Anopura

Jaipur, India
Book from GBP Book from £115 per night

Anopura

Jaipur, India

Plush villas and suites on a peaceful farm in rural Rajasthan, with sparkling pools and delicious home-grown food, just over an hour from Jaipur

Plush villas and suites on a peaceful farm in rural Rajasthan, with sparkling pools and delicious home-grown food, just over an hour from Jaipur

Before we had even set foot in our room, one of Anopura’s team pointed out a leopard paw print in the sand. No actual leopards were seen during our time at Anopura but, despite the speedy 1-hour drive from the Pink City, we couldn’t feel more like we were in the wild. Set on the edge of a remote village in the foothills of the Aravalli mountains, Jaipur-based owner Aditya Baheti is on a mission to rewild this 80-acre property. It also serves as a working organic farm with animals, a dairy and a beautiful array of fields growing vegetables and fruit.

Accommodation is spread across four private villas (each with their own swimming pool) and the new farmstead with six suites available to book individually (with a shared swimming pool). All come with ample lounging areas providing a real sense of privacy. The daily-changing set menu is served on a pretty terrace overlooking the fields, where 90% of the kitchen’s ingredients are grown. Couples and small groups come here for hikes, evening safari drives or workshops like pottery, but mostly, this is a sanctuary where people come to slow down and do little more than soak up the quiet and nature. A great option for some chill time on a Rajasthan itinerary.

Highs

  • Creative cooking where you can really taste the fresh ingredients from the garden
  • The friendly staff are always keen to help but are never over the top; many come from the local village, which adds to the overall welcoming/family ambiance
  • The chance to learn about rural Rajasthan with visiting villagers, making chai and demonstrating crafts like weaving
  • The level of luxury and privacy for the price makes it pretty good value too
  • Thoughtful touches like the turndown service in which hot water bottles are placed in beds

Lows

  • The daily set menu might not appeal to picky eaters
  • Due to its rural location, there are no restaurants or shops in walking distance
  • This is a place where people keep to themselves, so social butterflies might be better off elsewhere

Best time to go

The best time to visit is between October and March when you can expect clear warm days and cool nights. The peak winter season is also when the Literature Festival and International Kite Festival come to nearby Jaipur. In May and June it gets too scorching to do much (temperatures are in the 40s) and from July to September the Monsoon season brings heavy rain.

Our top tips

The difference between the daytime and nighttime temperature is big so pack some warm layers for the evening so you can enjoy dinner on the terrace.

Located between Jaipur and Delhi, Anopura is great stop for some R&R at the start or end of Rajasthan itineraries where Delhi is the flying out point.

Great for...

Foodie
Great Outdoors
Romantic
Eco
Family
  • Boutique Retreat
  • 6 suites, 5 villas for 2-4
  • Restaurant and bar (open daily)
  • All ages welcome
  • Open all year
  • Pools
  • Spa
  • Beach Nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car not necessary
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
  • Laundry Service
Room:

Rooms

Each of the four private villas is set amongst mature gardens of flowering frangipani, marigolds and roses. They are individually designed and furnished with antiques and fabrics from across Rajasthan, and all feel spacious and private - perfect for honeymooning couples or families. The two-bedroom villas come with traditional thatched tabaris (a type of outdoor living room), while the one-bedroom villas have private dining patios. All four have swimming pools. Paradise 360, with its wraparound glass walls, is particularly lovely for feeling immersed in nature. We stayed in Khas Niwas and loved the pops of fuchsia and mint green on its walls, showering under the stars and doing laps in the private infinity pool before collapsing onto the sinkable day beds.

Khet Niwas, the farmstead, has a set of suites (five one-bedroom, ideal for couples and solo travellers, and one two-bedroom, aimed at families), which are more affordable. More modern and minimal in their aesthetic than the villas, they are also decorated with touches of Rajasthani antiques and contemporary Indian art to give a sense of place. These suites have access to a shared natural stone infinity pool and an elevated lounge deck.

All suites and villa bedrooms come with kingsize beds. Bathrooms come with large walk-in showers and tasteful twin sinks; some of the villas also have an additional outdoor shower or a freestanding bathtub.

