Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan its Archaeology and History.
1. Hydraulic Engineering
at Kumbhalgarh
Dept. of Archaeology, Institute of Rajasthan Studies,
J. R. N. Rajasthan Vidhyapeeth, Udaipur
By
< KPRAJASTHAN@gmail.com >
www.rajputarchaeology.ibibo.com
2. The importance of water for basic existence is a universally
recognized fact – which does not, perhaps, require stressing or re-
iteration here! Nor does the fact that access to water has long
determined the positioning of habitational (and work-related) sites
of humans (and, for that matter, of birds and animals). This applies
to sites attributable to the prehistoric (i.e. Palaeolithic, or 'Old
Stone Age', Neolithic, or 'New Stone Age', and Mesolithic) phases
of human existence, as much as to the rural settlements, towns and
cities that came up in different parts of South Asia in subsequent
millennia. As such, one of the areas in which India's traditional
knowledge systems have developed and survived from pre-historic
to contemporary times is that of the development and management
of water resources. This has enabled, even in zones marked by an
absence of perennial rivers, a range of human activities, including
agriculture, animal husbandry, different types and levels of
economic and manufacturing activities, and the existence of
prosperous kingdoms and states.
3. Details about irrigation and water harvesting systems of this
period can be found in Kautilya's 'Arthashastra' – a text
believed to have been written in the 3rd century BC by the
minister-mentor-cum-advisor of the founder of the Mauryan
dynasty – Chandragupta Maurya.
Numerous other examples of artificially fabricated lakes are known from
different parts of the land and it has been estimated that, over time, While the
existence of such lakes, in a pan South Asian context is mentioned in literary,
oral, historical and archaeological traditions, at present there exists no full
listing, in chronological and spatial order, of such water-bodies.
Archaeological Excavation
Are like evidences comes from the Mohenjodaro (pool and tank), Kalibanga
(moat), Banawali (well), Dholavira (dams and tanks), Lothal (dockyard)
4. One must underline here that it was not just
kings, queens, or rich merchants who
concerned themselves with the development of
water resources. Communities and collectives
too did the same. Thus, in addition to the lakes,
reservoirs, water-mills (pavanchakki), check-
dams and other irrigation-works etc. usually
built by the State, or from endowments by local
chiefs, wealthy merchants, etc., various other
indigenous water-harvesting / collection
techniques and lifting and conveyance devices
evolved in response to regional geographical
realities and ecological considerations.
5. This Parvat Durga is named after
Maharana Kumbha, who according to the
Victory Tower incription of Chittorgarh built
this fort between 1443 and 1458 CE.
This dam takes 15 years for construction from
1443 and 1458 CE
6. Since the palace and fort of the rulers and
their feudatories incorporated water-bodies to
meet drinking water needs as well as for
aesthetic and weather-conditioning purposes,
elaborate systems of transporting water
within palace and fort and water-channels
that ran through chamber and garden were
devised.
Combined functional tanks, reservoirs,
storage-tanks, etc. with architectural features
7. With the good judgment of Kumbhalgarh people for
water structures is indicates to construct the water
reservoirs. All water dams developed along with the
hillocks and tall slope of landscape. Continuous
changes in the structures building come to mind
right from the people of Harappan Civilization
and Mauryan Period. Basically people were settled
along the water sources. Some times ponds and
lakes play major role to attract the people to settle
down. Embankment of Dams and bunds were
manufactured for storage of water. Tapering wall
controlled a water pressure. In Harappan period
local soil was used as cement, but subsequently
lime was generally used. Here outer side of wall,
tapering support was not much important at second
and third wall of dams. The uses of same cemented
material at embankment and fortification wall. Soil
i s i n r e d i s h a n d p i n k i s h c o l o u r .
18. Among such lakes, those known from what now comprises
the State of Rajasthan include the various lakes at Udaipur
city. (Among the last-named, Udaipur's famous Picchola lake
is popularly believed to have been constructed not by the
State, or ruler, but by a wealthy Banjara trader). Another of
Rajasthan's better-known artificial lakes is the Raj Samand,
built at the command of Maharana Raj Singh of Mewar,
and completed in 1676 AD This is a large water-body of
conserved fresh-water, created, in part, through damming
the waters of a small rivulet, and augmented by excavation
of a large tract in which rain-water could be collected.
(Some scholars believe that this work was carried out during
a prolonged drought that affected the region between
c.1661 to 1666 period, so that employment and food could
be provided to about 60,000 of the famine-affected
populace of Mewar).
19. Interestingly, various hydraulic devices
may be noted in the foreground or
background of later medieval Indian
miniature paintings. For instance,
Andrew Topsfield has discussed a
Mewar painting of c. 1740, depicting
one of Udaipur's lake palaces, in which
a lakeside irrigation wheel-house,
which used bullock power to draw
water for the gardens, is prominent in
the foreground of the painting.
20. Water-lifting devices like draw-wells,
“Rahat” or “Rehat” or “Arhat” (a 'Persian-
wheel' like system, derived from what is
described in Sanskrit terminology as the
“Arghằt” water-wheel), “Chadhas” and
“Dhekli” systems were developed too.
Between them, these systems met the
drinking water, irrigation, agricultural and
other water-related needs of the people of
the area even in years of lesser than usual
rainfall.
21.
22. Any kind of suggestion will be
acceptable for future
research.
