Rooms

The 72 rooms are spacious and airy, their white-on-cream interiors dashed with vibrant colours and textured fabrics. Carved wood furnishings evoke a bygone decadence while upholstered headboards add a touch of contemporary chic. Large piles of cushions and throws on enormous jute rugs reflect the caravan serais (or resting places) which the Thar Desert is famed for.

The sandstone palette continues into the bathrooms, where you'll find rainfall showers (and Jacuzzi baths in most). All include homegrown and entirely natural Ayca toiletries.

Even the simplest Pavilion Rooms set the bar high and provide everything you might need for a comfortable stay (at excellent value for money), while the Suryagarh Suites include your own dining room as well as a private rooftop pool. The large Heritage Rooms are best for travelling families. As for indulgence, the Thar Haveli is utterly captivating, and feels as though you're sleeping among history - with the addition of a private pool.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Celebrating Jaisalmer’s culinary heritage, Suryagarh eschews typical Indian menu clichés. There are two restaurants to choose from, one casual, one formal. We dined on Lal Maas (a rich mutton preparation), Gatte ki Sabzi (dumpling flour dumpling curry), Dal Bati Churma (lentil curry) - all as rich and delicious as they sound - in the refined setting of crimson-walled Legends of Marwar restaurant. The same attention to detail is found on their Western menu, too: tapas lunches, rich ragus and indulgent chocolate fondants provide a tasty respite for stomachs in need of a break from spices.

Even breakfast is a grand affair, served on the terrace with fresh juices, French presses, masala chai, eggs to order and flaky pastries, in the company of peacocks and Romeo and Juliet (the rescue donkeys), to the accompaniment of a Rajasthani flautist. It’s difficult to imagine a more enjoyable start to a morning. For an unforgettable evening experience, opt for the Thar dinner and dine beneath the desert stars in a royal caravan-style setting.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Take your pick of the hotel’s impeccably curated experiences. From sundowners on the dunes (which includes a folk music accompaniment, and fireworks on request) to the Chudail Trails, a midnight journey through Thar Desert’s most haunted corners. You can even breakfast with flocks of peacocks
  
• Yoga, archery lessons, a visit to an animal sanctuary, a walk through the organic vegetable garden - all can be found on-site at Suryagarh.
  
• For culture, Jaisalmer Fort is a must - the palace and the Jain temples within its walls are what travellers come to see. You can book a car and a personal guide through the hotel.
  
• Fans of the outdoors can head off mountain biking through the dunes or go in search of the Great Indian Bustard, a magnificent and now incredibly rare bird. Plus, you haven't really been to Jaisalmer unless you've been on camel-back. The hotel will be happy to arrange a safari trip in the dunes to ride these ships of the desert.

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Archery
• Birdwatching
• Camel rides
• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Mountain biking
• Private guided tours
• Traditional cultures
• Yoga

Kids

While there are no specific children’s facilities, Suryagarh is a great place for families. Children up to 8 years old stay free of charge; 9+ year olds are charged the same as adults. There's more than enough to keep kids occupied, including an on-site animal sanctuary and an indoor pool. Babysitting is available, but strictly by prior arrangement.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

All rooms can accommodate 1 baby cot or extra bed except for the Fort Rooms.

Distances:

• Airport: 30-40 minutes (Jaisalmer)
• Shops: 15 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Suryagarh is located in the heart of the Thar Desert in western Rajasthan. It's 15 minutes by taxi from Jaisalmer city.

By Air
Jaisalmer Airport is only 27km away, reachable on a hopper flight from Jodhpur Airport (285km). Jodhpur is the closest major airport that's open all year round, and Delhi Indira Gandhi serves as the gateway to India for most international flights. The hotel can arrange a transfer from either airport. Click on the links below for more information.

By Train:
Indian Railways offers regular services to Jaisalmer from all the major cities in Rajhastan, including Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Barmer, Jaore and Ahemdabad. The hotel can collect you from the station.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.

More on getting to Rajasthan and getting around