Rawla Narlai Luxury Heritage Hotel

By the time we reached Rawla Narlai, we were 14 days into our trip around India and badly needed a chance to unwind. We’d wondered if three nights might be too many, but it wasn’t. The grounds and setting are beautiful, and the rooms feel luxurious, with lovely bathrooms and, in many cases, terraces. Service was impeccable without ever feeling like too much. Our waitress Sana was lovely and spoke excellent English. The activities were a highlight. Climbing the hill at sunrise was special, and the pool is first class. On safari, our determined guide and ranger Bhupendra Singh helped us see one leopard, though other guests saw more. Dinner in the step well, beneath a black sky with hundreds of twinkling lights, was a spectacle. We’d been eating Indian food the whole trip, so the choice of non-Indian dishes was a welcome change, and the pasta was very well prepared. We loved it here and could easily have stayed longer.

Dinner in the stepwell was such a unique experience, and we’ll remember this stay. We also went on the afternoon safari and saw several leopards. It wasn’t on the scale of an African safari, but we enjoyed it all the same. The hotel was lovely, with the usual high standard of staff, and nothing ever seemed to be a problem.

We spent a wonderful few days at Rawla Narlai. The resort sits quite literally in the middle of nowhere, yet the team has put together a range of activities, from a wildlife safari and evening tea by the lake to a drive through the countryside and dinner by a step well. Each was thoughtfully arranged and carried out beautifully. The staff were quick to respond, helpful, and ready with alternatives to suit our holiday. The rooms are comfortable and well appointed, and the property feels just the right size, neither too large nor too small. We’d happily recommend it. Naturalist Mr Sanjay Bhandari joined us for three outings: we saw a leopard, talked about birds over tea by the lake, and visited the horse farm during the countryside drive. He knows a great deal about wildlife and shared plenty of that knowledge with us.

Our room in the heritage part of the hotel was amazing. The palace stands on quiet private land owned by Jodhpur’s royal family, well away from traffic and noise, and it’s very well run. It’s a lovely place to take a few days off in the countryside. Vishnu guided our leopard safari expertly. We saw a mother leopard and her cub, and the whole outing felt respectful of the animals and nature.