Rajsamand

Excursion

»Kumbhalgarh
Cradled in a cluster of 13 mountain peaks of the Aravalli ranges, the formidable medieval citadel - Kumbhalgarh stands a wary sentinel to the past. Rising from a prominent ridge, 1914 meters high from the sea level, the fort was built in by Maharana Kumbha

Climate
Summer 38.5°C 28.6°C
Winter 28.3°C 11.6°C

General Information
Location
66-km From Udaipur, Rajasthan
Best Time
October To March

Clothing
Summer
Light Tropical
Winter
Light Woollen

Rajsamand or the royal lake is one of the numerous artificial lakes found in the Mewar region and was built by Rana Raj Singh I in the 1660s. The lake is a large one, 4 miles long and 1¾ miles wide. It has a huge embankment (bund) that is over 1100ft long and 40ft high with several decorative arches and pavilions built by Raj Singh. The Gomti River flows into it, ensuring that it never remains dry. The Nauchowki (nine pavilions) stands mute next to the calm and serene Rajsamand. The white marble steps down to the lake date back to the 17th century when Maharani Roopmati had them made to show her gratitude to her husband Maharana Raj Singh I. Raj Singh had saved her from the hands of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (see Rana Raj Singh I in History for more details.) 27 stone slabs carved in the 17th century bear the longest Sanskrit inscription known in India. The slabs, known as Raj Prahasti, mention the history of the State of Mewar in a verse of 1017 stanzas.

Places To See
»Desuri
Three Jain temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman and Navi Mata are among some noteworthy temples at Desuri. A temple dedicated to Parsurama Mahadeo, nestled in the hills, is also closeby. It is situated in the Kumbhalgarh tehsil of Rajsamand.
»Kankroli
An important Vaishnava temple popularly called ¿Dwarkadhish¿ is located here. It is the most important temple of the Vallabhacharya sect, built to resemble the famous Nathdwara shrine.
»Paul Chowk
Named after Mr. Bipin Chandra Paul who came to Rajahmundry in April 1907 during the Vandemataram movement.
»Rajasmand Rest House
The rest house has a beautifully laid out garden interspersed with exquisite sculptures excavated from the ruins nearby.
»Rajsamand Lake
On the way to Kumbhalgarh lies the magnificent dam - the Rajsamand Lake. The royal lake, was built in 1660 AD by Rana Raj Singh. From here, one can have a spectacular view of the sunset with beautiful 'torans' or arches and 'chhatris' adorning the embankment. The lake has a Rest House of the Irrigation Department on the embankment below. The Rest House has a beautifully laid out garden interspersed with exquisite sculptures excavated from the ruins nearby. The town of Kankroli nearby with a marvellous temple and a pretty palace on the hill top offers a scenic view.