The ‘Blue City’ Jodhpur, also known as ‘Sun City,’ basks in the glory of the beautiful Thar desert. The lovely desert city sits in the shade of the rocky outcrop that is Mehrangarh Fort, one of the largest castles in the world, and is a Tetris-like maze of shimmering medieval streets. Heritage structures in Jodhpur are aplenty, as are labyrinthine bazaars selling everything from scents to vibrant local textiles. The walled city’s accommodations are equally unique, and the best hotels in Jodhpur boast of both luxury and heritage. Some of the most authentic places to stay are the ‘Havelis,’ which are older structures converted into hotels and guesthouses. If that wasn’t enough, Jodhpur is also famous for its five-star palace hotels, with its most famous being the 20th-century Umaid Bhavan Palace.
Undoubtedly, Jodhpur has a wide variety of accommodations to suit all budgets. So, where in Jodhpur can you find its most amazing places to stay? The clocktower area in front of Mehrangarh Fort is where most of the ‘Havelis’ lie. This is not only the most touristy area of the city, but also it’s most congested. The ‘blue neighborhood’ Navchokiya behind the fort is non-touristy and much quieter, while Chopasani Road on the fringes of the city has more sprawling, upmarket hotels.
However, no matter whether you choose luxurious digs or a budget place, the best hotel is one that sums up the magic of the city. Here are the 11 best hotels in Jodhpur.
RAAS Jodhpur
11
It’s hard to imagine the surreal luxury of RAAS Jodhpur within the old walled city, but it’s true. The 18th-century Haveli has now become what is one of the city’s most stylish and luxurious boutique hotels.
Four different wings of the original Haveli comprising everything from family temple to the residence were woven into new structures. The entire place lights up during nighttime, with foliage-fringed paths leading to romantic, lit-up spaces all over the Haveli. During the day, the rose-red sandstone clashes brilliantly with the blue structures and manicured green spaces. What’s more, it boasts a stellar list of facilities, including a wonderful spa and an inviting heated pool. Moreover, it is also home to Jodhpur’s best rooftop restaurant/bar Darikhana with brilliant views. Rounding up the amazing amenities is a hearty breakfast to kick off your day.
Rooms at RAAS are modern-minimalist with the usual mod-cons and lavish ensuite bathrooms. What’s more, all of them, right from the value rooms to the luxurious ones, enjoy small garden spaces and views of Mehrangarh Fort.
Taj Umaid Bhavan Palace
10
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the magnificent Taj Umaid Bhavan Palace is that it is where the last maharaja of Jodhpur still lives! What’s more, the Indo-Saracenic Art Deco palace was also the world’s largest private residence once upon a time! Today, it is easily one of the best palace hotels in Jodhpur and is popular with all kinds of travelers.
The sprawling hotel is set on Chittar Hill around 10 minutes from the clock tower and enjoys sweeping views of the desert city. It is so huge that there’s an evening guided tour, but exploring the old rooms on your own has a different thrill to it. Polished granite, gleaming marble floors, and wood paneling make for striking interiors. Traditional Rajasthani musicians entertain guests beneath the ginormous rotunda every evening. The indoor pool studded with the 1940s mosaics is a beautiful meld between old-world luxury and a modern touch. During hotter months, the outdoor pool feels heavenly. Additionally, the staff even brings you a picnic basket to lounge by the pool! A spa, tennis and squash courts and two restaurants offering delish food make up the rest of the place. Moreover, the resort even offers afternoon tea, Marwar-cuisine cooking classes, Ayurveda consultation, and what-not as part of its experience.
With just 64 rooms, you really do feel like a royal at Umaid Bhavan. Right from entry-level Palace rooms to the luxurious Historical suite, all have unique Art-Deco touches, a slew of mod-cons, and plush bathrooms with Forest Essential toiletries. If exclusivity is what you seek, then Umaid Bhavan offers it right to its very last brick.
Vivanta by Taj Hari Mahal
9
Travelers looking for pocket-friendly luxury in Jodhpur will love Vivanta by Taj Hari Mahal right in the very heart of the city. The hotel lies just 10 minutes from the clock tower and is a great base to explore Jodhpur.
A high-ceilinged splendid lobby opens onto an attractive interior courtyard embellished with a languorous swimming pool and lush, neatly-cut gardens. One is welcomed with cold towels and flower garlands by staff that never failed to be attentive. Two restaurants take care of all food cravings, with one serving delectable local cuisine and the other Chinese cuisine and a hearty breakfast. A fitness center and spa and traditional evening entertainment wrap up Vivanta’s offerings in a neat little bow.
