Neemrana became the third capital of the descendants of Prithviraj Chauhan III, who was killed in battle by Mohammad Ghori in 1192 AD. This picturesque site was chosen by Raja Rajdeo and Neemrana derived its name from a brave local chieftain Nimola Meo, who when defeated by the Chauhans, pleaded that his name be given to his lost kingdom.
The Neemrana Fort-Palace has 53 rooms over 10 levels of this stepped palace that spans over 3 acres including a new wing which was built by cutting into the Aravali mountains. The total property includes 25 acres with beautiful vistas of the valley below.
The Fort-Palace restoration has been carefully done by the co-owners Aman Nath and Francis Wacziarg since 1986 after they acquired it from the last descendant of the Chauhans – Raja Rajendra Singh. The Fort-Palace is decorated with a mix of Indian antique furniture and décor and includes some international pieces.
There are several Indian artists that have decorated the palace walls including a prominent number of works by Anjolie Ela Menon who painted the ceiling of the conference center ‘Jal Vihar’ personally in the new wing.
The Neemrana Fort-Palace is ideal for a romantic getaway, a quick day trip from Delhi and a perfect stop on the Delhi-Jaipur highway. During the day it is awe inspiring to walk around a 15th century fort that has been brought alive from ruins. At night the place is transformed into a fairy tale like castle atop a hill.
The Neemrana Fort-Palace is known for its responsible practices including hiring local staff as well as workers for the restoration and construction. In addition it primarily comprises of hand-block printed cotton décor which comes from local Rajasthan artisans. A great deal of the Neermana Produce is got from the property owned farm in Rajasthan and local markets.
The Neemrana Fort-Palace encourages its guests to contribute INR 100 upwards of their bill towards Khushii, the NGO it supports that focuses on empowerment of women in the village of Neemrana. Through the Neemrana Music Foundation, the property brings a number of world renowned artists to perform at the newly constructed amphitheatre at the Fort-Palace.
There are a number of activities that guests can try at the Neemrana from getting spa treatments at their herbal spa to zip lining over a 5 course field!
Stay
The nicest rooms at the Neemrana Fort-Palace are the Deva Mahal, Malabar room, Surya Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Francisis Mahal, Aman Vilas and the Sheesh Mahal.
The Deva Mahal is the palace of Gods – really! Even if you don’t get to book this room, it is a whole lot of fun to have a look at it. It’s got two double beds, two single beds, two bathrooms, dining, study and a large terrace. This room looks like a complete apartment (only the kitchen is missing)!
Surya Mahal has an association with the ‘Sun’, with its bright and cheery yellow colour décor. The Chandra Mahal is the night time beauty. Perfect for honeymooners who aren’t really restricted by budget. Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities have stayed here to experience this silver palace. Aman Vilas and Francisis Mahal, have been designed by the owners, one with Lord Shiva as a theme and the other in a typical French colonial style. The Sheesh Mahal is the palace of mirrors. Back in those days, mica used to be available in plenty in the Rajasthan area and it was used as a mirror. Mica work is prominent in this suite, basically allowing women to dress up for their king. They are designed in such a way that the Rajput women (pretty that they were) could have a good look around the fort and village and the King’s court but no one from outside could look at the women indoors. Talk about protective husbands!!
All the other 50 odd rooms or suites have a story to tell themselves. Even though it might be time consuming and exhausting, history lovers would find it very amusing to have a look at as many as possible just to get an idea of the Rajput luxury and design concepts of those days.
All rooms have phones and fans, some are air-cooled and some air-conditioned. Most of them also have heating facility for cold winter days. All rooms are equipped with kettles for coffee and tea.
Dine
The Neemrana Fort-Palace is known for its food -typically a combination of continental and Indian food. The lunch buffet was ordinary in flavour, with a smattering of tasty dishes. The menu included a soup with dinner rolls, 3 types of salads (2 vegetarian and 1 tuna Nicosia salad). The Indian dishes were a dal (lentils), kadai paneer (cottage cheese cooked in gravy), a great tasting Kerala fish curry, rice and tandoori roti(bread). The Rajasthani dishes were relatively authentic with ker sangri (dish made out of wild berries) and gatta curry (Indian dumplings). The desserts were all great—the mango ice cream was deliciously creamy, the gajar halwa (pudding made of carrots) and the almond pie were tasty.
