The 39 rooms are all highly individual, based in former royal residences, historically split between the mardana (men’s area) and the zenana (women’s area). They remain splendid, with opulent and ornate interiors. Scattered amidst courtyards, fountains and gardens, each room is romantic, decorated Rajasthani style. Lavish fabrics and rugs, four-poster beds and antiques sit alongside mod-cons including air-con and satellite televisions. En suites, with both showers and baths, are just as spoiling.
Despite being beside the city, a sense of serenity pervades, due in no small part to the hotel's oasis of gardens and fountains. The pool, long and shimmering beside an excellent bar, is a lovely place to spend an afternoon. At night, oil lamps flicker in the gardens and superb Rajasthani and international classics are served in a stately dining room, under a spectacular chandelier. Service is gracious, a tradition stretching back centuries under these regal ceilings.
