Raas Jodhpur

Style

Achingly hip haveli

Setting

Shadow of Mehrangarh

Set in Jodhpur’s old walled city, in the shadow of majestic Mehrangarh Fort, Raas Jodhpur boutique hotel brings an 18th-century haveli (maharaja’s mansion) bang up to date. A butler-serviced pool and smart alfresco dining may speak of the Med, but the call to prayer from a nearby mosque is a soul-stirring reminder that you’re in the heart of Rajasthan.

Facilities

Rooms

40, including eight suites.

Checkout

Noon; check-in, 2pm. Both are flexible subject to availability for an additional fee.

More Details

Rates include continental breakfast and all taxes.

Also

If you don't want to wake with the pre-dawn azan from Laiquan mosque, use the earplugs provided in each room, but we reckon you're missing out on this melodic start to the day.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

Gardens, cushioned alcoves, spa treatment rooms, DVD/CD library, free WiFi throughout. In room: flatscreen TV, DVD/CD player, minibar, Kama Ayurveda toiletries. Suites in the Heritage Wing offer iPods.

Our Favourite Rooms

Set within the original Rajput residence, the three Old Wing Suites are the last word in romance. Rose-hued sandstone, carved jaali screens and splashes of Brahmin blue set the tone for these luxury abodes. Outdoor terraces lead into dimly lit living areas with cool tile floors and stone walls. Low-slung king-size beds and sumptuous freestanding bath tubs are fit for a Maharani.

Poolside

The 18-metre heated infinity pool brings a splash of Ibiza to the Indian desert, with white-canopied sunloungers, chilled tunes and switched-on bar service to boot. Book ahead for poolside yoga.

Spa

The therapeutic treatments at the serene Raas Spa use handcrafted Ma Earth products, a holistic line of aromatherapy products that contain no artificial ingredients or fragrances.

Packing Tips

Sari-fabulous wraps, feather-light cottons and broad-brimmed hats for Mrs Smith. Mr Smith, look to owner Nikhilendra's designer desert kit of crisp linen shirts, khaki cotton pants and aviator shades.

Also

Pet dogs and cats are welcome, and smoking is allowed in outside sitting areas.

Children

Junior Smiths are welcome. Baby cots are free, or under-4s can share their parents' bed at no extra cost. Extra beds (suitable for 5-12s) cost INR5,000 a night (plus 18% tax a night; includes breakfast). Babysitting can be arranged for INR300 an hour.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Bandari's billowing drapes, crisp table cloths and shadow-casting lanterns are seriously seductive.

Dress Code

Smart and simple, with a dash of safari-chic. A pashmina to throw around your shoulders during winter months.

Hotel Restaurant

Raas has two: white-hot Bandari Restaurant, which offers elegant indoor dining and sun-drenched poolside posing; and elevated Darikhana, a relaxed space of cushioned banquettes, candle-lit tables and scene-stealing fort views. Chef Vishal Gautam has crafted a crowd-pleasing menu of Indian classics, Thai treats and Mediterranean favourites, with authentic Rajasthani fare a highlight of Darikhana. In keeping with the observances of the Old City, the kitchens are pork- and beef-free zones.

Hotel Bar

With a bird's-eye view of both the pool and Mehrangarh, the Rooftop Bar offers a pinch-me-quick set of sights. Sip on a mojito as you watch the sun set and the lights of the fort begin to twinkle.

Last Orders

The restaurants and bar stay open until 10.30pm, though may close earlier during the low season.

Room Service

You can dial up a margherita pizza, pad Thai or club sandwich around the clock.

Planes

Touch down at Jodhpur Airport – Jet Airways and Air India fly in daily from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Udaipur. The hotel is a 20-minute drive away.

Trains

The Jodhpur Railway Station has good rail links with the rest of the country. Visit: www.indianrail.gov.in for timetables and fares.

Automobiles

Tuk tuks are the best way to travel around town – book the hotel's own Brahmin-blue number for market jaunts or trips up to Mehrangarh Fort. The narrow lanes of the Old Town are tight, so leave the driving to the locals.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Raas lets guests tap into the surrounding region with a choice of culture-laden experiences. Guided walks offer a gentle introduction to this intimate, yet frenetic city, or if you'd rather zip around the streets, book the services of the hotel's bespoke tuk tuk. A Bishnoi Village Safari introduces you to the no-frills lives of this animal- and plant-loving Hindu sect. Transfers to the villages are of the choose-your-own-adventure type. Opt for a camel trek, open-topped Jeep or a chaffeur-driven air-conditioned car (but then you're missing out on half the fun). A temple-hopping tour of the Ossian desert is also on offer.

It's impossible to ignore the mighty Mehrangarh Fort, which looms large over the hotel. Take a guided audio tour to learn all about this fabled fortress. Once you've explored it from the ground, see it from above with Flying Fox zip lines, which zig and zag over the walls and around the mountain.

Brave the bustle of the Clock Tower market, where trolleys topped with glass bangles, incense and fruit give way to stores filled with antique fabrics, terracotta pottery, clothing and jewellery.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .