Whenever I get a chance, I love to go for a quick getaway with my family during the weekends. Luckily, there are plenty of options near Delhi that offer both luxury and relaxation… but not all of them also offer a peek into the culture of our country. This time, I wanted to immerse myself in the history and heritage of India but without the hassle of long travel. Of course, Neemrana Fort-Palace was the ideal destination. Located in Rajasthan, just a couple of hours away, this 553-year-old medieval fort-palace offers a perfect blend of culture, heritage, and breathtaking scenery. It was an opportunity to dive deep into the Rajasthani culture without venturing all the way to Jaipur.
Our journey took a little over three hours due to road repairs, but the anticipation built up along the way was worth it. Upon arrival, I was immediately struck by the beauty of the fort. The serene atmosphere was a welcome escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. The rustic charm of the fort, from its brick walls to cobbled lanes, transported me to a bygone era, with even an ancient horse cart greeting us at the entrance. The beauty of the fort piqued my curiosity to learn about its history.
The Story Of Neemrana Fort-Palace
Perched on the Aravalli hills, Neemrana Fort-Palace offers some of the most spectacular sunsets over the countryside. Originally built in 1464, the fort was abandoned in 1947 when Raja Rajinder Singh moved down to Vijay Bagh as its facade crumbled. For four decades, the fort lay in ruins, until it was acquired for restoration in 1986. Today, this splendid ruin has been transformed into an exquisite resort, officially opened in 1991, with 81 rooms and suites spread over 14 levels cut into the hill.
Exploring Neemrana Fort-Palace
As I stepped into this heritage property, I was transported back to a time of royalty. The authentic restoration of the fort’s structures captures the essence of medieval India. Neemrana Fort-Palace is a maze of interconnected courtyards, gardens, and chambers. Exploring the property is an adventure in itself, as you navigate through narrow passageways and discover hidden corners. However, it does require some physical fitness to climb up and down a series of rugged steps and ramps.
It may sound tiresome but believe me it was actually the fun part. As I huffed and puffed to my room I could not help but admire the visual treats on the way. The view of the Aravali hills, the small pond with floating lotus leaves, the stonework on the walls – it was all magical. Our room in the Hawa Mahal wing just added to the charm. It was spacious and the balcony looked over the swimming pool with the Aravalli mountain range in the backdrop – perfect!
Now, The Most Awaited Part Of The Stay – Food!
Restaurants In Neemrana Fort-Palace:
After settling in, the first thing we wanted to do was eat! We reached past lunchtime but thankfully the staff informed us about pizzas being served in one of the restaurants called Katoria, which felt almost mystical with a carved mountain rock right inside the restaurant. It seemed like I was in a different world. The wood-fired chicken pizza was a delightful surprise, with a perfectly thin and crispy crust, topped with well-seasoned vegetables and meat. As we went back to our room, we took a small detour to explore the place. We sighted peacocks, monkeys, parrots and even frogs jumping around in joy. A was a great walk back to the room.
After some rest, it was high-tea time at Jahangir Mahal. A selection of chaats and snacks like corn chaat and kachori was enough to keep the hunger pangs at bay till dinner. Tea cakes and cookies were great accompaniments to my coffee. Right below the Jalgiri Mahal was the swimming pool overlooking the Aravalli. I could not wait to have some pool time with my child. The water was clean and the attendants were helpful and ready with anything we needed.
An Entertaining Evening At Neemrana Fort-Palace
Now there was still some time left for dinner and thankfully, there is never a dull moment at Neemrana. A cultural dance program was organized at the amphitheater which we thoroughly enjoyed. The dancing and storytelling were entertaining as well as informative.
Then it was time for dinner at the Kanak Mahal.
As someone who believes that the best way to explore a new place is through its food, I was in culinary heaven. The extravagant multi-cuisine buffet including Rajasthani food was impressive. I learnt that the property focuses on local grains and seasonal ingredients and incorporated millets into most of their meals. The spread screamed deliciousness and healthfulness. On offer were pear barley pumpkin soup, bajre and murgh ke kees, Millets sprouts salad, quinoa salad, red rice tehri, moringa paneer lababdar, ker sngri khatte saag with bajra pearls and more such enticing dishes. Paneer tikka and alsi kebab, dal neemrana, dal baati churma, Rajasthani gate ki sabzi, laal maas and more were on offer. Every dish tasted divine. Imagine even the baati of dal baati churm platter was made with red millet.
Then there was a separate snack station in the courtyard – with methi amaranth tacos, ragi chilla, millet falafel and more. If that wasn’t impressive enough, I was wowed to see even the desserts were made of millets. Ragi and jiggery ladoo, mix millet granola bar, local grain malai ghewar – let me indulge guilt-free!
Not in the mood to eat Indian food? There are noodles, sauteed vegetables and pasta – a good option to please the kids. I slept with a happy and full tummy.
The breakfast next morning was again a delight. From continental to south Indian to north Indian and Rajasthani cuisines – there were options galore. If you want to eat more of the delicious Neemrana food, it’s best to have lunch there before hitting the road. Lamb Galoush, Murgh Shekhwani, junglee maas, Thai curry, fried rice and loads of Rajasthani food options made for a hearty lunch. The desserts were exciting with fruit custard, mango mousse, chocolate pudding and more.
I will admit that I did not feel like leaving the place. Its beauty and tranquillity along with the immersive experience of exploring its nooks and crannies – it felt like living among the royals. And the lingering flavours of the lip-smacking food made it more difficult to bid adieu. I left with a promise to return, perhaps for a longer stay next time. With its vast property, there’s simply too much to explore in just one day. Signing off now with nostalgic memories of the splendid staycation I had at Neemrana Fort-Palace.
