Raas Devigarh, Udaipur

Known earlier as Delwara Fort Palace, the origins of the building lie long before its completion in 1760. In recognition of his service to the famed Maharana Pratap of Mewar, the principality of Delwara was gifted to Rajrana Sajja Singh and his brother, Ajja Singh, following the battle of Haldighati in the year 1576.

Now known as Raas Devigarh, this palace fortress is an outstanding heritage property, and with the coming of the modern era it has been transformed into one of the most spectacular luxury travel destinations of the region. The restoration of the hotel was undertaken by a team of 750 people over a period of almost 15 years. Finally, In 1999 the palace was returned to its former glory and opened its gates as an all-suite luxury hotel. In 2015 it was taken over again and updated and rebirthed by RAAS.

The modern minimalist design of its interior is set within the ancient and ornate architecture of its spectacular exterior. With amazing views of the Aravalli hills and the countryside in every direction, RAAS Devigarh lets you soak in the tranquil landscape of Rajasthan away from the bustle of Udaipur, approx. 40 minutes away. The whole place is truly labyrinthine and emanates its atmosphere as you come across stunning terraces, small courtyards, secret stairways, ancient turrets – and walls adorned with beautiful Mughal miniature paintings.

Up high in the Palace, (with lifts) every suite is unique and all look out over Delwara village and the lovely Aravalli hills beyond. The décor is stunningly minimalist, yet without losing any of the sense of the Palace’s ancient history and grandeur. The rooms are bright, and immaculate with décor of white marble, sprung super king beds, and spacious bathrooms with sunken baths and ultra-modern walk in rainshowers. Splashes of colour in saffron, orange and green offset the white. The Garden Suites below the pool are smaller and more intimate, each with a small private verandah situated around a central green lawned garden. However to really feel the full experience of this place we would strongly recommend splashing out for the Aravalli Suites – stunning and the views aren’t to be missed with our favourite being the Marigold Suite.

The staff and service here are outstanding, and nothing is too much trouble. Raas Devigarh offers a host of great dining options and locations around the Palace, which include breakfast and dinner in the main restaurant and terrace with its spectacular views over the countryside, whilst great coffee and snacks or a relaxed lunch can be enjoyed in the open-air Bar area above the pool. The heated green slate swimming pool, with its great sun loungers and umbrellas is a wonderful place to relax and while the day away with a good book. Room service is available 24/7 and you can also choose from a dedicated Spa menu including medicinal herbal teas. For a touch of palatial glamour, the Durbar Bar in the evening is wonderful for pre-dinner drinks.

If you wish, intimate candlelit dinners for 2 can also be arranged in the Rooftop Gokra providing lovely views over the countryside from high up in the Palace, or the “Sheesh Mahal” with its hand decorated mirrors adorning the walls.

There is plenty to see and do around the hotel including private yoga lessons, an Ila Spa, a walk through charming Delwara village known for its ancient Jain temples, visits to nearby ancient temples and the ancient Haldighati fort to name but a few. With the comfort of the hotel in such lovely surroundings, it is very hard to tear oneself away but Udaipur is only a short drive – hence it’s wonderful to be able to retreat to Devigarh after your day’s sightseeing, as well as being able to enjoy and experience all that Udaipur has to offer.

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