Alila Moments | Alila Fort Bishangarh

Unleash your inner artist on a journey through Rajasthan’s most storied crafts. In Shahpura, you’ll get hands-on appreciation in the intricate creation of Lac bangles—vibrant resin jewelry made with vegetable dyes. From there, get your hands dirty shaping clay into your own pottery under a local expert’s guidance. Learn the symbolic patterns of carpet weaving from local women through the female-founded, owned, and empowered Jaipur Rugs social enterprise. Back at the fort, your day of artistry ends with a traditional champi head massage—deeply relaxing and rooted in Ayurvedic tradition. A tactile, thoughtful experience that reconnects you to the magic of making.

Village Gateway
Travel from Alila Fort to Manoharpur while hearing legends of the Shekhawat clan and the origin of this historic artisan village.

Bangles of Legacy
Observe the colorful tradition of Lac bangle-making using natural resin and dyes—then create one to take home.

Clay in Your Hands
Join a local potter to shape your own vessel from rich Rajasthani soil, using age-old techniques passed down for generations.

Weaving Futures
Experience carpet weaving with the Jaipur Rugs Organization and discover how tradition is providing new opportunity for local women.

Crowning Moment
Back at the fort, enjoy a soul-soothing champi massage—believed to harmonize energy and clear the mind.

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Duration: 60-70 minutes

Recommended Dress: Resort casual attire is appropriate; guests are encouraged to dress with seasonal temperatures in mind.

Additional Details: Guests are encouraged to support local craftsmanship through small donations or by purchasing locally made crafts. A bag will be provided should you wish to take home a piece. Please note that pottery activities may result in dirty hands—your facilitator will be happy to offer a fresh towel and hand sanitizer following your session.

Price: INR 6000++ per couple

Immerse yourself in the heart of Rajasthan with a unique cooking experience. Travel by jeep to the home of Daya, set serenely along the Madhuveni River. There, Daya will be your host as you learn to craft authentic Rajasthani seasonal dishes. Greet the cattle, inhale the scent of damp earthen floors and step into the outdoor kitchen.  Feel the warmth of the community as you grind spices, knead dough and cook over a traditional wood-fired earthen stove. Engage in lively conversations with Daya, gaining insights into local traditions, culture, and daily life. This isn't just a cooking class; it's a cultural immersion, where each dish you create tells a story of Bishangarh and brings you closer to the vibrant spirit of Rajasthan. Before you leave, receive a sweet parting gift—and leave with full hands, a full belly and a full heart.

Road to the River
Start with an introduction to the authentic rural culinary traditions of Bishangarh. Ride on open jeep to our neighbor Daya's home by the riverside. Be regaled with stories by your guide, who will speak of the source of water for the Madhuveni river through the Aravalli ranges and how villagers would move across the river using a temporary bridge. 

Warm Welcome
Be greeted by Daya with traditional salutations and a quick hello to the cattle. Learn about the fragrance of the wet soil and why soil remains damp in rural homes.  

Cooking with Daya
Resume your culinary Journey by grinding spices into powder with a mortar and pestal. You’ll knead millet flower into bread and watch it roast on a wood-fired clay mud stove called a sighdi. 

Sweet Farewell
Bid farewell to Daya as she hands you a "muh meetha kara", an Indian sweet prepared by your host. Return to the hotel to share your adventures with your travel companions.

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Duration: 60-70 minutes

Recommended Dress: Resort casual attire is appropriate; guests are encouraged to dress with seasonal temperatures in mind.

Additional Details: Please inform us of any food allergies in advance. Cooking activities may result in dirty hands; please feel free to ask your facilitator for a fresh hand towel and hand sanitizer afterward.

Price: INR 6000++ per couple

This immersive culinary adventure begins at Alila’s farm, where you’ll learn about beekeeping, natural fertilizers and sustainable growing. Pick fresh vegetables with the chef before heading to a nearby village to meet farmers and try your hand at milking a buffalo or goat. Return to cook a traditional Daawat feast with your gathered ingredients, guided by the chef’s expertise and local stories. End the experience with a communal meal around a long table with travel companions—exchanging laughs, flavors and wisdom. It’s more than just a class. It’s a celebration of food as connection, and the land as teacher, as you enjoy the flavors and the stories that weave through every dish.

Into the Fields
Walk or drive with our chef to Alila’s farm, learning how ancient sustainability techniques shape modern harvests.

Nature’s Pantry
Explore natural fertilizers, taste honey fresh from the hive, and pick produce you’ll use later in your meal.

A Visit to the Source
Join village farmers and try milking a goat, understanding the deep connection between people and their animals.

The Art of Daawat
Gather with the chef to prepare a traditional Daawat meal using local herbs, spices and traditional cooking techniques.

A Table Shared
Dine at a communal table with travel companions, exchanging food and stories in true Rajasthani hospitality.

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Duration: 120 minutes

Recommended Dress: Resort casual attire is appropriate; guests are encouraged to dress with seasonal temperatures in mind

Additional Details: Please inform us of any food allergies in advance. Chef caps and aprons are provided for this activity. We recommend removing rings, bracelets and watches, as you’ll be selecting fresh ingredients and cooking alongside the Chef.

Price: INR 10000++ per couple

This off-road expedition takes you into the wilds of Rajasthan in a 4x4 Jeep, guided by tales of two "sister" rivers—Madhuveni and Triveni—and the nomads, saints and herders who lived along their now-dry banks. Learn about local mythology, forgotten dams and sacred cows as you journey through dunes and wilderness. The experience culminates in a candlelit tea ceremony at the ruins of a centuries-old temple, where silence feels holy and the sky seems closer. You’ll return to the fort changed—energized, inspired and filled with stories worth sharing.

