Raas Devigarh

a contender for the best rural hotel in India

Set above the village of Delwara, 25 km north of Udaipur in Rajasthan, Raas Devigarh is a stunningly authentic designer property.

Dating from around 1760, this magnificent palace was diligently and expertly restored by a team of 750 people over a period of almost 15 years. It opened its doors as an hotel in 1999 and has established itself as one of the finest heritage hotels in India.

The place is surprisingly chic, with minimalist interiors complementing the ornate vernacular architecture, of colourful murals, mirrored ante-chambers, courtyards, arches, turrets and swing chairs.

The hotel can be used as a rural alternative to staying in Udaipur, since the city can easily be visited on day trips from here. We often like to combine it with a night in the famous Taj Lake Palace to provide the best of both worlds.

There is also an extensive spa facility.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at Raas Devigarh is in 39 rooms, all with air-conditioning. They come in four specifications …

• Garden Suite : x17 : 45 sqm
• Palace Suite : x7 : 60 sqm
• Aravalli Suite : x14 : 67 sqm
• Devigarh Suite : x1 : 111 sqm : terrace and jacuzzi

Activities

Raas Devigarh provides access to a very wide range of activities …

• village visits
• cultural interaction
• hiking
• mountain biking
• rural temples
• remarkable ruined forts
• day trips to the city of Udaipur

The Rajasthan region is usually explored as a private-guided overland safari, starting and ending in Delhi.

We often start these trips by flying from Delhi to either Udaipur or Jodhpur in the south, which are more rural and relaxed, before weaving a route north by road back to Delhi

In this case, Raas Devigarh usually features as the first stop, flying in from Delhi and departing by road to Jodhpur/Jaipur/Ranthambore.

Seasonality

The best time of year to visit the Udaipur area is generally considered to be during Oct-May, although there are considerable seasonal variations within that period …

October is the transition period between the end of the monsoon rains and the start of the cool dry season. During the month daytime temperatures usually rise to around 33C/91F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures remain up around 16C/61F. However the rainfall usually drops away to around 25mm (1”). Sunshine is around 9 hours per day (around 80% of daylight hours), meaning that skies are usually clear.

Nov-Feb is the main cool dry season. During this period the daytime temperatures usually rise to around 25C/77F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures hold up around 7C/45F. There should be virtually no rainfall. Sunshine is around 8 hours per day (around 80% of daylight hours), meaning that skies are usually clear.

Mar-May is the hot season, the often uncomfortable build-up to the main monsoon. During this period the daytime temperatures can climb steeply to around 37C/99F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures are up around an uncomfortable 20C/86F. Rainfall usually remains almost negligible. Sunshine is around 8 hours per day (around 75% of daylight hours), meaning that skies are usually clear.

Jun-Sep is the main monsoon season and is generally considered to be the least favourable time to visit. During this period the daytime temperatures drop off slightly to around 35C/95F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures remain up at a stifling 24C/75F (made all the more uncomfortable by the increased humidities). Rainfall climbs to around 175mm (7”) per month. Sunshine drops to around 5 hours per day (around 40% of daylight hours), meaning that skies can remain overcast.

Getting there

The Udaipur area is usually reached by road, connecting into trips as follows …

• Delhi : 600 km to the northeast
• Jaipur : 350 km to the northeast
• Agra : 550 km to the northeast
• Ranthambore : 320 km to the northeast
• Jodhpur : 200 km to the north

a ideal place to start an exploration of Rajasthan