Tea is laid out at the Shatrang terrace sometimes and or set up in different venues within the Fort Palace. The anise flavoured butter cookies and homemade cakes are great. They offer rocking masala chai(flavoured tea) on request otherwise it is a selection of teas such as Earl Grey and Darjeeling along with cookies.
Dinner at Neemrana was a huge improvement from lunch perhaps because a large number of the lunch guests are non residents. The items included Mulligatawny soup, delicious pasta, corn salad, bottle gourd curry, okra, mutton with olives, a chicken dish, cottage cheese with spinach and lentils. The dessert offering was a kheer (pudding made out of milk), chocolate pudding, homemade coconut ice-cream (a bit icy) and a extraordinary tasting banana cheese pie.
Breakfast is the best meal at Neemrana. They offer dry cereals including corn flakes, muesli and coco puffs. The Indian item was poha (a dry dish made of puffed flattened rice and potatoes). They also had a selection of jams that are bottled at their orchards in Ramgarh as well as home made preserves made fresh at Neemrana. They also served home made brown and white bread and scrumptious fresh baked croissants. The porridge was creamy and the offering of bacon and sausages made it a hearty breakfast. There was a live omelette chef station as well.
Lots to do within Fort Walls
Games for children can be interesting – playing cards, chess, carrom board,a treasure hunt and musical chairs!
There is a library.
A guided tour of the Fort is a very good idea.
Free yoga and meditation exercises are taught in the property.
Ayurvedic rejuvenation and other Holistic treatment can be undertaken after consultancy with a doctor there.
Swimming pool, Jacuzzis are available for lazing too.
Outside Fort Walls you have
Zip lining activity — run by a British company titled Flying Fox. The prices are available on request. Advance booking ensures a 15% discount.
A guided tour of the 18th century Stepwell nearby.
Camel cart rides around the village.
Trek to the watchtowers on the hills.
The Neemrana Fort Palace is known for its sensitive restoration of the Fort built in 1464AD that was in ruins when found by Aman Nath and Francis Wcaziarg. They renovated the property using traditional techniques arashi (eggshell for the walls) and local materials found in the Fort-Palace for the renovation.
The Neermana group used local artisans to do the renovation as a number of them stayed on to become hotel staff. 90% of the Neemrana staff come from the local area, and to a large extent they come from Rajasthan itself. There are very few staff people that come from Delhi or other parts. The employees are mostly local from the Neemrana village and the property provides a major economic opportunity to the village. In addition it promotes local culture by bringing in folk artists to perform every evening, as well as local guides to take guests around.
All the vegetables and fruits are sourced locally as well as grown on a farm. They compost their organic waste at the farm and the produce is used for the cuisine at the Neemrana Fort-Palace. In the kitchen, there are 3 consecutive water tanks that filter the kitchen water before gray the water is then pumped out and used for watering the plants.
Only very few bathrooms at the Neemrana Fort-Palace have bathtubs. In addition, the bathrooms have notes about saving water and asking for guests to indicate if they want their sheets and towels changed by placing the towels etc, in the cane bin in the bathroom. The new wing does have dual flush systems and new fixtures that aerate water and low flow toilets. This being a desert area, the staff is very conscious about wasting water. All the geysers are ‘autocut’ and only use power when the water is turned on. The bathroom amenities (soap, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion) are herbal and made by the brand Forest Essentials. The soap bar is packed in a handmade paper package.
The Neemrana group also supports the NGO Khushii that works towards empowering and educating women in the village of Neemrana.
What’s Hot!
- Incredible feeling to be living in a restored 15th Century Fort-palace rich with object d’art.
- The luxury suites are very spacious and decorated with its own special character and quite reasonable for the space.
- The views from the hill are classic. Most of the rooms have balconies or terraces encouraging one to soak in the view.
- The Fort-Palace is transformed at night as it is completely lit up.
- The staff is very warm friendly and make you feel at home.
- Only place in India to offer zip-lining in India—an exhilarating adventure.
What’s Not!