A Royal Sendoff
Begin your journey at the Haveli with a traditional greeting, rooted in the customs of Shekhawati hospitality.

Trails of the Past
Cruise along the dry bed of the Madhuveni River, learning about its twin Triveni and the lore of the prophet Sheikh Burhan.

Wilderness Unfolded
Pass through desert scrub and ancient dams as your guide reveals the secrets of Rajasthan’s often-forgotten outback.

Temple by Candlelight
Pause at a ruined temple for high tea lit only by candles. Sip, snack and take in the mystique of this sacred setting.

The Way Back
Drive back to the fort beneath a setting or rising sun—your spirit a little fuller than before.

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Duration: 120 minutes

Recommended Dress: Resort casual attire is recommended, with consideration for the season's temperature. For this experience, we suggest wearing sports shoes for added comfort and safety.

Additional Details: Please inform us of any food allergies in advance. This experience involves sitting on low stools; if you have any knee concerns, do let us know—we’re happy to make accommodations.

Price: INR 6000++ per couple including the jeep ride & hi tea | | INR 4000++ per couple without hi-tea

This off-road expedition takes you into the wilds of Rajasthan in a 4x4 Jeep, guided by tales of two “sister” rivers—Madhuveni and Triveni—and the nomads, saints, and herders who lived along their now-dry banks. Learn about local mythology, forgotten dams, and sacred cows as you journey through dunes and wilderness. The experience culminates in a candlelit tea ceremony at the ruins of a centuries-old temple, where silence feels holy and the sky seems closer. You’ll return to the fort changed—energized, inspired, and full of stories worth sharing.

A Morning Welcome
Begin your day with a warm greeting and a wellness drink infused with local herbs to awaken your senses gently.

The Journey Within
Discover the roots of yoga as your guide shares its timeless history, leading you into a short meditation that prepares mind and body.

Yoga Amidst Serenity
Flow into a 40-minute yoga practice surrounded by nature — the air alive with birdsong, the earth beneath steadying your breath and balance.

A Taste Of The Land
Savor a wholesome satwik breakfast crafted with care. Each bite connects you to the land and its nourishing traditions.

Stories Of The Village
After your meal, wander into the village with your guide. Learning about its customs, cuisine, and rhythms of daily life.

A Gentle Goodbye
Before returning, sip on a cup of chai prepared in a village home. A final note of warmth, closing your experience as authentically as it began.

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Duration: 90 minutes

Recommended Dress: Resort casual attire is recommended, with consideration for the season’s temperature. For this experience, we suggest wearing sports shoes for added comfort and safety.

Additional Details: Please inform us of any food allergies in advance. This experience involves sitting on low stools; if you have any knee concerns, do CULTURE & let us know—we’re happy to make accommodations.

Price: INR 15000++ per couple

Long before it was written, history was sung—passed down in verse by poets of the royal courts. At Alila Fort Bishangarh, this tradition is reborn.

In partnership with poet Nikita Gill, this experience unfolds in three chapters, guided by an Urdu scholar descended from Rajasthan’s royal poets. It begins inside the fort with the beat of Nagadas, echoing verse through dungeons and towers. The second chapter winds through Amarsar—the birthplace of Shekhawati—where ancient temples and ruins whisper stories of the land. The final act unfolds in Shahpura’s frescoed havelis, weaving past and present into a lyrical rhythm.

This is not a tour, but a living narrative—where each step, each verse, deepens your sense of place. A journey into Rajasthan’s poetic soul, spoken softly through silence, stone, and starlight.

Arrival & Welcome
Guests are received at the Haveli with a traditional Rajasthani welcome—folklore, vibrant dress, and the soulful sounds of the Ravanhatta, a centuries-old stringed instrument. This marks the beginning of an evocative poetic journey through time and place.

Chapter I: The Fort Unfolds
Begin at the Pehla Darwaza, the gateway to Alila Fort Bishangarh. Walk through silent corridors, dungeons, and terraces as an Urdu Scholar brings the stone to life with verse—stories of warriors, lost traditions, and enduring spirit echoing through the architecture. For guests preferring a seated experience, this chapter may be enjoyed in the Kachchawa Library with visual accompaniment.

Chapter II: Amarsar and the Aravallis
Venture into the rural landscape on a guided trek past ancient temple ruins and through the low ridges of the Aravalli hills. Pause at the open-air Mata Kali Devi Temple, nestled high in the rocks, where devotion and natural beauty intertwine. At Amarsar Fort—the birthplace of Maharao Shekhaji— an Urdu Scholar shares the story of a warrior’s honor and sacrifice, told in verse amid crumbling walls and sweeping views.

Chapter III: Shahpura and the Legacy of Shekhawati
Travel to Shahpura, the cultural heart of the Shekhawati region. Visit the town’s historic fort and haveli, adorned with royal portraits and fading frescoes that reflect centuries of noble lineage. Here, poetry gives voice to place, tracing a legacy still visible in the quiet grandeur of its architecture.

Guftagu: Reflection and Farewell
The experience concludes with a gentle gathering—over seasonal refreshments at the organic farm or the Kachhawa Lounge. In this final moment of guftagu, or poetic conversation, guests are invited to pause, reflect, and carry the emotion of the day forward.

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Duration: 5-6 hours

Recommended Dress: Resort casual wear is advisable with consideration of seasonal temperature. Sports shoes are strongly recommended for this experience.

Additional Details: This Moment was crafted in partnership with acclaimed international poet Nikita Gill, Urdu Scholar, and our team at Alila Fort Bishangarh.

Price: INR 80000 per couple