Nahargarh was built in 1734 by Jai Singh, a Rajput ruler of the Kingdom of Amber and the founder of the city of Jaipur. It was built as a royal retreat and used as a summer residence for the royal family.
We arrived at the hotel after a long day of driving from New Delhi. While the staff were preparing the keys to our rooms, we took a seat in the main courtyard that was set up for an outdoor viewing of a film. We hadn’t eaten all day and we were all starving. In the middle of the courtyard, there was a tea and cookies station with the cookies contained in a large wooden box with brass decorations. We had to peer inside the box with the cover propped open to know that it was filled with butter cookies that were surprisingly delicious. Since dinner wasn’t going to be served until 8 pm, I asked the staff if they could prepare something to tide the children over until then. They so kindly came back with french fries and stir-fried noodles which we devoured.
As the sky became dark, the documentary about the tigers of Ranthambore began. It was a story about the lives, ambitions and instincts of two sister tigresses who eventually fought one another to earn the rights to a prime territory. We didn’t get to see the end of the film because our rooms were ready. I would love to see the movie in its entirety one day. I believe the movie is called, “Tiger’s Revenge”.
We had just two nights at Nahargarh. Our family split into two rooms that were next to each other. The rooms were so huge that we could have squeezed into one. The rooms had a distinctive colonial feel that evokes the glorious days of yesteryear through the eyes of the adventurous and genteel who settled in far flung lands colonized by the British Crown. But the stories on these walls are not told through the eyes of the British. The black and white photos hanging on the walls throughout Nahargarh Ranthambore show the lives of the Maharajas who fought to maintain their way of life and sphere of influence, riding the changing tide that carried their lands and fate from Mughal rule to British colony.
When we weren’t on a game drive in Ranthambore, we thoroughly enjoyed the majestic grounds of the hotel. After the crowds and chaos of Delhi and Agra, we heaved a sigh of relief to have so much space to ourselves. We could finally relax.
The many courtyards offered plenty of places to sit under the sun or the shade. Each courtyard had beautiful gardens and fountains.
There were two Rajasthani performers that enhanced the atmosphere and provided entertainment throughout the day. The musician played the ravanahaththa, an ancient string instrument, that was accompanied by his beautiful singing. The dancer captivated everybody with his friendly smile and fluid dancing with some serious neck acrobatics.
The kids and Leo took a dip in the regal looking swimming pools. The cousins and uncle brought baseball gloves to play catch.
Most meals were buffet style and served in the main dining room. During breakfast, DY lost another tooth.
One night we had an open-air dinner with roasted meat, fish and chicken in addition to the standard curries and breads. The night air was cold and crisp but we stayed warm by the crackling fire.
After only two short nights, it was time to go.
