Owned by Shahpura’s ruling family, this heritage hotel’s surrounds would have looked very different had the late Rajadhiraj Nahar Singh not mortgaged the family jewels to bring water to the local community. Today, it is a glorious green oasis amidst this desert state, and a bastion of traditional Rajasthani culture. A direct descendant of Singh, the current Raja, Jai, now lives here with his family, and invites guests to share his palace. His personal care and involvement gives this boutique property the feel of a homestay – albeit a rather royal one.
Accessible by road from Jaipir, Udaipur, Ranthambore and Jodhpur, a few nights here is a great way to change the tempo of your visit between chaotic cities. Intimate, opulent, there is a strong ethos of altruism, which clearly runs in the family. Staff are almost all from local villages, and many have been working for the household for generations. With lots to do in and around the property, Shahpura Bagh is great for families, solo travellers and friends, especially birdwatchers and nature lovers.
Highs
- More Ibizan villa than rural Rajasthan, a heated azure pool is surrounded by daybeds with billowing white curtains
- Just 11 beautiful rooms, including huge Royal Suites and Luxury Villa Suites with very un-Rajasthani open-air showers!
- Evenings by the bonfire, G&T in hand, accompanied by canapés and anecdotes
- Food is home-grown and home-cooked but by no means simple
- Wonderful guided activities, to help you get under the skin of this fascinating region: village, local farm and school visits, and sundowner drinks at Fort Dhikola
Lows
- A 4-hour drive from the nearest airports (Jaipur and Udaipur), but it's the price worth paying for this rural idyll
- Dinner is a set menu and the lunch menu is a little limited, which is a shame as there is nowhere else to eat in the area
- A sprawling property with a small team of staff, sometimes they can be a little hard to find
- Full pre-payment 60 days prior to arrival, and this is non-refundable in the event of cancellation
Best time to go
March and October are best, warm during the day, and still pleasant in the evenings. April, May and early June can be very hot, leading up to the monsoon season. Mid-June and July witness the monsoon, which may hamper day trips, but is a spectacular sight in itself and prices are lower. The coolest months are between November and February. In fact, you'll be surprised just how chilly it can get on a winter's eve, so do remember to bring scarves and a jacket.
Our top tips
- Go for sundowner drinks at Dhikhola Fort. The sight of the sun setting behind verdant rice paddies and shimmering water bodies, through the crumbling arches of this ancestral fort, is a photographer's dream. You can also organise a private dinner at the fort with candles and fireworks - the whole shebang.
- A great read, if this is your first trip to India, 'Nine Lives' by William Dalrymple provides a whistlestop tour and insight into some of the country's oldest customs.
- Boutique Hotel
- 11 rooms
- Restaurant & bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Heated Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
The 11 rooms are decorated in rich jewel palettes of ruby reds and emerald greens. Interiors channel that classical Raj-era style, synonymous with the abodes of Rajasthan’s most-prominent families: regal rolltop baths, capacious four-poster beds, polished writing bureaus, and framed photographs and paintings of ancestors through the years. All are an excellent size, but the Royal Suites could fit a 2-story house beneath their lofty ceilings.
A pair of Luxury Villa Suites sit in a separate bungalow with private terraces and not very traditional, but very luxurious, outdoor showers. A romantic treat for couples, these rooms share a courtyard so would also suit a family/friends travelling together.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfast is served on the lawn, with views of white cranes soaring over the fields and cows lolloping between them. A selection of jams and fresh fruit is placed on your table, accompanied by milk and yoghurt direct from Shahpura’s on-site dairy. Choose from eggs to order, and your choice of a Full English or Indian Breakfast.
Lunch is a small selection of sandwiches and Indian snacks - pakora, samosa and paratha - though you can request something specific if you prefer. Of an evening, begin the night with drinks by the pool, before moving to the grandeur of the dining room, with its hunting trophies and glistening silverware. Start with a hot or cold soup (depending on the season). Bowls cleared, your table will begin to fill with all manner of delicious Indian dishes: roasted aubergine, fried okra, tomato chutneys, daal, chicken tikka, egg curry, and so on. Recipes are family ones, passed down through the generations and prepared by Shahpura’s long-serving and trusted chef.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Coffee maker
- Restaurant
- Room service
Activities
- A highlight is definitely the Dhikhola Fort Dining Experience, organised by the hotel, which includes a private dinner at the 400-year-old fort, which is reserved entirely for you and your partner, friends or family. Think wine (or unlimited beer), a private guide, candles, fireworks and an incredible set Indian menu.
- Walking trails lead around the 45 acres of gardens and fields, interspersed by hammocks at scenic points. Or boat across the tranquil lakes
- Shahpura Bagh sits on the edge of a large and bustling rural village. Even a bike ride outside the hotel's wrought-iron gates is something of an adventure, amidst herds of cows, fruit sellers, honking motorbikes, and bangle sellers
- Join the traditional Hatha yoga class out on the terrace each morning at 6.30am, or try your hand at an interactive cooking lesson
- Recline by the infinity pool and enjoy High Tea
- For an authentic journey through Rajasthan's farming communities, visit a 140-acre working farm, bordering Shahpura’s largest water body, Nahar Sagar
- Children will love the bumpy bullock-cart ride and visiting the local school
- With its abundance of wetlands, Shahpura is a haven for birdwatchers; there are over 180 species to be spotted. You’ll find a check-list in your room, so you can tick them off as you go!
- Most importantly, take time to relax. Shahpura is where travellers come for a change in tempo between Rajasthan’s major cities. Laze by the pool and enjoy the peace and quiet, or if you're feeling more energetic, explore the rural surrounds on a private cycling tour (there's a picnic provided if you're peckish)
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Art classes
- Birdwatching
- Camel rides
- Cooking classes
- Cycling
- Historical sites
- Private guided tours
- Table tennis
- Wildlife
- Yoga
Kids
Though there are no restrictions, noisy children might disrupt the tranquility of Shahpura Bagh. Well-behaved little ones are more than welcome though, and with a bounty of outdoor activities, from farm visits to bullock-cart rides, they'll find plenty to keep themselves entertained. Kids under 6 stay for free.
Best for:
Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
The 2 Luxury Villa Suites can be set up as double or twin rooms, each with 2 additional baby cots/extra beds, and share an inter-connecting courtyard. Both have an ensuite bathroom with tub and an open-air shower. The Royal Suites have space for 2 baby cots or extra beds; Suites have space for 1 baby cot or extra bed.
Kids Activities on site:
Heated swimming pool, grounds to explore
Families Should Know:
The pool is unfenced
Distances:
- Airport: (4 hours' drive, Jaipur)
- Shop: 1km
- Medical facility: 2km
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The hotel sits on the edge of a large rural village, Shahpura, and is the perfect stopover between Jaipur and Udaipur (230/220km respectively). It also makes a good stop before or after Ranthambore (210km) or Jodhpur (250km).
By Air:
Delhi Indira Gandhi (251km away) is the nearest international airport but it's 8 hours' drive from here. Jaipur and Udaipur are a bit closer (approx 4 hours' drive), both reachable by internal flight from Delhi.
Most guests arrive with a driver. You can arrange a car and driver for your entire India holiday via our Tailormade Tour Operator. Otherwise the hotel can arrange an airport transfer.
By Train:
The area is remote and not served by public transport. The closest train station is at Bhilwara, 50km (an hour's drive) away. If you come by train, you can jump in a rickshaw for the final leg.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Jaipur Sanganer 230.0 km JAI
- Udaipur 220.0 km UDR
Other:
- Beach 0.0 km
- Shops 0.0 km
- Restaurant 0.0 km