A Tryst with Rajasthan

As we made our way along a road leaving the highway to take a bypass, we were a bit apprehensive about our choice of stay. But all our worries nullified as our car inched towards the main gate of Pratap Niwas. Standing tall in the midst of a manicured garden was the resort bathed in the afternoon sun and a super cool vintage car on display at the entrance.

Set in a huge area, Pratap Niwas is a beautiful heritage property. It escapes the cacophony of the city yet is close to must-visit places of Jodhpur. The resort is owned by the royal family of Jhālāmand and is part of the Amritara group of resorts.

As we entered the resort, we were quickly whisked to the lobby where we experienced a quick and effortless check-in process while sipping on our welcome drink.

The reception lobby opens up to a sprawling courtyard with a fountain in the center, lavishly designed halls adorned with ornate chandeliers and archways in the lobby. As we tiptoed into our room, we could get a feel of the ancient Rajasthani culture. Our room had huge poster bed with half a dozen pillows. The period furniture like the dresser and study table gave a rustic edge to the entire look of the room. The bathroom was spacious too, with all basic amenities.

The boutique resort is built in the style of a haveli, with large and spacious rooms. The resort offers suites, deluxe rooms and a super impressive swimming pool. Each and every room exudes royalty and luxury. Each of the rooms is tastefully decorated, reflecting the glory and splendor of the yesteryears with a rich, earthy color palette and elements that pay tribute to the bygone era. The rooms have upscale amenities like a flat screen TV with DTH and a mini bar. It had plenty of soft touches and a wonderfully tranquil atmosphere – particularly in the beautifully landscaped rear garden. Every effort had been taken to offer us a royal retreat during our stay.

We were totally impressed by the architecture and detailing that went into the construction and keeping the old world charm alive with each and every furniture that very much resembles the opulent havelis of Rajasthan, complete with long corridors, archways, huge courtyards, and jharokhas. The architecture reflects a unique mix of Mughal and Mewar style.

As we settled in our room, it was quite easy to slip back into an erstwhile era with no Wi-Fi, plenty of time in hand and hardly any guests except few families. On our very first day, we basically did nothing except hanging around on the terrace with a book in hand and fluttering pigeons for company. The view we nabbed at the terrace was far from average,we watched the sun descend below the horizon and the light fade from the sky, to give way to a magnificent sky full of stars that peeked out from the clouds.

Food

Rajasthan is known for its epicurean fantasy and yes, no way we'd keep ourselves away from fueling our wildest culinary fantasies - from the rich, sinfully delicious ethnic cuisines to calorie-laden desserts. We had it all.

The in-house restaurant serves a selection of Indian and international cuisines. The breakfast spread was good. We were served mixed parathas, poha, fruits, cereals, scrambled eggs and coffee/tea during our stay. But what made the cut was the sumptuous meal served for lunch - especially the laal maas and dal baati churma laden with desi ghee,which was downright amazing. Yes, the dessert menu was a bit disappointing but on our request, the staff was more than glad to serve the best Rajasthani dessert - ghevar and succulent mawa kachori. We washed it all down with thick makhani lassi.

Sightseeing

On our second day, we pulled ourselves from the comfort of our room and ventured out to explore the city. Mehrangarh Fort was our first stop and no better place to experience the unmissable 360-degree breathtaking views of the famed blue city of Jodhpur. We could have spent the whole day mulling over these architecture marvels but our pool at the resort was inviting enough. After soaking in all the beauty and a quick stop at JaswantThada and Umaid Bhawan Museum we drove all the way to the hotel for lunch.

After devouring on sumptuous lunch dished out by the chef and relaxing by the pool, we made our way to the Clock Tower and to experience the famous and most talked about street food of Jodhpur in the evening. If you have a sweet tooth, we would highly recommend Janta Sweet Home and Mishrilal near Clock Tower to sample the ambrosial lassi which is famous among the locals.

Overall

With attention to the minutest of details, our stay at Pratap Niwas was memorable and the impeccable service of the staff was an icing on the cake. The moment you step in you'll feel like you've stepped back into a royal era.

If you are looking to experience a Rajasthani royal era and get a feel of staying in a haveli, look no further than Pratap Niwas. You can book your stay here.

The Highs & Lows

• The highlight of our stay was definitely the location, which was a perfect escape from the daily grind but the touristy types have to rely on a taxi to go to the city center.
• The food was amazing. Make sure you try their laalmaas and the famous daal baati churma during your stay. Don't hesitate to ask the chefs for authentic Rajasthani cuisine if you have any particular preferences.
• WiFi is available only in the lobby; We wish it was available in all rooms.

Good To Know

• The resort is 13 km from the city center, 7 km from Jodhpur Airport.
• The City Bus Station is 7 km while the Jodhpur Railway Station is 11 km.
• You can also book a desert safari tour to Bishnoi Village at the resort. The tour starts at 4 pm every day.
• Best season to visit - October to February
• Must try Rajasthani delicacies - mirchivadas, samosas, dhokla, ghevar, gatte ki sabzi and gulab jamun at Chatubhuj Ramesh Chandra Gulab Jamun.
• Other Attractions Nearby: Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, UmaidBhawan, Mandore Garden & Clock Tower. The Bal Saman Lake is 20 km and the Jodhpur Flying Fox is 40 km.

For reservations, click here.