One hotel experience I definitely recommend in India is booking in at least at one haveli – a city mansion converted into a heritage hotel. There are many amongst my best hotels in India and we have a new one to add to the list: the Singhvi Haveli, a charming 500-year-old home in Jodhpur. With an intimate setting of only 11 rooms and hidden on a tiny side street in the oldest part of town, the hotel has the added advantage of a fabulous rooftop terrace and rooms for all budgets, making it an excellent Jodhpur hotel option for a night or two in the Blue City.
Hundreds of Years of History
Located close to one of the gates of the Mehrangarh Fort and built at the same time as the fort, the ancient haveli was actually a gift made in 1778 from the Maharaja of Jodhpur Shri Maan Singh ji to Shri Akheraj Sa Singhvi, the commander in chief at Maharaja’s army and the great, great grand father of the current owners. So the lovely city mansion has been in the same family for 350 years and it has more recently been carefully restored and converted into a guesthouse.
Unique and Comfortable Common Spaces
The haveli’s common spaces and rooms feature traditional local Rajasthani decor, imagery and even some family heirlooms and antiques in some of the suites. There is a relaxing restaurant area where you can enjoy some excellent and reasonably priced Rajasthani, Indian and international dishes (try their special Rajasthani thali!), which can also be enjoyed on their rooftop terrace that is open to outside guests and the perfect place for a romantic candlelit evening dinner with the backdrop of the illuminated fort. There are some cool indoor loungers with a variety of comfy seating areas, perfect for an afternoon chai out of the scorching Jodhpur heat.
Individually Decorated Suites and Rooms
The fact that it only has 11 rooms gave the hotel a personal and intimate feel, like you really were staying as a guest of the family. What’s more, there’s a range of prices depending on the size and opulence of the room, which allows even travelers on a budget to have a “haveli experience,” something that is rather rare for this type of hotel. On the higher end of the spectrum are its beautiful suite rooms, each unique and individually decorated in the more precious artwork, antiques, fabrics and other special touches (the above with its charming tea alcove was my favorite!). These are also reasonably priced for the quality and special character.
Regal to Budget Rooms
Then there two other categories of rooms, the super deluxe double rooms that have a little more space and amenities and the simple standard double rooms which are compact but still have a lot of charm. All have ensuite bathrooms with 24 hour hot and cold water and air-conditioning.
The staff was also extremely friendly and helpful throughout out stay. They can arrange a variety of services and we found their prices for transfers to be better than other agencies, which shows they will go the extra mile for their guests, just like they would for a true visiting guest to a private home. It’s a great value for money option in Jodhpur and a nice base in what feels like a more real neighborhood away from the main hotel zone, but which is still easily reachable on foot.
Standard rates rise from INR 1,500 for a double, INR 2,499 for a super deluxe and 3,500 for the suites, all very competitive prices for the quality. See their website here for more details and to book.
Looking for more India travel inspiration? See my other articles on unique hotels and cool things to do here!
I was a guest of the Singhvi Haveli, however all of the opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
