Rohet Garh — A Perfect Weekend Getaway in Rajasthan
Relax in this heritage hotel and enjoy both luxury and nature
In December 2019, my husband and I wanted to go on a weekend getaway to some place nice and quiet. Given that it was Christmas and New Year, we imagined most places would be crowded and full, something we like to avoid. We put on our thinking caps and got into research mode. After spending some time on the internet, we discovered a hidden gem in Rajasthan for a two-night, three-day stay.
Rohetgarh is a little-known village in the desert state, about an hour’s drive from Jodhpur. In this village is located Rohet Garh, a family-run former fort converted into a heritage hotel. In the course of conversion, great care was taken to retain the legacy of the fort, and no new buildings were constructed. The property is situated on the banks of a lake amidst rural houses and mud roads, which accentuates the rustic beauty of the place.
Getting there:
Rohetgarh is easy to reach from Delhi. We boarded an overnight train and arrived in Jodhpur early next morning. From there, we booked a cab to the hotel and drove for about an hour.
(For booking information and tariffs, you can check out the website here).
Rajasthani vibes
Upon our arrival, we received a traditional Rajasthani welcome. Once the reservation formalities were over, we were taken to our rooms.
The property has Suites and Super Deluxe rooms. We had booked a Super Deluxe. All the rooms in the property are neat and spacious, with some rooms having their own patio. The walls have beautiful hand paintings depicting the rich Rajasthani culture.
Our room overlooked the lake. It was absolutely beautiful to wake up in the morning and sit by the window to soak in the cool, unpolluted breeze. On one occasion, we even saw two peacocks right outside our window digging into the soil for worms!
The overall property has been well maintained by the owners. The centre has a lush lawn with garden chairs and umbrellas. I spent all my afternoons here, soaking in the warm sunshine while reading a book and enjoying delicious starters and mocktails.
Christmas buffet, bonfire and folk dance
We reached on the morning of December 25, and in the evening, got the opportunity to attend the Christmas buffet hosted for the guests. What a spread it was! Right from the appetisers to the desserts, every item in the menu surpassed expectations.
The setting, too, was magical. The dinner was laid out on the terrace. And even though it got a bit cold at night, every table had a heater to keep the guests warm. Downstairs on the lawn, a group of folk artistes played traditional Rajasthani music around a bonfire. And so we dined, under the starry sky overlooking the lake, soaking in the Rajasthani hospitality.
After dinner, we joined the other guests on the lawn for a brief magic show by the same artistes. I even danced with the women to the tune of the folk beats. Later, when we went to our room, we found two pieces of chocolate cake on the table, with a warm note conveying the season’s greetings. We couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas!
Village safari
The next morning, my husband and I went for a morning walk around the village. On our way, we interacted with some children, who, by the way, were quite amused with my name because they thought it meant the fruit ‘mousambi’ (sweet lime). We clicked a few photographs with them as I wanted to preserve these memories of our interaction. Their smiling faces filled our hearts with warmth.
Upon returning, we had a hearty breakfast by the pool. The fact that we did not have to rush for a typical sightseeing and could take our time to relax comforted us.
In the afternoon, we had a complimentary village safari arranged by the hotel. It was quite a bumpy ride though, as the village does not have good road connectivity. But we enjoyed even that! Along the way, we spotted many deer. We also stopped by a small neighbourhood and interacted with the families. Sitting on a charpoy under the shade of a mango tree, we listened to the head of the household and our guide talk about the community’s way of life.
Ending the stay with a grand dinner
On the last night of our stay, we enjoyed a delicious dinner spread, again hosted on the terrace. But this time it was covered and overlooked the swimming pool. We took our sweet time to relish the continental and Rajasthani cuisine in the menu for the night. Afterwards, we took a leisurely walk around the pool, which looked resplendent in the dark of the night as the amber lights lent a warm, golden glow to the walls.
Because Jodhpur was only an hour away, we planned to stay in the city the next night and explore a bit. So, after checking out of Rohet Garh on the third day, we made our way to Jodhpur. But I will save that journey for another time.
Before this trip, we had not heard of Rohetgarh — neither the village nor the hotel. But after spending two beautiful days and experiencing the amazing hospitality, I would highly recommend the heritage property. Yes, it is slightly on the expensive side, but it’s okay to indulge once in a while for an unforgettable experience.
May 2022 be full of exciting travel tales for you! Wishing you good health, happiness and beautiful memories in the New Year.
