Words- Jia Singh
Photographs- Gayatri Singh
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
– The Tyger by William Blake
I’m always torn between the jungle and the beach because going to the forest brings back memories of my childhood while being by the water keeps me grounded and balanced. I’ve been going to game reserves and jungles with my father since I was 2 and have enjoyed waking up early in the morning to get onto an elephant or a jeep to catch a glimpse of the majestic tiger. I have to admit that we’ve been very lucky in the past and have had encounters with ‘Mr Stripes’ up close and personal and got rare footage we intend to treasure forever. There’s something about the forest that helps me relax, unwind, collect my thoughts and slow down in a way I never thought was possible in Delhi.
I visited the Anuraga Palace, A Treehouse Palace hotel with my sister for the weekend. We left Delhi in the afternoon by the train and reached Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan about 4 hours later. A car was there to receive at the station and we reached the hotel in less than 15 minutes. The staff at the hotel were extremely warm and made sure that we were taken care of from the moment we stepped into the hotel.
My sister and I spent the better part of our childhood studying in Mayo- a school in Rajasthan so we loved visiting Rajasthan from time to time. I recognised the architecture, was extremely with the food, customs and etiquette in the state.
The hotel was quite large, with manicured gardens and a beautiful ‘aangan’ for dining and parties. The property is run and managed by the Treehouse Group of hotels and is a little over two years old. The Treehouse Anuraga Resort has 40 rooms, and 4 plush suites, overlooking verdant green lawns, and fitted with all the amenities for every kind of traveller. Located only about a 15 minute drive from the jungle, this hotel is conveniently located and one of the nicer properties that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket.
They have a spa called ‘Abha’ which is outsourced during the leaner months to an external agency but they have a comprehensive list of treatments available during the season. You can choose from Ayurvedic rituals, balinese massages, Swedish and Aromatherapy massages to pedicures that will soothe your aching feet. We wanted to try their scrubs but decided on a massage instead- which I have to admit was better than I expected. It wasn’t fabulous but it did the trick and gave my stiff neck and shoulders some respite.
They have one multi cuisine restaurant called Basant that has the option for buffet meals or a la carte. You can choose to eat in the restaurant, in the outdoors, by the pool or in the comfort of your room. They serve alcohol from 12 noon to 11 pm and you can choose from their comprehensive of wines, spirits and beers. We ate dinner by the pool on the first night, in our rooms on the second and in the ‘aangan’ or courtyard on our last night.
We went into the jungle for an afternoon safari on both afternoons from 3-6. We were accompanied by a guide and other guests from the hotel. The landscape was stark, dried up watering holes and burnt grasslands but beautiful nonetheless. Although we caught glimpses of the blue bull (nilgai), sambhar, spotted deer, chinkara and monkeys; the tigers and leopards eluded us and I’m pretty sure they saw us even though we didn’t manage to catch a break. It was really hot when we started the safari but the temperature dropped by a few degrees by the time we headed back to the hotel. All in all, it was a pleasant experience and we look forward to coming back into the jungle during season.
After a cup of tea and a snack, I retreated to the poolside to swim a few laps and relax on most evenings. The poolside area is private, well lit and very well maintained. I would curl up with a book post my swim and enjoy some herbal tea or fresh lime soda. I’m not really a drinker so my sister and I stuck to copious amounts of tea, lemonade and juices instead. I enjoyed spending my evenings in the pool and the laps really helped me work up an appetite for dinner.
Dinner would come from ‘Basant’ but we would often order it beforehand because Rajasthani food is normally very spicy. we would start with a plate of delicious, melt in your mouth kebabs that were absolutely delectable. The tikkas would be followed by a bowl of lentils, some local greens, raita and the works. I have to say that both my sister and I really enjoyed the food-they had tempered the spices down for us but it was wholesome, delicious and absolutely satisfying. We would overeat every night and nurse our food babies with green tea or jasmine tea before we called it a night.
We visited Anuraga Palace during off season and the hotel wasn’t very crowded with too many guests so we still had pockets of seclusion and privacy. The Ranthambore National Park opens in the first week of October so book early to avoid disappointment. Remember to pack some gloves, warm clothes and shawls for the jeep and canter rides as Rajasthan can get pretty cold. Special thanks to the team at Intelliquo Delhi, Mr Rahul and the staff at Anuraga Palace for making our weekend a memorable one.
P.S- if you are chai drinkers like us- ask for their masala chai a few times a day with their homemade cookies that are to die for. We loved the indian fare at the restaurant and and asked them to incorporate some local specialties like ker sangri, gatte ki sabzi and jungli maas for a traditional culinary experience.
Verdict- We got a nice, large suite with plenty of space and light. The room has a safe, plenty of closet space, a jacuzzi and a kettle with arrangements for tea and coffee. The staff is attentive and quick to implement suggestions. The tariff isn’t too high, which makes it an affordable choice for a long weekend.
Outfit details- I wore a light blue cape and a frill max dress from 335th http://www.335th.com/product/10-am-to-10-pm-light-blue-cape
Quick Notes-
Anuraga Palace,
A Treehouse Palace Hotel Ranthambore
Ranthambore Road,
Sawai Madhopur,
Rajasthan 322001
Reservations- +91 9990776511, +91 9990586763
http://treehousehotels.in/hotels/treehouse-resort-ranthambore/
They have properties in Goa, Jodhpur, Bhiwadi, Gurgaon and Neemrana. A little birdie told me that they have hotels in Chail and two in Goa slated to open soon.
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