Ranvas, Nagaur

In a bid to find refuge from the turmoil of his kingdom, the Maharaja Bakat Singh built a retreat within the walls of Ahhichatragarh Fort. In royal Rajasthani fashion, it was completed to the highest level of splendour and 20 years of recent UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award-Winning restoration have created a sprawling playground of history where you can stay in one of the ten restored ranis’ havelis (queens’ mansions). Experience life inside a royal hideaway as you wander around the fort’s grounds and discover pretty courtyards, rooms filled with elaborate motifs and colonnaded passages.

Each haveli has two or three rooms and a private courtyard for quiet seclusion. The rooms are bursting with character; exposed stone features and authentic lattice screens take you back to the 18th-Century India while modern soft furnishings ensure a comfortable stay. At the indoor restaurant, you can sample Mughal/Indian/Rajasthani/Continental delicacies while the open-sided dining pavilion is a peaceful way to enjoy Indian and world cuisine. Venture outside the fort to visit the Nagaur town for a real taste of local life or take a guided tour and walk along the ramparts at this unforgettable place of noble history.