Certain quintessential destinations have such an appeal that, as many times you visit, you are left hungry for more. Rajasthan in India is one such destination which has its mark in the history of India, where the Rana’s once lived and ruled and from where Rani Laxmibai, our woman warrior, hails from. With so much of heritage and history full of old customs and traditions, Rajasthan tops the must-to-see for anybody in India or visiting from outside India.
Rajasthan offers a myriad of heritage properties to its visitors. Former palaces have been restored and converted into splendid hotels giving a taste of royalty to the visitors. Today in our ‘Luxury Escapes’ section, we talk about one such magnificent property which is so full of historical facts and anecdotes that it is bound to make us feel special and privileged to be staying in and being a part of such a legacy.
Neemrana Fort-Palace was previously the third capital of the descendants of Prithviraj Chauhan III, who had fled Delhi in 1192 after he was vanquished in battle by Muhammad Ghori. Neemrana’s rulers, proud of their lineage, continued to assert themselves even under the British rule. The fort was built in 1464 and finally in 1986 the ruins were acquired for restoration.
In 1991 Neemrana Fort – Palace opened its doors with the nobility of its façade raised and just 15 liveable rooms. In 2000 Neemrana won the ‘Intach-Satte’ award for restoration & tourism, for ‘being the foremost example of how we can pick architectural treasures from the national dustbin and turn them around’. The heritage property has become synonymous with ‘restoration for re-use’. In 2004, Neemrana was nominated for the Aga Khan Award.
In 2014, Neemrana Fort-Palace was upgraded with 71 rooms/suites and rampart gardens. An additional wing now houses the pool and health spa, an amphitheater, the hanging gardens with a salon, a restaurant with a roof-top garden and conference rooms and many special suites.
The rooms of the hotels are named after various ‘Mahals’. Deva Mahal (Palace of the Gods) being the grandest of all is also the most expensive room of the property. The room hosts an array of divans which are almost as good as single beds. There is an ornamented 200 years old bed from the Malabar Country in the center of the room. Part of the room has a large round turret room with niches in the wall which has antique Shiva (God) heads. There’s also a dining/kitchenette and a vast salon all in one room. The ideally-fit-for-a-king room is available to the visitors for a sum of ₹28000. There are other medium range rooms with the names of Tulsi Mahal, Urvashi Mahal and the Hans Mahal, which is the cheapest double room priced at ₹6500.
The premises of the hotel are mesmerizing. The lack of the easy facilities like a lift or a room service forces the lazy ones to get out of the room and walk around the property, taking in as much as one can of its splendid façade, especially in the evening when the whole property is lit-up and makes you remember the bygone era. The air we breathe feels so pure and refreshing that an early morning walk around the hotel is a must where you can spot lots of birds chirping and flowers in full bloom and when the night dawns, you can hear the traditional folklores being played by the local artists. The sound of the sarangi itself makes you cozy-up in your chair and forget about outside world and bask in the glory and warmth of the Neemrana Palace.
SOUL Tip: Being close from Delhi (108 km), one can visit the hotel anytime. If you are in no mood to stay the night, there’s also an option of day visit which comes for a price tag of ₹1900 along with complimentary lunch. But SOUL would recommend a stay at the property especially in the ‘Krishna Mahal (Krishna’s Palace)’ which is SOUL’s favorite among all the rooms and which has a balcony facing the sunset, a terrace over the hanging gardens to its south and the furnishings, RED in color.
To visit the Hotel website click on: http://fort-palace.neemranahotels.com
How to reach the destination click on: http://fort-palace.neemranahotels.com/how-to-reach
