Castle Bijaipur, Bijaipur India, Rajasthan

Nestled in the Chittorgarh countryside, Castle Bijaipur is a sixteenth-century heritage-listed royal residence, converted into a boutique hotel in 1991 by the ruling family. It’s an incredibly friendly and relaxing place to spend a few days, particularly if you have a family with you. Castle Bijaipur is not a high-end luxury retreat, but it’s warm and welcoming and rich in history and heritage.

Kids will love the games room and the good-sized pool at the castle. Those seeking relaxation will appreciate the yoga and meditation focus. The local countryside is pleasant and interesting and bird-watching walks, horseriding and local countryside jeep safaris are all excellent fun and very well run. More than anything, the home-cooking here is superb: they use locally-sourced ingredients, and the owners are often around for a chat over dinner. 

The rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, and we’d definitely recommend a heritage deluxe room for some extra space and character above the fairly limited standard rooms. Castle Bijaipur lacks some special touches (such as a phone connection to reception or tea and coffee facilities in the rooms) and the interior is a bit faded and worn. Also, the service can be hit and miss: always friendly, but sometimes very haphazard. But the home-cooking is delicious and the greeting when you arrive with a drummer and garlands is an absolute delight.