Neemrana Fort-Palace

Set above rustic Neemrana village on the shoulders of a stark ridge in the Aravalli Hills, Neemrana Fort-Palace is a sublime confection of medieval fortress and fairy-tale palace.

Originally built in the 1460s and expanded down the centuries, by 1947 it was abandoned and rapidly deteriorating. Its bold, late-1980s restoration has been bolstered by appealing, almost ‘Indo-Tuscan’, additions.

With almost 80 rooms and suites spread over 14 levels, it’s a lovely, relaxing and essentially rural hotel with charming terraces and gardens plus a welcome pair of swimming pools.

For a different perspective, a spectacular zip wire spans the lofty ridge above and behind the property – with awesome views of the fort-palace.

For a more sedate experience, the hotel arranges simple camel-cart tours of the locality – a mode of transport still used by some villagers throughout rural Rajasthan.