhere in Rajasthan or India or the world, you can do that here too.
You can book hotels in Kumbhalgarh or a resort at Kumbhalgarh through, TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline and save a lot by getting the best savings on booking your stay.
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Vedi Temple, Kumbhalgarh FAQ
Where is the Vedi temple located?
Vedi temple is located within the Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan, India.
Can Vedi temple be visited as a day trip from Udaipur?
Yes, the Vedi temple and the Kumbhalgarh Fort can be visited on a day trip from Udaipur.
Who built the Vedi temple?
The Vedi Temple was built by Rana Kumbha.
When was the Vedi temple in Kumbhalgarh built?
The Vedi Temple was built in the year 1457.
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