Kumbhalgarh Fort, a magnificent edifice constructed under the visionary leadership of Maharana Kumbha is dotted with stunning temples dating back to the late 8th century. The fort was built on an existing fortified structure of the early 8th century.
Though the final shape and layout of this architectural, structural and engineering marvel was achieved in the 15th century by Maharana Kumbha, the earlier rulers of this fortified enclosure had built their own strategic posts atop the hill to check enemy movements as well as temples dedicated to their Kula Dev and Ishta Dev.
One such temple is the Kheda Devi Temple that is located right behind the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple. It would appear on plan that this temple was designed to be the central shrine with a smaller shrine on either side. Unfortunately, the smaller shrines are in ruins and it is unclear when and by whom they were built.
The Kheda Devi Temple is believed to have been commissioned in the 13th – 14th century. This west – facing temple sits on a high platform and has a pillared mandapa, an antarala and a garbha griha. A majestic idol of Devi is consecrated in the sanctum sanctorum.
Historians opine that the original temple also had a grand entrance porch and a large sabha mandapa based on the fragments of the base found in the premises. The temple has the typical curvilinear brick shikhara.
The smaller temples have also been built on similar lines with an entrance porch, mandapa, sabha mandapa, antarala and garbha griha. The older temple (said to be the oldest in the fort complex) only has a plinth while the shrine on the opposite side built on a raised platform still has the antarala and garbha griha intact. The pillared mandapa has since fallen into disrepair and the shikhara is severely damaged.
All the three temples have been built strictly according to the tenets of the Shilpa Shastra using stone, brick and lime.
Written by Lakshmi Subramanian
sahasa.in 
Leave a comment