Known as the “Land of Kings,” this northwestern state in India is legendary for its fairytale palaces, hilltop fortresses, and spice-filled bazaars. Travelers often make a beeline for the popular cities – like Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Jaipur – but it’s the open desert in between that best recalls the region’s romantic past. There you can bask in the glow of granite mountains and winding sand riverbeds, and, thanks to hoteliers Jaisal and Anjali Singh, bunk down for the night in your own luxury tent. The husband-and-wife team, and their company Sujan Luxury, have given tourists the gift of not one, but three different Indian safari properties.
Check out Sher Bagh, a 1920’s-style safari camp and one of the first members of Relais & Châteaux in India. Game drives are sandwiched between British-Raj style lunches and traditional Indian dinners cooked over clay ovens. Or try Jawai – a photographer’s dream, with its roaming leopards and red-turbaned Rabari herdsmen. The luxury camp doubles as a wildlife refuge for the solitary cats and offers guests a chance to experience the rich past of this rapidly modernizing country.
But Capture’s favorite might be The Serai, set on a one-hundred-acre desert estate and drawing inspiration from the royal caravans; think white and gold accents, camel safaris, and champagne on the dunes.
Tip: Visit in the spring – or once the monsoon season ends in September.
