Visiting both Ranakpur & Kumbhalgar - which place to stay for three nights?

Haylo

Ranakpur & Kumbhalgar both look fascinating places and I'm already excited about seeing them (mid November) before heading to Udaipur.

I'd love to hear which of the two you think is the best place to stay, and why. We'd love to find somewhere with a bit of Indian ambience or history and have a medium to high budget which can just about stretch to the The Aodhi at Kumbhalgar.

Experiences of the Aodhi, or other suggestions would be very welcome!

zoltan

Hi Haylo,

The only comments I can give you about Rankapur are based on a visit 8 years ago - it was like arriving the site of "Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling.

An amazing location and very relaxing.

Haven't been to Kumbhalgar, so I can't give you any feedback about that place.

Cheers
Zoltan

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jyotirmoy

The Aodhi at Kumbhalgarh has excellent location, almost inside the fort and reserve forest.

kristinm

We stayed at Ghanerao Royal Castle - its lovely (a little eccentric) and the village is very unspoilt & really interesting to walk around .. its an hour or so from Ranakpur I think...

anouk

Ghanerao is quite far away from Ranakpur/Kumbhalgarh. Then better stay directly in one of the places.
Ranakpur has some interesting nature walks and is situated in a beautiful valley with some river flowing.

Great hotel in Ranakpur is Fateh Bagh.
Aodhi is a great hotel in Kumbhalgarh, although there is not soo much to do around.

slobin

Kristinm (or anyone else who has been there) - can you provide more detail on Ghanerao? We're looking to stay near Ranakpur, to break up a trip from Udaipur to Jodhpur, and it looks like a good option.
I've seen their Web site and kristinm's review in the hotels section... anyone else care to share their thoughts?
Thanks!
Josh

Haylo

Thanks for the information folks, we are booked into The Adohi as it seemed to just have the edge over Fateh Bagh.

We'll be there for three nights, which will give us plenty of time to chill out and explore the fort and surrounding area, as well as getting to Ranakpur for the day.

I will, of course, report back.

KABAARY

Ranakpur hotel...

http://www.welcomheritagehotels.com/Maharani_Bagh_Orchard_Retreat_ Ranakpur/maharani_bagh_orchard_retreat_ ranakpur.htm

anar

i was at both kumbhalgarh and ranakpur last year. preferred ranakpur - it is greener, more to see and do.

kristinm

We really enjoyed it - a group of Italians who were there at the same time complained a lot though..

It is not a professional slick hotel - it is eccentric and a bit ramshackle and it is expensive - very clean though!. Its a little village, the hot water is a bit hit and miss and the food is extremely average but fine to eat... and there is no choice outside the hotel - but the place itself really has to be seen and experienced..you won't see anything like it as the other castles tend to be a lot more professionally run -this one has the family's stuff all still there, the elderly Maharao and 'Princess', who now live in a cottage, taking tea on the terrace and the old family retainers (the oldest 'boys' I've ever seen) looking after you - its as if you're a house guest but one that is a little on the outside if you know what I mean.

Our room was stunning, a double suite like affair with huge marble bathroom and 'sit out' - I think it was the Maharao's own room...photos still in situ and all... beautiful glass lampshades and lovely objects around the place - so tusting that people just won't walk off with them!

Make sure you do a village tour - they will arrange for a guide, its a beautiful clean extremely traditional and very friendly village... hard to imagine its changed much in the last few hundred years! Some lovely Jain temples to see and just lots of villagey stuff - houses, horses etc... The surrounding land is lovely and the sunset from the roof of the castle is fantastic!

and make sure you ask for a tour of the Castle itself - there are a lot of shut up areas and even a mirrored room (what are they called again????!) which is a bit battered and broken but worth a look if you can get them to unlock it... THe nicer you are to them & the more interested in the castle the family and the history... the better you will be treated and the better room you will have - I made friends while I was booking with the son 'the Prince' who is really trying to hold the family place together with almost nothing I think - half of it is beyond repair already - quite sad, even for an old socialist like me!

THe Italians on the other hand were very bossy and loud and demanding and I think got the rough end of the accommodation and certainly no tour of the castle!

God - now I really want to go back there!!!!!! Objectively its probably not worth the money - but for atmosphere, authenticity, a glimpse into a world long gone and the lovely village it is totally worth it.

There are some photos of the village in my gallery.