Since it’s smack dab in the middle of the city, the hotel owners have done a fabulous job of making all rooms soundproof. Rooms are spacious, elegant, and with huge windows, or terraces, overlooking the picturesque main courtyard. Dark wood furnishings, cream walls, huge, comfy beds, and traditional artwork makes up the rest of the room.
Resort The Ajit Bhawan Palace
8
If Umaid Bhavan is the king, then the regal Ajit Bhavan Palace is the prince. The 1927-built heritage palace for the younger brother of the Maharaja of Jodhpur is still occupied by the royal family! Earthy hues, verdant greenery, and a bevy of unusual accommodations make Ajit Bhavan one of Jodhpur’s best heritage hotels.
Located close to Umaid Bhavan, Ajit Bhavan is a tropical hideaway infused with Rajasthani heritage. As one enters, the flower-filled interiors fill the space with heady rose and jasmine scents. Marbled floor terraces lie in the shade of towering palm trees, while the blue pools complement the rose-red sandstone.
Guests here can choose from luxury tents and thatched ethnic cottages. For true indulgence, you also have the theme-based, luxurious ‘Ajit’ suites, and the humongous presidential suites. During cooler months, traditionally-decked local women whip up the local fare in the open-air restaurant. The quirkily done-up J Bar is a great place to have an evening cocktail or a nightcap. Spend lazy days lounging by the heavenly swimming pool or indulging in some pampering at the spa. If your pockets are deep enough, you even get to pick a vintage car from the hotel’s fabulous collection and take it out for a spin!
Pal Haveli
7
Pal Haveli is a great pocket-friendly heritage property within the old walled city of Jodhpur. What’s more, it’s lies close to the clock tower and is within walking distance of many of the top things to see in Jodhpur too.
The beautiful, mid-19th-century property was built by a Pal noble, and his family still resides in the Haveli. A pink and pale beige exterior holds within its folds a profusion of wall carvings, old furnishings, carpets, and paintings. There’s even a small museum on-site that is filled to the brim with royal memorabilia and paraphernalia. However, it’s the Haveli’s rooftop restaurant, Indique, that is extremely popular with guests and non-guests due to the outstanding views it provides of Mehrangarh Fort.
21 classic guest rooms keep the atmosphere and ambiance at Pal Haveli very intimate. All of them feature family photos, period furniture, and painted and intricately-carved arched walls. What’s more, all rooms have mod-cons, so staying here regal as well as comfortable.
Ratan Vilas
6
If you’re looking for a tranquil yet culturally-rich accommodation in Jodhpur, then the Haveli-turned-hotel of Ratan Vilas is perfect. Located around 10 minutes from the clock tower, the heritage property is the very epitome of quaint living. The icing on the cake is that the descendants of the Maharaja of Raoti, who built the Haveli, still live here!
The entire hotel, including the new wing, tells the rich history of the Raoti family. In fact, the Maharaja was an excellent polo player, and the new owner is more than happy to regale guests with many more such stories. In fact, the main drawing room is filled with old portraits of the family. Apart from that, there’s an inviting stone-inlaid outdoor terrace and patio where curling up with chai on a cold winter’s evening might be just the perfect thing to do. A heavenly-looking, sparkling blue pool with lounge chairs and natural shade is the perfect place to enjoy a lazy day in the hotel. What’s more, there’s a perfect-looking garden restaurant where dinner under the stars is the best way to end a long day.
One can choose from 20 gorgeous rooms overlooking the two European-style courtyards. They’re all spacious and feature vintage furniture and pleasingly modern amenities.
Singhvi’s Haveli
5
Take a trip down the memory lane with Singhvi’s Haveli, which is one of the best budget hotels in Jodhpur. The majestic Haveli is more than five centuries old and was a gift from the former Maharaja of Jodhpur to the ancestor of the present owner.
Today, the carefully restored Haveli is chock-full of traditional decor and memorabilia like family portraits. It’s one of the tallest buildings in the quiet neighborhood of Navchokiya, and a sublime rooftop restaurant serving delish local fare boasts unobstructed views of Mehrangarh Fort. Since this is a no-frills guesthouse, the interiors are warm, cozy, and vibrant. Apart from yoga classes, the hotel even has even coffee/tea room service and a homecooked breakfast.
Since there are all but 13 rooms, service is unparalleled. If you want to splurge, ask for the Maharani suite which is beautiful and worth every penny. If views are what’s on your mind, ask for the two rooms which boast of spectacular panoramas of the fort.
Rohet Garh
4
Those wanting to stay away from the bustle right in the heart of the Thar desert will find peace and solace at Rohet Garh. Thakur Dalpat Singh was rewarded the stunning 17th-century palace for his bravery. It was his descendants who lovingly restored the place to make it what it is today. Today, the attractive palace hotel, which lies half-an-hour south of the city, is one of the best heritage hotels around Jodhpur.
