Amanbagh

This was our second stay at Amanbagh, and as a frequent visitor to India and a gay couple who avoid "child friendly" places, we decided to settle in for 8 days here which was a great decision. We enjoy privacy and so the Pool Pavilion was ideal, spending lazy days reading by the plunge pool, sometimes ordering in lunch (monkey-man to fend off the monkeys included), swimming laps in the gorgeous 33 meter main pool (and no, it isn't too cold but the perfect temperature to swim laps), bike excursions, walks and indulging ourselves at the spa (thank you Rajat for great treatments). You won't be disappointed if you stay here, but do spend time to stop and soak up everything at Amanbagh or you'll miss the point. If you're here for an anniversary or birthday, they go out of their way to do something to mark the day. Special thanks to Antosh, Vikram, Kieran, Boomba, Avisek, Mohinder and Sophiya, all of whom exemplified the great service Aman's are known for. No matter the snowstorm that stranded us in Delhi for 3 days, we were so relaxed we just continued our Aman experience at The Imperial :). We will be back for sure :)

We stayed in a few hotels on our trip but this was our favourite. The staff are sensational - so welcoming and helpful. They gave us a welcome bracelet on arrival and I have yet to remove it, as seeing it reminds me of our incredible stay. We were upgraded to a pool suite which was stunning. The hotel facilities were fantastic - really nice gym and beautiful main pool. Each meal was fantastic with excellent service. Nothing was too much trouble and we loved our breakfast at Somsagar Lake where they brought breakfast to us, mid-hike. The best part of our stay was our guide Sardar, who accompanied us on various trips and hikes over 3 days, culminating in the Cow Dust Tour where he showed us his village. The villagers were all so joyful and welcoming and this hour was the highlight of our stay in India. We learned so much from Sardar about his way of life and his appreciation of life has had a profound effect on us. Amanbagh will stay in my heart.

I honestly believe that this is the best hotel that I have ever stayed in. The location and the property is beautiful and and definitely the most peaceful place that I experience in India. However what really makes this such a special place is the people. I never experience service like this anywhere in the world and it feels so genuine. Thank you.

We had an exceptional stay at Amanbagh in Rajasthan, India. We are a couple from San Francisco who journeyed to India. Our trip to Amanbagh was part of a Golden Triangle tour (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur) with the help of Driver India Private Tours (DIPT) [see review]. We were joined at Amanbagh by our dear friend Shagun who was in India at the same time. Nestled between the Aravalli hills in Ajabgarh in rural Ragasthan, Amanbagh provided a true respite and meditative time for us. We awoke to verdant landscapes, got serenaded by ever-present birdsong and dined in the company of beautiful green parrots. Our top 5 experiences at Amanbagh: 1) The staff. Truly exceptional, intuitive and kind. From our arrival with the orientation of Ms. Mina at the front desk, to Mr. Santhosh and Mr. Apoorba (and many others) at the restaurants and bar, we felt always taken care of. No request was too small or too big, we were met with smiles everywhere. The welcome and departure rituals felt grounding and heartfelt. 2) The food. Wow. Some of the best we had during our entire trip to India. The freshness was evident and many of the vegetables come from the Amanbagh’s own garden (which you could get a tour of). We particularly loved the breakfasts and got a chance to sample dishes from all over India (dosa, bhatura cholle, pav bhaji) as well as Ragasthani specialites. Always with freshly made Masala chai. Tea time was accompanied by freshly made sweet treats. Dinner was fantastic and so delicious, with live music from local musicians. 3) The sunrise walk. We loved the complimentary sunrise walk that took us from Amanbagh to the nearby village. My walk was led by one of the long term hotel staff, Mr. Rambo. We learned about the history of the resort (once a royal garden), the surrounding land, the local tigers, flora and other fauna. The sunrise walk was also a nice way to meet other hotel guests which I really enjoyed. I would do a walk like this every morning if I could. 4) The Cowdust tour. This was another highlight of our trip and felt like a deep dive into the way of life of rural Rajasthan – beyond the sunrise walk. Driving through the country roads and through villages in the late afternoon and evening was a great way to see and learn more. We saw forts, old temples, children coming home from school, camels and spent some time with a local family. We would recommend this highly to guests. 5) The room. Beautifully designed, spacious and generously stocked with loose tea, expresso, cookies and cold drinks. The highlight was the bathroom adorned with Rahasthan marble with its rich green tones. A sanctuary within a sanctuary. Overall, we would return in a heartbeat. Amanbaugh is much more than a place to stay, it is an experience and feeling of people and history in a very unique part of the world.

From the moment you arrive to the minute you leave, you are cocooned by beauty, tranquility, sophistication and a wonderfully personalised stay. The whole team is warm and attentive - thank you for a most memorable end to our trip to Rajasthan. We had already done safari visits in Sariska (whilst staying at the charming Utsav camp), so we did not repeat them here. But we did arrange a splendid morning walk and the delightful cow dust walk - both highly recommended. We loved playing croquet …but didn’t have the courage to arrange camel polo! A final and very special thank you to the sensational housekeeping team who worked their astonishing magic for us. Quite a remarkable service. Thank you. Luxury and calm in the beautiful Rajasthan countryside. It’s a must - for those with a big budget….paradise doesn’t come cheap.