Raas Jodhpur

a great base from which to explore this accessible city

Set in the centre of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, just below the impressive Mehrangarh Fort, Raas Jodhpur is an upmarket boutique property with a modern twist.

A tranquil haven from the bustle of the old town, the hotel is composed of four original buildings with three additional contemporary structures.

The original main building takes the form of a traditional Haveli, which was built by a local thakur (nobleman) around 1770 and is filled with original architectural features.

The Darikhana was built around 1790 to serve as a guest house for the haveli and is now used as a dining venue.

The collonaded Baradari was added around 1850 as an entertainment pavilion and is also now used as a dining space.

Also around the central courtyard are the original stables and a small temple.

The modern buildings take only slight architectural inspiration from the older structures and provide a stark contrast, with a large outdoor swimming pool and the majority of the rooms.

There is also an extensive spa.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at Raas Jodhpur is in a total of 40 rooms, split between the old and new buildings, all with air-conditioning. They come in five price bands …

• Garden Room : x4 : 44 sqm : private garden
• Luxury Room : x28 : 44 sqm :
• Duplex Suite : x4 : 69 sqm : lounge, balcony
• Heritage Suite : x3 : 102 sqm : historic building, courtyard, shared balcony
• Stepwell Suite : x1 : 116 sqm : balcony

With the exception of the first category, all of the rooms have direct views up to Mehrangarh Fort.

Activities

Raas Jodhpur provides access to a range of activities …

• fort tours
• market tours
• rooftop dining

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, Jodhpur usually features in between Udaipur and Jaipur, occasionally between Udaipur and Jaisalmer.

Seasonality

The best time of year to visit the Jodhpur 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 35C/95F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures remain up around 20C/68F. However the rainfall usually drops away completely. Sunshine is around 10 hours per day (around 90% 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 11C/52F. There should be virtually no rainfall. Sunshine is around 9 hours per day (around 90% 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 23C/73F. Rainfall usually remains almost negligible. Sunshine is around 9 hours per day (around 85% 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 26C/79F (made all the more uncomfortable by the increased humidities). Rainfall only climbs to around 50mm (2”) per month. Sunshine drops to around 6 hours per day (around 50% of daylight hours), meaning that skies can remain overcast.

Getting there

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

• Jaipur : 300 km to the east
• Agra : 500 km to the northeast
• Ranthambore : 350 km to the east

relatively pricey for the Jodhpur area