When I tell you about a weekend away in Rajasthan, the first image in your head would probably be the picturesque Lake Pichola in Udaipur. When I clarify it’s a road trip, your mind will jump to Hawa Mahal in Jaipur.
Rajasthan is one of the most vibrant states in the country. It’s also a hot favourite with international tourists and the classic cities are now overwrought. Vivaana Culture Hotel is a small gem in a Rajasthani village that breaks away from the usual and makes for the perfect romantic weekend getaway.
Mandawa in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan houses some of the country’s oldest havelis that double up as open-air art galleries. Rich merchants lived in these areas and later settled along the silk route; these merchants, mostly from the Marwari community were huge patrons of the arts and their old houses are nothing less than a full exhibition.
This hotel is situated in two such havelis with lovely al frescoes that have been painstakingly restored. The charm of living in a haveli is complete with antiques and vintage art-deco pieces, four-poster beds, and a lush courtyard. It’s like living in a museum and it takes a complete hour to walk around the property, gazing at the artwork that catches your eye in every nook and cranny. In the morning, you wake up to the peacock's call and while having breakfast, you see them dancing around you in all their glory.
You really end up getting a taste of the village life by cycling around Churi Ajitgarh, seeing how the locals live and taking leisurely strolls around the village. From a 120-year-old tea shop to seeing the art of making bangles and traditional pottery, this one really lives up to the culture in its name. We also managed to sneak a romantic picnic under the stars on a sand dune; it was a short camel ride away and maximised our desert experience.
Rajasthan is one of the most vibrant states in the country. It’s also a hot favourite with international tourists and the classic cities are now overwrought. Vivaana Culture Hotel is a small gem in a Rajasthani village that breaks away from the usual and makes for the perfect romantic weekend getaway.
Mandawa in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan houses some of the country’s oldest havelis that double up as open-air art galleries. Rich merchants lived in these areas and later settled along the silk route; these merchants, mostly from the Marwari community were huge patrons of the arts and their old houses are nothing less than a full exhibition.
This hotel is situated in two such havelis with lovely al frescoes that have been painstakingly restored. The charm of living in a haveli is complete with antiques and vintage art-deco pieces, four-poster beds, and a lush courtyard. It’s like living in a museum and it takes a complete hour to walk around the property, gazing at the artwork that catches your eye in every nook and cranny. In the morning, you wake up to the peacock's call and while having breakfast, you see them dancing around you in all their glory.
You really end up getting a taste of the village life by cycling around Churi Ajitgarh, seeing how the locals live and taking leisurely strolls around the village. From a 120-year-old tea shop to seeing the art of making bangles and traditional pottery, this one really lives up to the culture in its name. We also managed to sneak a romantic picnic under the stars on a sand dune; it was a short camel ride away and maximised our desert experience.