Situated just midway between the Delhi Jaipur National Highway, The Neemrana Fort Palace Hotel in Alwar Rajasthan is a lovely destination for a weekend gateway from Delhi. A gorgeous property that is some 500 years old and so well-maintained is sure to blow your mind.
The Neemrana Fort Palace is located in the Neemrana village and was an abandoned property. But in 1986 it was acquired and restored and turned into a fully functional and luxurious hotel in 1991.
Along with the luxurious stay, you can also experience the Rajasthani culture, heritage, and tradition here. The Neemrana Group calls themselves a “non-hotel” because all their properties are monuments of great historical significance each telling a story of the glorious culture and heritage.
The Neemrana Group also has three other properties near Delhi which are The Hill-Fort Kesroli, The Tijara Palace, and The Piramal Haveli. All these places are on my bucket list. Being a history lover I would love to stay in these properties also someday.
It was this year during my Durga Puja vacation that we planned to visit Rajasthan. Since staying in The Neemrana Fort Palace has been a dream for me I thought it was the best time to turn this dream into reality.
We landed at Delhi Airport at 8 am and we had already booked a car to drop us at The Neemrana Fort Palace. Our friends suggested enjoying this road trip and tasting the delicious food on the way as there are a lot of Highway Dhabas and restaurants.
How to reach The Neemrana Fort Palace
The easiest way to reach Neemrana is by taking a flight to Delhi. From there it is situated 130 km. The driving time is two hours approximately. The Fort Palace is situated on the Delhi Jaipur National Highway. It is easily accessible with the help of GPS.
From the main road you have to take a turn and you can see the hotel from a far-away distance. The best way is to book a cab from Delhi, you can also choose Ola or Uber out-station cabs. We had pre-booked a cab which charged us Rs 3000.
We started our journey at 8:30 am and after a drive of around one and half an hour we reached Neemrana. We were very hungry already so our driver took us to Hotel Highway King for breakfast. The food was really good and very reasonably priced.
The Ultimate review and my experience at The Neemrana Fort Palace.
Finally, we reached our destination at 11 am which was quite early because our check-in time was at 2 pm. But the hotel staff were very courteous, they made sure we had an early check-in. We told them that we had been travelling and tired so if we could get the room a little sooner.
We felt really good as they prepared our room and we checked in at noon. The part of the fort we were staying in didn’t have a lift so we had to walk all the way, it was huge and we were already enjoying the vibes in that centuries-old fort palace.
A Brief History of Neemrana Fort Palace
The 15th-century Neemrana Fort Palace, built in 1462 was the capital of the descendants of Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan III. He was defeated by Mohammad Ghouri and fled Delhi in 1464. But as the facade of the Nemmrana Fort Palace started to crumble the owners at that time were forced to leave.
It was abandoned in 1947 for around forty years. Located among the hills of the Aravalli Mountain Range this beautiful fort palace is the epitome of India’s ancient architecture and glory.
The fort was in ruins when acquired by the Neemrana Group in 1986 for restoration and finally, they opened the doors in 1991 to this Fort Palace as one of India’s most luxurious and best heritage resorts near Jaipur.
The place is also a popular destination for weddings, photoshoots, and other functions. I think this can be the perfect location for a destination wedding.
Built over 6 acres of land there are nine palace wings built over 14 levels with two beautiful Swimming pools, an ayurvedic spa, an amphitheater, and 78 rooms and suites this hotel is perfect for a weekend stay. Inside the fort palace, you may lose track of your way and might need to ask for directions.
My stay and honest review of the Fort Palace
There is a wide range of rooms to select from fitting everyone’s budget. All the rooms are luxurious and have a view. We stayed at Jalaj Mahal (Lalaj means Lotus and we had a small Lotus pool just outside our room with a beautiful viewpoint.
Just near the Jalaj Mahal, there is the entrance to the swimming pool area and also the way leading to the amphitheater. You can get a beautiful top view of the amphitheater from the swimming pool area if you walk a few steps down from your left side.
The night view of the Fort Palace is glorious with the whole monument being lit up with tiny lights. Everything looks so spectacular and romantic with the distant view of the town far away.
The whole fort is like a labyrinth and you may get lost, but thanks to the caretakers and staff they helped us with directions. The fort has luxurious rooms with more space and also smaller-sized rooms according to your preferences.
While making the booking you can also call their reservation phone number available at the official website and they will guide you. The process is very smooth and convenient.
Food and restaurant inside the Fort Palace
We also spent some leisure time at the Raj Mahal Bar and the courtyard outside. Don’t miss the happy hour. While we were enjoying our food and drinks we had a little guest at our table who came to nibble on our peanut munchies. It was quite a “meet-cute” moment for us. You can also visit the Hawa Mahal Restaurant for a lovely view and great food.
Since we liked the place so much we had our dinner there too. There are two options one you can enjoy from the A La Carte menu and also you can have the buffet dinner. We skipped the buffet and had Laal Maas and steamed rice. That was delicious. You can enjoy North Indian, South Indian, Chinese, Thai, and other Western choices for your dinner or buffet.
Also, they don’t have an in-room dining facility. And the venue for lunch and dinner keeps on changing with the season, isn’t it exciting! Non-residents can also visit the restaurant with a prior booking.
The buffet dinner takes place at the new part of the building on the right side. There are many restaurants in the hotel like we had breakfast the next morning at Aatam Sukh and the courtyard cum restaurant just next to it named Jag Mag Restaurant.
Breakfast was an elaborate affair. You have to take a lift to reach the Aatam Sukh restaurant where breakfast is served. It took us around one and a half hours to finish our breakfast. There was also a live counter where a lady dressed in traditional Rajasthani attire was preparing hot methi ke paranthe.
Also, fill your plates with food and sit in the courtyard outside you will get a lovely view of the fort. It was like eating with all my senses in action.
Tours and Activities inside the Fort Palace
There is a complimentary tour around the Fort Palace every evening at 4;30pm. You have to come near the reception area from where the tour starts. A hotel staff who was also our guide showed us around the Fort Palace and narrated the history behind it.
The tour lasted for an hour and ended at sunset at the place where all the guests arrived for high tea. That was also complimentary. Just wear comfortable shoes as you need to walk and climb some steep stairs while walking around the Fort. Don’t expect a modern-day building these are all hundreds of years old.
The Fort also provides Vintage car rides and camel rides around the Fort. That is chargeable and we skipped that part as it didn’t seem that much exciting. We would be doing camel rides at Jaisalmer so it was okay to skip for us.
I have read that Flying Fox Neemrana also arranges Ziplining above and around the Neemrana Fort at Rs 1600 for adults and Rs 1400 for kids (please check for current /accurate tariffs). You can also book the activity to get some nice discounts.
They have a full professional team for the high-energy activity. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and clothes and a cap because it’s so heated in the daytime. We didn’t try ziplining but you may like that so don’t miss it.
Thus, Neemrana Fort Palace is a must-visit destination in Alwar, Rajasthan
So for all good reasons, Neemrana Fort Palace should definitely in your bucket list. A blend of tradition, and heritage with a pinch of modernity this place is sure to mesmerize you.
Also, I recommend this place for those with good money for a destination wedding. Who wouldn’t love to get married in this out-of-the-world location? Also, this place can be a perfect honeymoon destination.
This was my honest review and a complete guide about the Neemrana fort-palace and hope you liked reading it. Do share with your friends and loved ones.Â
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