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 the 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.