shaphura bagh: rajasthan

Lying an hour and 20 minutes off the main Jaipur highway, next to the town of Shaphura, is the stately family home of Shaphura Bagh.  The estate has 2 residences, one with the current family owners and some other suites and a separate building for guests only with another 5 rooms.

 

The appeal of this place is the family, from the current husband and wife team and the aunties who reside there also, all with great stories history of their family and the area. It is almost like a home stay but that rather undersells it as they have the service of a fully functioning hotel.

Rooms:

 

5 Royal Suites and 4 Suites make up the rooms here and in the guests residence especially, the Royal Suites have the most amazing high ceilings. In any European hotel, they would have built another floor within the same space. But here, to keep the hot air up high and you cool, they have allowed for these huge cavernous spaces above you.

 

The Royal Suites cover 90-100m2 depending which one you are in. The 2 in the main residence have huge great terraces but the rooms themselves are c. 10m2 smaller.

 

All are very traditionally furnished with antique writing desks, small sofas, 4 poster-beds and beautiful marble flooring in the ground floor rooms (which most are).

 

Despite the tradition, you’ll find up to date plasma Satellite TV’s, DDI phones, air conditioning, fans and tea and coffee making facilities.  The bathrooms are palatial with an enormous showering area, roll top baths, double basis and old fashioned wooden towel stands.

 

Dining:-

 

All meals are taken in the main house in one of 2 rooms, one for private dining and then the other side of the drawing room, more tables foe breakfast, lunch and general dinner sittings. The food on offer is real home cooked Indian cuisine with some familiar dishes and some more unusual. The quality of the food is excellent and there is plenty of it. All in all, a very satisfying dining experience.

 

Other:-

 

The hotel has a beautiful outdoor swimming pool and sunbathing area. Aside to this, the activities on offer are  based around the local area as follows_

 

Farm and village visit – Visit the 150 acre Nahar Sagar Farm famed for its ancient trees and bird life.

 

Dhikola fort and village – Visit this old hillside fortress with lovely views deep in the countryside.

 

Other places worth a visit:-

Shaphura old Bazaar

 

Ram Dwara temple complex

 

1.6 km walking trail around the property.

 

Shaphura Bagh would be included as part of a 10 day + tour of Rajasthan with a private driver. Approximate cost using heritage properites in other areas would be £ 2,500 per person including flights from the UK and requisite entrance fees and guide/ vehicle costs.