Mihir Garh

Perched on a sand dune in the Thar desert south of Jodhpur, Mihir Garh is mercifully free of light pollution and is covered by beautifully clear skies. The hotel’s creation was a labour of love by owners Sidharth and Rashmi Rohet, and their passion and hospitality extends to their hand-picked staff.

Each of Mihir Garh’s nine magnificent suites is individually designed and decorated, with all of them sharing an elegant, traditional Rajasthani design. The ground-floor Alishan suites each have a plunge pool and personal courtyard, while the first-floor Shandaar suites each have a private terrace and open air Jacuzzi.

Each furnishing and design item has been hand-picked, with attention paid to the smallest detail: the beautiful floors, for example, were constructed using a special plastering technique apparently known only to one man in the entire Jodhpur region.

Dining at Mihir Garh is an immersive affair, with traditional Indian barbecue dinners served outside accompanied by a crackling bonfire and the sound of Rajasthani folk musicians. For an unforgettable dining experience, a royal picnic can be arranged by the lake under tents, with attentive staff and the accompaniment of traditional live music. Breakfast can be taken in a similarly al fresco setting, with a camel or horse ride taking you to a secluded spot where you’ll start the day off in the best way possible, with a lavish breakfast spread.

Mihir Garh has a swimming pool where you can cool off and relax after a day’s adventures in the desert sun. There are also three courtyards to enjoy and a deck terrace with beautiful views of the sunset. The Tulsi Spa, meanwhile, has a variety of treatments on offer and is a great place to rejuvenate after physical activities.

This region is famous for Marwari horses, a rare breed instantly recognisable by their distinctive, inward-curving ears. Mihir Garh has its own, renowned, equestrian programme, and you can ride these unique creatures across the surrounding desert, spotting the various birds and blackbuck antelopes which call this region home. The winter months in particular attract avian life, with over 200 bird species flocking to the lakes around Mihir Garh.

The hotel also runs trips to local Bishnoi tribal villages, where you can visit traditional Rajasthani communities and get to know the local people of rural Rajasthan. Culinary workshops are on offer where you can learn how to cook traditional, authentic Rajasthani food based on recipes from a cookbook by the hotel owner’s mother.