"A 16th-century Mewar castle in the Vindhyanchal Hills, still home to the family that has held it for 13 generations"
Some heritage hotels feel like museums with beds. Castle Bijaipur takes the opposite line: the family that built it is still in residence — the current generation is the 13th to call the castle home — and they say they run it not as a hotel but as a house where guests are received the Rajput way, first hand.
The castle was built in the early 16th century by Rao Vijay Singh, a descendant of the Rajput warrior Shakti Singh, younger brother of Maharana Pratap. Bijaipur held a strategic corner of the kingdom of Mewar, defending the frontier against invading Mughal and Maratha armies. The present Rao Saheb, Narendra Singh, renovated the fortified castle and converted it in 1991 into one of the first heritage hotels in the region.
You are at 600 metres in the Vindhyanchal Hills, above farmland in the valley, amid forests of Flame of the Forest and Jacaranda. Bijaipur village spreads from the castle ramparts — buffalo carts, hay stacks, poppy and mustard fields — and from the walls at dusk you can watch the sun hand over to the moon across blue rooftops. The address is Village Bijaipur, via Bassi, District Chittorgarh.
Three categories: Deluxe Rooms, Heritage Deluxe Rooms and the Burj Suites, the last furnished with antiques and king-size beds, looking onto garden and pool from bed — one lets you step from the living room into an open-air plunge pool. The family kitchen cooks with ingredients from the village and its own garden patch; on warm evenings dinner moves to the candlelit poolside. The pool itself sits along the Parkota Wall with a moustachioed sun — the Rajput symbol — laid into its floor.
Yoga, cooking classes, massage and cultural evenings inside; jeep safaris, Marwari horse rides, birdwatching, angling and treks outside. Excursions run to Chittorgarh Fort, the Menal temple and waterfalls, Pangarh fort and its Lotus lake, Bassi's wooden-toy makers and Athana's carpet weavers.
The site dates the castle to the early 16th century, built by Rao Vijay Singh, a descendant of Shakti Singh, the younger brother of Maharana Pratap. It defended Mewar's frontiers against Mughal and Maratha armies.
At Village Bijaipur, via Bassi, in Chittorgarh district, Rajasthan — set at 600 metres above sea level in the Vindhyanchal Hills, surrounded by forests of Flame of the Forest and Jacaranda.
Yes. The ruling family converted the castle into a hotel in 1991 and still lives there; the current family is the 13th generation to call it home, and they say they run it as a home rather than a hotel.
Three categories: Deluxe Rooms, Heritage Deluxe Rooms and Burj Suites. The Burj Suites have antique furniture, king-size beds and garden and pool views, with an open-air plunge pool reached from the living room.
On site: yoga, cooking classes, massage, cultural evenings and a pool by the Parkota Wall. Further out: jeep safaris, horse rides, wildlife and bird watching, angling and fly fishing, trekking and cycling, plus excursions to Chittorgarh Fort, Menal temple and waterfalls, and Pangarh fort and Lotus lake.
The family kitchen sources ingredients from the village and its own garden patch, and on warm evenings the poolside becomes a candlelit dining spot. There are also bars, a coffee shop and a library.
Running hot and cold water, telephone and television, a luxurious bathroom with walk-in shower; an interconnecting room is available for accompanying guests.
Contemporary comforts and traditional Indian charm, equipped with a full range of modern facilities — to live, sleep and relax in the castle.
Antique furniture and king-size beds with garden and pool views from bed; step from the living room into an open-air plunge pool.
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By enquiry A Portuguese house of around 1919 at Siridao bridge in Goa Velha, lovingly restored from 2014 by local artisans and reborn as a six-room boutique hotel. Expect a courtyard pool between red arcaded wings, a waterfront cafe with a pastry chef they say is Le Cordon Bleu certified, five resident dogs and the sort of quiet that North Goa's beach belt forgot.
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