‘It’s so peaceful! Can this really be India?’ That was my first thought as I stepped out of the car at the entrance to Shahpura Kumbhal Villas and this was pretty much my thought for the next 2 days. Along with ‘it’s so beautiful here!’.
Most visitors to India travel from the big and popular Cities of Udaipur straight to Jodhpur or the other way round. However located right in-between the White City of India and the Blue City of India is Kumbhalgarh, a Village most famous for Kumbhalgarh Fort thanks to it being the biggest fort in India, and because of that Kumbhalgarh a little haven for foreign tourists and Indian tourists to enjoy the quiet atmosphere, the mountain views, the cooler climate and some luxury.
There are a number of hotels and resorts in Kumbhalgarh and I stayed at Shahpura Kumbhal Villas for 2 nights.
Shahpura Hotels currently have 3 hotels in their group, one in the Village of Shahpura- Shahpura Haveli, one in Jaipur City- Shahpura House and now Shahpura Kumbhal Villas which opened in August 2018, and they plan to open a lot more including one in Udaipur!
SIM CARD FOR INDIA
I really recommend having a sim card in India as it makes travel in India so much easier! You may have heard that it’s hard to get a sim card in India but you can get a sim card in Delhi Airport, read this post to see how to buy a sim card in Delhi Airport or if you fly in elsewhere 3 ways to buy a sim card in India and you’ll be connected in just a few hours!
WHAT TO WEAR IN INDIA
If you are a woman, here’s what I recommend you pack and wear in India. Technically you can wear what you like in India in most places but to get fewer stares and feel more comfortable, read my post!
DON’T GET SCAMMED IN DELHI
Most people arrive for the first time into Delhi and get scammed within a few hours! Read my Delhi Travel Tips to help you enjoy Delhi, and the best places to stay in Delhi which is so important!
Shahpura Kumbhal Villas Review
With 120 rooms all providing incredible views of the mountains, a spacious dining room, an outdoor swimming pool and a rooftop on the edge of the jungle, Shahpura Kumbhal Villas is the best place to stay in Kumbhalgarh in my opinion and that’s because Shahpura Kumbhal Villas offers guests luxury that doesn’t come with the usual price tag as a room will cost you from £40.00 / 4000Rs per night for a Deluxe Double Room with Breakfast.
I found the staff to be incredibly hospitable, kind and friendly. The food served in the restaurant is of a really high quality and there are plenty of dishes to choose from as there are 2 menus on offer, an Indian menu and an International menu.
The seating areas inside and outside taking in the tranquility of the Villa and the mountain views, along with large, comfy, clean and AC rooms makes Shahpura Kumbhal Villas the best hotel in Kumbhalgarh and the perfect Kumbhalgarh Resort.
Here you can feel like a Royal, as the Royals of Rajasthan once did.
How to get to Kumbhalgarh?
Kumbhalgarh is fairly remote so from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh or Jodhpur to Kumbhalgarh you will need a car or a private driver to get you there.
There is a bus from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh but it is a public bus and takes about 4 hours, double the time it takes in a car.
I visited Kumbhalgarh as part of a 1 week tailor-made solo trip around Rajasthan who arranged for a driver to pick me up in Udaipur, take me to the Village and stay in the area for 2 days so he could take me where I needed to go before going on to Jodhpur.
Although this sounds quite lavish, a private driver is a popular way to get around in India, especially if you are only visiting for a short time as it is quick, convent and pretty inexpensive.
Things to do in Kumbhalgarh
I found 2 days to be the perfect amount of time to spend in Kumbhalgarh and at Shahpura Kumbhal Villas, and as well as relaxing in the Villa there are lots of things to do in and around Kumbhalgarh and Shahpura Kumbhal Villas offer unique things to do in Kumbhalgarh too!
Two must do activities in Kumbhalgarh are visiting Kumbhalgarh Fort and seeing the Evening Light and Sound show.
BOOKING TRAINS IN INDIA
India is best travelled by train because its the quickest, cheapest and best way of getting to know the country. For an EASY option of booking trains in India use 12GO to search and book trains really easily. If you’ll be in India for awhile, you can use the local booking system, it’s a bit tricker but possible, here’s my post on how to book trains in India as a tourist.
BEST ACCOMMODATION IN INDIA
I always use Booking.com to book my hotels in India and Hostelworld to book my hostels. India has a great range of accommodation with brilliant hostel chains like Moustache, Zostel and Backpacker Panda as well as homestays to luxury hotels.
GUIDED TOURS IN INDIA
Many cities in India are best seen with a guide, even if it’s just a half day tour on your first day. Cities in India are chaotic and complex and what better way to taste the food and get to know the city than with a local. I recommend Get Your Guide & Viator for the best tours in India!
Shahpura Kumbhal Villas can arrange a morning or full day trip taking guests to Kumbhalgarh Fort for a guided tour, you will then drive around the area in a jeep seeing the villages and towns (definitely the best way to see Kumbhalgarh), do a trek, visit the museum and visit some nearby temples. Shahpura Kumbhal Villas can tailor make this to suit your needs and what you want to see.
In addition to this Shahpura Kumbhal Villas are able to offer guests the chance to go on a Jungle Safari in the morning which is an activity I did. I was picked up at 6:30am in a jeep and we headed into the Jungle with a park ranger. We spent the next 3 hours driving along the bumpy tracks keeping our eyes open for wildlife as the sun rose in the sky. We saw lots of Monkeys, a few Antelopes and a Bear! This was the first Bear our guide had seen in this area so that was really special. There are also Leopards in the area too although we didn’t see any.
HELP WITH YOUR INDIA ITINERARY
I’ve spent many months travelling India in the last few years visiting over 50 places around the country, here are my recommended itinerary posts for India to help you plan your trip!
2 WEEK INDIA ITINERARY, PERFECT FOR YOUR FIRST TRIP!
2 WEEK SOUTH INDIA ITINERARY – GOA & KERELA
1 MONTH NORTH INDIA ITINERARY IDEAS!
1 MONTH SOUTH INDIA ITINERARY IDEAS!
We stopped on the Jungle Safari for a bathroom break and a chai before carrying on. I did this on my last morning at Shahpura Kumbhal Villas and it was such a nice way to end my stay in Kumbhalgarh.
Bird Watching, Mountain Walks, a Night Safari and Stargazing are other activities that Shahpura Kumbhal Villas can arrange for it’s guests to offer a truly unique experience in India and in Rajasthan.
If you are looking for a unique place to stay in Rajasthan with a bit of luxury but somewhere that is affordable too, you will not be disappointed by Shahpura Kumbhal Villas. You can check availability and book your stay here.
For more of my posts on India see:
- 12 Unique Activities, Classes and Things To Do in Udaipur, India!
- My Guide to Mumbai!
- All India Posts
My stay was in collaboration with Shahpura Hotels but all tips, recommendations, thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links but at no extra cost to you.