Features include:

  • Air conditioning
  • Coffee / tea making
  • Cots available
  • Fan
  • Hairdryer
  • Minibar
  • Safe box
  • Toiletries
  • WiFi

Eating

Meals are served on the relaxed terrace, with the option to sit inside the cosy library/bar when temperatures drop. The menu changes daily based on what’s growing in the gardens, but it can be tailored to dietary requirements.

Each day follows a similar rhythm, with breakfast served at tables and including fresh fruit and juices, yoghurt and local dishes like Poha (flattened rice with coconut, peanuts and spices) and Paratha (Indian flatbreads), plus the option to order eggs. At lunch, it's healthy fresh salads and comforting hot dishes mixing Indian and international flavours – the beetroot carpaccio was particularly delicious.

Dinners are a Rajasthani feast with light snacks to start (the crispy paneer and lentil patties were particularly moreish), followed by a thali, then desserts like crème brûlée. The cocktail list is enticing (I loved the cherry twist on a whiskey sour), and there’s a good selection of both Indian and imported wine, beer and spirits.

Features include:

  • Bar
  • Breakfast
  • Kids' meals
  • Restaurant
  • Vegetarian options
Eating:
Activity:

Activities

  • The grounds are lovely for short strolls, but the Anopura team also lead guided walks and hikes. Set off early to the local temple for the morning Aarti (prayers), take a longer hike to an abandoned village for lunch, or climb to the hilltop viewpoint for sunset
  • Jump in a jeep and head to a nearby farm for a picnic afternoon tea or a tour of some of the area’s off-the-beaten-track historic sites (you can visit the Mata Ji temple and the remains of the hunting lodge of the Maharaja of Jaipur)
  • Learn the art of Indian pottery by trying a workshop held at the Anopura Pottery Studio
  • The evening safari drives are popular, you could spot leopards!
  • Ayurvedic treatments using oils made from flowers, herbs, and plants grown on-site are available in the small spa or in the privacy of your villa
  • Insightful farming classes for both adults and children educate on the farm itself and the food they grow
  • The Pink City, Jaipur, is an easy day trip for fantastic shopping in the craft shops and bazaars, the extensive palace complex (Hawa Mahal), and the incredible Jantar Mantar observatory. Don't forget to take in Amer Fort and the Jal Mahal Palace, 10km north of the city

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Ayurvedic treatments
  • Farm tours
  • Hiking
  • Historical sites
  • Safaris
  • Shopping / markets
  • Well being
  • Yoga

Kids

Anopura welcomes families, and two children under 8 per booking stay for free. The farm animals and abundance of outdoor space will appeal to young children, whereas older ones will be kept busy with activities such as pottery classes and junior farming workshops. The Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is down the road too.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The villas are particularly well suited to those travelling with children. The two-bedroom villas (Pravas and Khas Niwas) both sleep up to 4 adults and 2 children and the second bedroom at Pravas can be set up as a twin, whereas the one-bedroom Sukh Niwas can sleep up to 2 adults and 2 children under 12. All three come with their own private pools and good-sized living spaces. The Khet Niwas Family Suite can sleep 4, while the one-bedroom suites would work well for a couple travelling with one young child.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Kids Activities on site:

  • Farm tours and farming workshops
  • Swimming
  • Pottery classes

Families Should Know:

The pool is unfenced

Distances:

  • Airport: 1hr30m (Jaipur)
  • Hospital: 22 minutes
Kid Friendly:

Location

Anopura is set in the foothills of the Aravalli mountains, 35km north-east of Rajasthan’s capital, Jaipur.

By Air:
Jaipur airport is 47 km away and offers regular flights to Delhi and other cities across India. Delhi airport is 234 km and is a major hub with a large selection of international flights.

By Car:
Most people arrive at Anopura via taxi or a private car with a driver. Hiring a car isn’t recommended unless you want to test your driving skills on the challenging roads.

By Train:
Jaipur railway station is 41 km away and has links to Delhi and other cities across Rajasthan, including Udaipur and Jaisalmer.

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

Airports:

  • Jaipur 46.9 km JAI
  • Delhi 235.0 km DEL

Other:

  • Beach 900.0 km
  • Shops 50.0 km
  • Restaurant 9.0 km

Rates for Anopura

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