Ranakpur Jain Temples
Begun in 1438 by Rana Kumbha, Ranakpur temples were peculiarly serene meditation centers in this frequently war ravaged land. It also became a magnificent sculpture museum, to which, wealthy Jain merchants and ministers kept adding shrines and statues. The central Chaumukha Temple is dedicated to the venerated Tirthankara Adinath. With its 29 halls and 1,444 distinctly different carved pillars, this is an overwhelming monument. Two temples dedicated to the Jain saints, Parasnath and Neminath have beautiful erotic carvings. And truly worth visiting is the 6th century Sun Temple close by, which has polygonal walls richly embellished with warriors, horses, and booted solar deities driving splendid chariots.
The famous Ranakpur temples are mere 50 kilometers from Kumbhalgarh through the scenic route through Vanpura and Saira.
Rajsamand Lake
Rajsamand Lake is one of the most popular excursions around Kumbhalgarh. The Muchchal Mahavir temple in that region is widely known for it's artistically carved statues and Haldighati, the venue of the most well known or the famous historical battle that would have happened.
Ghanerao
Ghanerao is the place where Thakur Sajjan Singhji and his gracious wife have recreated a charming old-world ambience by opening this castle constructed in 1603 to paying guests. The genuine warmth of his greeting, the bright wall frescoes, hunting trophies, turbaned retainers, peeing maids, carved jharokhas, drawing rooms full of colored windows and chandeliers, Rajput miniatures, ostrich eggs hand printed by the owner in Mayo College and all those old photographs make this place the most historical resort to spend your vacation.
Parshuram temple
Located in an extremely inconvenient site inside an ancient cave, the parshuram temple is the place where Rishi parshuram did his sadhna from the era of the ramayan. It has almost 500 steps which take you down to the cave. However your trip down the cave will be absolutely worth the struggle when you experience the atmosphere within the cave. For an exchange of a meager Rs 100, the priest will share with you the history along with the formations which are called 'Kamdhenu'. You can wash away your doubts because this money is donated to the population living in that region, which indeed is a big help for people over there to maintain and sustain themselves in such adverse geographical location!
Kumbhalgarh Fort
Kumbhalgarh stands on the site of an ancient citadel dating back to the second century AD belonging to a Jain descendant of India's Mauryan emperors. It defined the boundaries between Mewar and Marwar and became a refuge for Mewar's rulers in times of strife. The somber chambers, the vast reservoirs kept full by elephant relays, the simple garden court for the royal ladies, the easily defendable narrow staircases all declared that this was primarily a warrior's hideout, and not a royal resort. A priest is still employed by the present Maharana to care for the shrines of his ancestors. And twice a day the Pandit's family makes the stiff uphill climb to the castle to light the sacred lamps before vermilion-daubed images of Hanuman, Chamunda, and Ekling.
According to popular folklore, Maharana Kumbha used to burn massive lamps that consumed fifty kilograms of ghee and a hundred kilograms of cotton to provide light for the farmers who worked during the nights in the valley.
Kumbhalgarh fell only once in its history, to the combined forces of Emperor Akbar, Raja Man Singh of Amber, and Raja Udai Singh of Amber, and Raja Udai Singh of Marwar. However many say that it was only due to the shortage of water and never due to any armed forces.
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife sanctuary
Spread over a span of 586 square kilometer The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is an abode to a huge variety of wildlife as well as several exotic birds. The main attraction here would be panther, sloth bear, wild boar, four-horned antelope or crocodiles, "scientifically bred" in the lake.
The Crocodile Farm has a guesthouse belonging to the Forest Department where overnight stays are possible. Good forest cover, jungle berries, fruits and nuts, water grasses, algae, and fish provide sustenance for thousands of migrating birds like flamingoes, sarus cranes, spoonbills, painted storks, cormorants, purple heron, egrets, duck, and rosy pelican in winter. One also finds plenty of chakor partridge, crow pheasants, jungle warblers, golden orioles, gray jungle fowl, and the usual peacocks, parrots, pigeons, and doves.
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