Amanbagh

Surrounded by eucalyptus trees against the backdrop of the rugged peaks of the Aravalli mountain range, Amanbagh enjoys a beautiful setting. Despite being deep in the Rajasthani desert, the area immediately surrounding Amanbagh is one of verdant foothills.

Amanbagh’s 40 beautiful rooms and suites are carved in a palatial style from pink sandstone and marble, with dramatic domes and vaulted arches inside and shaded courtyards outside your window.

The standalone Pool Pavilions feature private plunge pools, which are heated during the winter months. The Terrace Haveli Suites feature large outdoor terraces and dining areas with views of the mountains or the hotel pool, and the Garden Haveli suites overlook the beautiful gardens. The opulent Courtyard Haveli Suites, meanwhile, have great access to the hotel’s swimming pool and private outdoor courtyards.

At Amanbagh’s regal restaurant, traditional Rajasthani cuisine is served up alongside dishes from across India, accompanied by musicians performing traditional Indian folk songs. Specialities include the famed Rajasthani thali, which typically include a range of breads, meat and vegetarian curries, and dhals; and Hyderabadi lamb biryani. Three quarters of the produce used in Amanbagh’s kitchens is grown in the hotel's gardens.

Amanbagh’s luxurious spa provides a range of holistic wellness treatments based on ancient Indian traditions, encompassing massages, facials and scrubs using organic ingredients. The spa also provides body decoration in the form of henna painting, an ancient Indian tradition associated with good luck and vitality.

An early morning trip to the ghost city of Bhangarh, for guided hatha yoga and meditation amidst the ruins followed by a vegetarian breakfast, is well worth getting up for.

Nearby sits the deserted ghost town of Bhangarh, mysteriously abandoned in the 17^th century just a generation after it was built, apparently after a famine. This is considered one of the most haunted spots in India - spookily, the government has legally banned entry into the ruins between sunset and sunrise. Other ruins in the area include those of Ajabgarh Fort, which are reachable from the hotel on foot or by camel.

In nearby Sariska National Park, you can spot tigers, jaguar and sambar deer among many other creatures. Visit the villages which dot the Aravalli Hills to meet the Meena people, who are famous for their colourful clothing and handicrafts. There is also a mosque nearby dedicated to the memory of the 17^th-century Sufi mystic Baba Kapoor Shah.