Tailor made holidays to Rajasthan, India

Picture the scene ... you have travelled for hours on dusty roads, passing tractors, huts, desert scenery and ox carts and finally you pull up outside this 'oasis in the desert'!  A friendly welcome takes you into the sheltered walls of this luxury hotel where you can enjoy several days of relaxation with a range of excellent spa treatments and fabulous food ....

I highly recommend this luxury hotel as something completely different to the 'traditional tourist trail' through Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle.  This little piece of paradise treats you with luxury pleasures but at the same time, welcomes you to the heart of rural India where you can get to know the local villages, walk through medieval ruins and immerse yourself in a historic culture that is quite unique.

Aman is derived from the Sanskrit word for 'peace' and Bagh from the Hindi word for 'garden'.  This hotel indeed is a tropical garden within a walled perimeter which makes you feel you are in a 'royal enclosure'!  The original site was indeed a staying area for royal hunts and the decor reflects the palatial grandeur of the Moghul era in this part of Rajasthan.

There are 24 Haveli suites and 16 pool pavilions located around the gardens which surround the massive main swimming pool. There is a 12 square metre wading pool alongside the spa area in addition to the main 33 metre pool. The reception area has high ceilings and leads to a raised terrace looking over the gardens. In the main building are also the library and boutique. Meals can be taken in the restaurant, on the terrace or in the privacy of your suite.  Light meals and snacks are served poolside through the day. Cuisine is a mix of home cooked local food and western dishes and excellent wines are available.  The airy bar is a great place for pre-dinner drinks or an air conditioned relax during the day.

Courtyard and garden Haveli suites are located on the ground level of two storey buildings either side of the main pool and the terrace Haveli suites are on the upper level.  The pool pavilions are located around the edge of the hotel and are accessed by spacious courtyards into a foyer from which you will find huge bedrooms and massive bathrooms. The private swimming pools are heated during winter months.

The spa offers a range of healing therapies plus facials, massages, scrubs and henna art. Skin care products are exclusively prepared from pure ingredients.

The countryside which surround Amanbagh is simply stunning.  The rocks and hills reveal the ruins of an ancient empire. You can take many different excursions to a variety of sites within 30 km of the hotel, year round. Nearby, the main attraction is the 17th century Bhangarh which is a national heritage site that comprises a city of palaces, gardens, temples, bazaars and bathing pools.  Outdoor activities include cycling, horse riding, camel rides, trekking and yoga. Also nearby is the Ajabgarh Fort and Temple, built in 1635 AD and connected via an underground passage.  The site looks out over a large lake and boat trips and lake side picnics can be arranged.

Small villages dot the hills which surround Amanbagh which provide a haven for photographers... pretty rural scenes and the chance to meet the people are on offer here.  Take a Sunset Cow Dust tour ... head out in the late afternoon by jeep or camel and enjoy the last sunlight of the day as the villagers herd their cows and goats in for the night. Meet the villagers as children play and the elders gather around a hookah, you may even get invited in for Chai.

35 minutes from Amanbagh is Sariska National Park which was once a personal hunting ground of the Maharajah of Alwar.  Tigers are now making a good comeback here and the park is also home to leopards, wildcats, caracals, nilgai antelope, chital, sambar, wild boar and many monkeys. Take a jeep safari here in the early morning or late afternoon.

Ask us to include a stay at Amanbagh in your next tailor made holiday to India!