Khem Villas
Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan
Eco-chic cottages, tents and rooms set amongst 10 acres of tranquil grassland beside Ranthambhore Park
This place is a treat. Lush gardens wrap around a colonial-style
white house; the air is fragrant with frangipani, lavender and
roses, the silence only punctuated by birdsong. It’s
incredibly serene, bordering Ranthambhore Park, and only 15 minutes
by jeep from the small town Sawai Madhopur - just far enough from
the main cluster of camps.
It’s an admirable hotel in many respects. For starters,
owners Goverdhan and Usha only employ local staff, and are the
pillars of the rural community, having set up the hospital and
school. Their whole ethos is sustainable tourism, and to that end
the
food
is vegetarian and energy sources are eco friendly. Their 10 acres
of grassland and forest were hand-planted 8 years ago, and have now
become a natural habitat for many animals and birds. But best of
all, Khem Villas is extremely stylish, with handcarved
rocking chairs on your private porch or cushioned window seats with
views of the park, powerful drench showers and bespoke organic
toiletries. Don’t just come here for a quick visit on the
back of a tiger safari; treat it as a main event and stay for a
while.
Reviewed by Liz Simpson
Last updated 13 September 2011
Highs
- There's a warm welcome: big smiles, chilled face towels and sweet lime juice instantly revive you from your journey and make you feel very welcome
- The gorgeous accommodation includes chic thatched cottages, luxury tents and stylish rooms in the main building
- The vegetarian food on offer is excellent
- The nature guides are very well trained - if there’s a tiger in the vicinity, they’ll find it for you!
- There are Ayurvedic treatment tents and a resident doctor
- It's all inclusive and good value for money
Lows
- There's not a lot of light in the bedrooms at night
- There are set menus at lunch and dinner
- Sawai Madhopur is a bit off the beaten track - although you can arrive by train and get collected from the station, the journey is a bit stressful. Most people use a driver from Jaipur/Delhi
- Tiger safaris need to be booked at least 6-8 weeks in advance