- A lot of climbing is required to get around the Fort-Palace which requires good knees and not ideal for elderly (though they accommodate them in ground floor rooms and have a palanquin to bring disabled people up the fort)
- There is no room service (they do serve under certain circumstances such as milk for babies or for elderly people). Otherwise there is no retiring to the bedroom and ordering dinner in after a tiring day of hiking, exploring, etc.
- The lower budget rooms are rather tiny and its almost not worth being holed up there at this marvellous Fort-Palace.
Ideal For Whom
The Neemrana Fort-Palace is very romantic for a young couple. There are also a good number of activities from families with children or infants (including baby sitting on request) and spaces to explore. It is also a good retreat for meeting groups as they have a good conference room.
The Neemrana Fort-Palace is very popular with international travellers especially those interested looking to take a heritage of tour of India. It is conveniently located between Delhi and Jaipur right off of the National highway.
Often groups or couples come from Delhi and Gurgaon just for a day visit to the Neemrana Fort-Palace and so lunch is very popular. There is an entry fee for non resident groups.
When To Visit
The weather is great mid January through February end as it is bright and sunny, not too cold or hot and very pleasant. It is a good time to go zip lining. In a few months there will a solar heated pool and also a Jacuzzi above which will have a beautiful view of the fort.
Climate:
Autumn/Winter/Spring : October to April. Max. 31°C, Min. 11°C
Summer : May & June Max. 42°C, Min 25°C
Monsoon : July to September Max. 25°C, Min 22°C
How Many Days
2 days, 1 night is a must or 2 Nights is probably perfect. The first night gives you a chance to take in the fort, walk around the Fort Palace, maybe take the audio tour. The evening is spectacular as the entire fort is lit up with spotlights and white lights. They also have a cooking class at 5.30 p.m. in the evening. On regular lights from 7-8 pm, they have local artists doing folk songs. The next morning one could do yoga or post breakfast and laze around the pool or maybe get some spa treatments. The afternoon could be spent zip lining. Or they also have a camel ride or hiking options. I think a second night would give more time to take in the fort and live it up.
Things To Bring
Comfortable shoes as there is a lot of climbing to be done, sunscreen as the sun is quite strong up on the hill. A camera is very important in a place like Rajasthan… India actually. And a book for the evenings (no TV in the room).
The Neemrana Fort-Palace is located in the state of Rajasthan in the Aravalli mountain range.
Get to Delhi, your nearest domestic and international air-base (100 kms), and drive down on NH8. It great stop enroute from Delhi to Jaipur on the highway. It is only about 2 hours 30 minutes from central Delhi (122 kms). You can’t miss the sign board on the highway – follow it and you will be there in no time!
Francis Wacziarg and Aman Nath came upon the 15th century Neemrana Fort Palace in 1986, when the place was in total ruins. It neither had a ceiling, nor doors nor windows. Other well known families including the Gandhi family had looked at the Fort but thought it was beyond redemption. Wacziarg and Nath, an MBA and historian/ photographer, had written 2 books on historical architecture of Rajasthan and had renovated a haveli each on the Sohna Road out of Delhi.
They converted the Neemrana Fort-Palace which they had purchased from the last Chauchan ruler, Raja Rajinder Singh (who had given up his throne in 1947) into a modest hotel of 12 rooms initially in 1991. Today the property has 54 rooms including 2 swimming pools, a conference facility, amphitheatre and spa. The new wing was made by chipping into the Aravallis with just a hammer and chisel (no dynamite was used). The rock from this was used in the construction with additional stones received from mines and it looks just like the 15th century original fort. The décor includes antique paintings, doors and art work sourced from all over. The arches in the Aman Vilas in the new wing was originally in a home in Sanik Farms in Delhi and was put together as a puzzle to form a beautiful façade for the villa of peace, a befitting abode for the creator and architect of the extension—Aman Nath.
“The serene Neemrana in Rajasthan, only two hours from Delhi, just got a new dimension: Adventure sports! From Sunday onwards, tourists can enjoy the thrill of zipping with the brand new zipping course – apparently the country’s first set up by a foreign firm.” Times of India, 19 Jan 2009
“The raja of Neemrana, Raja Rajinder Singh, came for the opening and said he had never thought he would see life in his ancestral fort,” Wacziarg remembers. Now, 22 years later, what used to be three acres at nine levels has become six acres built at 11 levels.” November 27, 2008, India Today.