The resort sits on the edge of the village of Rohet and is surrounded by lovely green gardens and the great Thar desert. Charming terraces, decorated lounges, and lots of frescos depicting Rajasthani culture dot the entire resort. Activities here are as different as they get, right from cooking workshops to the equestrian program that allows people to gallop across the desert landscape on Marwari horses. One can even catch glimpses of the region’s famous blackbucks, even as peacocks saunter across the resort’s manicured gardens. Apart from a restaurant that serves local cuisine, guests can even enjoy pre-arranged royal picnics! A royal-looking pool and dinner under the stars are the cherries on top.
The rooms and suites at Rohet Garh are equally special. They feature balconies, a slew of mod-cons, and huge windows that look out to the stunning landscape.
WelcomHotel Jodhpur
3
The oasis that is WelcomHotel Jodhpur seems to blend into the picturesque Thar Desert that surrounds it. The utterly luxurious hotel is located on the eastern edge of Jodhpur around 20 minutes from the fort.
There’s nothing about the hotel that one wouldn’t like. To begin with, the property has verdant lawns that are a welcome break from all the brown. If two restaurants and a bistro weren’t enough, there’s even a nightclub on the property. Indulge in yourself at the WelcomWellness Spa, and enjoy a massage after a long day of exploring the city. In fact, we’d highly recommend the traditional Indian head massage ‘champi’ that’ll leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.
One gets to choose from 98 luxurious rooms. Of them, the sprawling villas have their own garden and private pool. What’s more, all rooms reflect modern sensibilities coupled with plush rugs, seating areas, and fantastic views.
Ranbanka Palace
2
Holiday like the Marwar royals at Ranbanka Palace, another of Jodhpur’s excellent heritage hotels. The 1972-built palace beautifully melds Marwar heritage and colonial style to create a unique living experience.
The heritage hotel features intricate marble inlays, jharokhas, armchairs, mantelpieces, and lovely fireplaces. The decadent chabutra pool area is inviting to the hilt, while the restaurants serve up an amazing Rajasthani fare. In fact, the property even has a quiet pond beside which you can dig into delicious food. Indulge in some amazing R&R at the sauna and spa or sign up for interesting tours. What’s more, the resort even delves into the local culture by hosting nightly cultural performances.
When it comes to the rooms, all rooms blend old-world charm with modern conveniences and are spacious to boot If you want to live like royalty, the Jodhana Suites are excellent.
RAAS Chhatrasagar
1
Of all the possible accommodations in and around Jodhpur, Raas Chhatrasagar is, without doubt, the most one-of-a-kind of them all. The resort is located around 2 hours east of Jodhpur and is constructed atop what is a dam. The brain behind Chhatrasagar was Thakur Chhatra Singh of Nimaj who was working towards building a reservoir to transform the arid land into a fertile one. His descendants turned the temporary tented settlements there into permanent ones. Later on, the Raas brand refurbished it into a luxury camp resort it is today.
Today, 16 luxurious tents sit in a line above the dam, all with stunning views of the desert and the sky. On the inside, the tents are bright green, as if representing Chhatra Singh’s efforts and vision. The fabric walls feature intricate embroidery of the birds of the region, while the skylights are perfect for watching the night sky from the comfort of your bed. What’s more, two of the tents lie on a hill, which offers uninterrupted, surreal views. For absolute serenity, choose a tent that’s a bit far from the resort’s restaurant.
That’s not all; Chhatrasagar even arranges for local villages and farm visits, rowing, and birdwatching excursions. Lazy days can be spent by the pool, lounging on daybeds. Evenings are meant to be spent watching the still waters of the dam right by the campfire in complete tranquility.
Recommended Restaurants / Bars / Food Tours in Jodhpur:
- Royal Food Walk Tour Jodhpur: The Blue City is known for its fabulous Rajasthani food, which you can sample on this lip-smacking food tour of the royal city.
- Indique: This candlelit restaurant sitting atop the Pal Haveli offers all cuisines, including delicious local fare. Its biggest draw is the jaw-dropping views of Mehrangarh Fort.
Recommended Activities In Jodhpur:
- Jodhpur Blue City Heritage Walking Tour: This walking tour through the ancient lanes of Jodhpur is perhaps the best way to delve into the city’s heritage and history.
- Osian Camel Ride and Dinner: The Osian sand dunes, on the edge of which Jodhpur sits, is part of the magical, ethereal Thar Desert. This half-day tour takes you through the villages deep in the heart of Thar Desert. End it with a thrilling camel safari and dinner under the stars.
