Rajasthan spells royalty and romance. The expansive deserts, gorgeous palaces and its people make Rajasthan one of the most delightful destinations in India. Be it the pink city of Jaipur or the lake city of Udaipur or for that matter Jodhpur that hosts many Royal events, the hotel options galore. There are magnificent palaces converted into hotels which can charm anyone with their hospitality and luxury offerings. The home-bred and international hospitality brands have too made a beeline. But away from these tourist hotspots (now that’s our favourite phrase) we list three hotels that are stunning and magical. Places that are on our wish list and should be on yours too. Here’s why:

Mihir Garh

Mihir Garh, the ‘Fort of the Sun’, is a palatial boutique fort perched on a single dune amongst the sands of the Thar Desert. The dream project of Rashmi and Sidharth Singh, the nine-suite property is located 55 kilometers south west of Jodhpur city. The suites are spread over two floors with each suite offering more than 1700 square feet of space! Of course there is a private jacuzzi or plunge pool with every suite to make it luxurious. Mihir Garh gives its guests ample of reasons to get intimate and feel the romance—there are alcoves and lounges that have spectacular views.
They say god is in small details. We say that for hospitality. The Mihir Garh fort is made of wattle, mud and wood. The flooring of each room has been done using a special plaster technique known to only one man in the entire region of Jodhpur! He (with a helper) has put in hours of labor in creating the very exclusive floors. The village women of Khandi and Haji have lovingly created the fireplaces using age old technique of cow dung and clay. From paintings to curtain holders, every little thing has been specially designed for Mihir Garh. The stables here boast of the finest ‘Marwari’ breed of horses. If you stay at the Mihir Garh, you must experience the horse safari that takes you to the local countryside into the desert and also the village safaris. You can attend culinary workshops too as the local dishes served here are sumptuous and delectable. And there is a reson for that too. The recipes come from books on traditional Rajasthan cooking authored by the owner’s mother, Late Thakurarni Sahiba Jayendra Kumari.
Our tip? If you happen to bump into Rashmi Singh, whose love child Mihir Garh is, you must take a tip or two from her on chiffon saree shopping in Jodhpur. A brief conversation with her and you will know what makes their palace hotel so charming!

For more information and bookings visit: www.mihirgarh.com/
Tariff per night starts at Rs 17,000

Samsara Luxury Resort and Camp

We have told you in one of our articles earlier how sexy glamping, glamorous camping, is. Samsara with its 21 luxury tents makes for a beautiful glamping site. The luxury property located on the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer highway near village Dechu also has 30 deluxe villas (rooms) and two luxury suites.
The luxury tents are located at a distance of 5kms from the Samsara resort. Located in the midst of wilderness surrounded by dunes of Thar, the modern day tents have attached bathrooms typical of any luxury hotel. There is also a dining tent & bar and mobile camping options.

The rooms (villas and suites) too are beautiful havens with private sit out space and garden. The uber-luxe Grand Suites come with a large dining room and bed room opening into a courtyard in true Rajasthani fashion. Guests are sure to experience royal living with the verandah of the suites overlooking a private pool. The facilities at the hotel include a multi-cuisine restaurant, conference space, swimming pool and a spa.

At Samsara the outdoor activities are sure to thrill you. Enjoy the enthralling Desert Trail Safari, an early morning Bird Watching Tour or travel back in time when you take the Osian Temple Tour. Or simply get lost in the serene beauty of the acres of land and the clear desert sky – Samsara is stuff the dream holidays are made of!

Tariff per night starts at Rs 15,000
For more information and bookings visit www.samsaradechu.com

Devi Garh by lebua

Away from the hustle bustle of Udaipur (28 kilometers to be exact) , Devi Garh by lebua is a hill-top fort palace beautifully nestled in the Aravali hills. The all-suite property is an 18th century fort palace of Delwara that has been restored and transformed to host wanderers.
The 39-suite hotel looks stunning with its local marbles and semi-precious stones. The minimalist and contemporary interiors are sure to transport you to another world. This fort hotel is all about suite pleasures. The 1200 sq feet Devi Garh Suite and the Palace Suite, which together form the Presidential Complex, share a gorgeous black marble swimming pool. The larger, Devi Garh Suite has its own private sun deck, Jacuzzi and balconies with glorious view of the Aravalis.
Though the magnificence and calmness of the hotel is enough to soothe your nerves you must experience the spa at this hotel. The la Terre Spa by L’Occitane’ at Devi Garh offers well-being treatments in a luxurious setting. Local ingredients are used along with natural L’Occitane products to create exclusive treatments that have been specially designed for lebua Resorts.
While the staff at the hotel treats you like a Maharaja, the hotel also tempts you with simple pleasures- kite-flying, bicycle rides, village walks and in-house movie shows. This is where the wanderlust satiates. To say goodbye to this lavish fort hotel will be heartbreaking to say the least.

For more information and bookings visit www.lebua.com/devi-garh
Tariff per night starts at Rs 15,500