Nahargarh

Upon entering Nahargarh, you are taken back in time. The property is a highly sought after by tourists who come to Sawai Madhopur to visit Ranthambore National Park, which is nestled between the Aravali and Vindhya Mountain Ranges. The place serves as a much-needed oasis on the border of the desert and the Ranthambore National Park, a former royal hunting ground, which is now a protected home to tigers, leopards and marsh crocodiles. The fauna of Ranthambore, compared to other national parks across the nation, are used to being photographed and do not run away at the sight/sound of a jeep. This allows wildlife enthusiasts to get some stunning photographs and makes Ranthambore one of the most popular tiger-spotting regions in the country. The city area leading to the park is similar to other small towns in India with the signature hustle-bustle and the drive within the park can be a little tough on the lower back as the “kaccha” roads make the safari quite bumpy. At Nahargarh, guests can definitely enjoy some much-needed tranquillity; the rooms don’t have TVs, meaning that it’s the ideal destination for a digital detox if you manage to peel yourself away from the high-speed WiFi.

Nahargarh preserves authentic Rajput architecture; from the ornate decor to the seemingly never-ending grounds, the property is a sight for sore eyes. It’s possible to create your own adventure and explore the labyrinth of courtyards, perfectly-manicured gardens, and grand halls all within the property.While the park is open from October through June, Nahargarh has quickly positioned itself as a year-round destination. The property is painstakingly and thoughtfully decorated with chandeliers, swords, and vintage paintings adorning the common areas of the hotel. The open courtyard layout, which is common to Rajasthani forts and palaces lends the place a very welcoming atmosphere while the fountain in the center of the courtyard is a great focal point.

There are 80 large deluxe and super deluxe bedrooms on the property. The lower level rooms have access to private balconies, while rooms located on the second floor offer breathtaking views of the park from the private terraces. The rooms are decorated with a lot of care; one can opt for a 4-poster king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds. Just like its sister Shekhawati property, in-room dining is made even more comfortable thanks to the addition of dining table, as well as sitting space. We highly recommend the food at this property if you are looking to tuck into some delectable food and found that the breakfast buffet was both comprehensive and delicious. If you’re feeling guilty about the garlic naans you had at dinner, you can head to the swimming pools, yes, plural, and do a few laps. We were impressed by the fact that the staff came to take our beverage and snack order, no matter what time of day we entered the pool. Head to Lancer Bar if you feel like unwinding with a drink or to the absolutely gorgeous spa if you prefer to relax with an aromatherapy massage. It is easy to be fascinated by the level of details such as the saddled-chairs at the bar or the artifacts displayed all over the property.

The nights at Nahargarh are magical. The lit up balconies completely reshape the architecture of the palace, while their reflections in the water fountains make the whole scene seem surreal. Just before sunset, we sat down with our masala chais on our private balconies and watched as the sky turned from pink to purple to red and so on. It was absolutely stunning! Then, once the tea had whet our appetites, we headed downstairs for dinner where we were entertained by local singers who even took requests! They sang energetically and from the pit of their stomachs sans inhibition; it somehow elevated the flavors on our plate, as well as the stars in the sky.

All of us had been on various safaris and park visits, even in Ranthambore, but no one could have prepared us for everything we were about to witness. The next day, late in the afternoon, we jumped into the jeep and headed in. It was hot and dusty and the sun shone over our heads. I wore a hat and slathered on some sunscreen for protection. Just as we were adjusting to the inviting smells and sounds, not more than 10 minutes later, did we see the first of traditionally rare encounters- a leopard. We were one of only two vehicles nearby, and for a long time got to see this beast go about his business. We went further into the Park and were among crowds as we saw a tiger in a watering hole that had dried up because of the temperature and no rainfall. The next tiger we spotted managed to make his way over to us and jumped up right in front of our car as he strolled across, into the thicker part of the woods. Another tiger, variety of deer, nilgai, some hyenas, langurs, and other wildlife native to the area later, we found ourselves again amongst the only two jeeps to spot- something I’ve never seen in the wild before- a bear! We were enthralled by the creature and spent our time taking in this incredibly rare opportunity the National Park had afforded us.

As we made our way towards the main gate, three and a half hours, and five rare sightings later, we would never have predicted what we were about to see. We suddenly heard the ruffling of trees and an odd noise from a little below the road- to our right. We slowed the jeep just as a nilgai jumped up, and darted away from us. “What was it running from-” the question hadn’t even left my mouth, when, just up ahead, up jumped one of the largest, most impressive tigers I’ve ever laid eyes on. “Could it be?” said our guide, as the tiger now standing in the middle of the road, looked back at us, turned the other way, and started walking. “Could it really be 93? Yes.. I do believe it is!” our guide said, as he tried controlling his excitement, and began to talk to us about 93. 93 is the oldest Tiger in Ranthambore, he was large, majestic and used to humans in the area so he didn’t seem perturbed by the cars. He spent 20 minutes on the road walking away from us and turning around to look at us. A Tiger sighting in Ranthambore doesn’t get better than this. We retreated to our rooms early that night because we wanted to have a look at our footage from the park and relive the experience.

Should you and your significant other want to enjoy a romantic evening undisturbed, we recommend that you enjoy some wine and your dinner on your personal terrace, from where the view of the property is equally and distinctly beautiful, both in the morning and the evening. Visit Nahargarh any time of year and you are guaranteed to have a memorable experience.