Offering the perfect base from where the lush environs of the tiger-infested Ranthambore National Park are best explored, Bookmark Resorts, Jogi Mahal, located close to the city of Sawai Madhopur in India’s cultural stronghold of Rajasthan, is a destination within a destination. A tranquil haven, where one can soak in the rustic outdoors and the luxury of beautifully designed indoor spaces, birdsong and jungle sounds providing the perfect soundtrack.
Escaping from the humdrum of city life and stepping into a wilderness wonderland is what this striking property encourages. Making it probably the best new luxury resort in Ranthambore, having opened its doors to wildlife enthusiasts and luxury seekers in late December 2023.
Hotel
From the rustic Rajasthani style poolside area to the amphitheatre in the central courtyard, this sprawling property strikes the perfect balance between traditional and contemporary aesthetics. One that offers a window into a rustic way of life with a touch of luxury. For starters, a warm welcome, heralded by a musician playing a traditional Rajasthani string instrument called a ravanahatha, is something all you culture vultures can look forward to.
Taking full advantage of the beautiful stone work that Rajasthan is famous for, is the skilful interplay of black granite and white marble. One that can be seen making intricate chevron and checker board patterns on the floors of the common areas and restaurant. Vividly painted jungle themed murals are dotted around the lobby area, as are paintings depicting the surrounding wildlife.
Room
Housed in a cluster of 10 chalets that surround a beautifully manicured garden and an amphitheatre, the 40 rooms of the resort are a lesson in refined elegance with hints of the jungle motif in the form of well-curated artworks that dot the space. With this first phase of rooms (another wing is under construction and to be readied soon), the resort currently has 19 luxury rooms with attached plunge pools and 21 premier rooms.
Spacious bathrooms equipped with both indoor and outdoor rain showers, along with walk in wardrobes, top-notch amenities and toiletries make this space a sybarite’s delight to soak into. The main bedroom is again a spacious haven with plush furnishings and a fully stocked mini bar. Large glass doors open up onto the patio which boasts a heated plunge pool for the ground level luxury rooms, while the premier rooms above offer expansive vistas of the majestic and ancient Aravalli mountains farther away.
Food and drink
From outdoor poolside barbeques on clear, starlit nights to curated sit down meals, the food at this resort is something that is sure to be one of the highlights of any stay here. While the restaurant and bar are yet to be named, the former is a brightly lit, minimalist space on the lobby level with plenty of the aforementioned granite and marble interplay on the floor.
The bar-cum-games room is the place to sip on some fine spirits, hot toddies and gin cocktails. Though the food menu here is predominantly Indian – featuring a sumptuous local Rajasthani plated meal called a thali among other regional delicacies – one can get a taste of Italy, Asia and even a few Brit classics like pies and fish and chips. Don’t miss out on the daily, free high tea with scrumptious tea cakes and other treats, all washed down with bottomless cups of fragrant Assam tea or coffee from southern India’s coffee plantations.
Spa and wellness
The resort’s Sansha Spa offers an eclectic menu of treatments, which are enjoyed across three (two single and one couple) therapy rooms that offer a serene, calm setting with soothing music and a controlled temperature. Here, one can choose from an extensive list offering authentic Chinese, Indonesian, Swedish, Thai, Arabian and, of course, Indian Ayurvedic messages, wraps and body polishes. We recommend the 90-minute Kerala-style abhyanga massage, famous for its short strokes using a unique coffee perfumed oil. And why not chase this with an Arabian sugar and spice foot scrub? We’d call that the perfect antidote to a long day’s safari in the national park, wouldn’t you?
To do
There is very little doubt that the number one calling card of this region of Rajasthan, and thus the main reason to base yourself in a resort like this one, is to take full advantage of its proximity to the Ranthambore National Park. As one of the biggest and most renowned national parks in northern India, this one was once a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur. There are now 80 Bengal tigers living in the park. The resort not only will help in sorting out your safari permits (that need to be done in advance), but will also arrange for custom-made safari vehicles along with guides and rangers to navigate the park for an additional fee.
Besides arranging for onsite early morning yoga sessions and nightly stargazing, the resort also has plenty of offsite excursions on offer. We particularly recommend the visit to the Ranthambore Fort. A well maintained heritage site that is characterised by temples, tanks and massive walls, it’s one of the rare cases where a mosque and a temple exist within the same complex. A craft village in close proximity to Sawai Madhopur, Shilpgram is a living ethnographic museum that reflects the diversity in crafts, art and culture, and is another must-visit place.
In a nutshell
Allowing visitors to get a glimpse into the unhurried way of living with nature at its doorstep, the Bookmark Jogi Mahal Resort Ranthambore is equal parts luxury and Indian hospitality at its best. Perfect for that immersive wildlife-saturated weekend break, here, time stands still, while the call of the wild beckons you to commune with the jungle and its inhabitants in the most fascinating ways, affording you the opportunity to get up close and personal, but respectfully so.
Getting there
The Bookmark Jogi Mahal Resort Ranthambore is a pleasant three hour’s drive away from the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur’s Sanganer Airport. Daily flights connect Jaipur not just with major cities of India like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad, but also with international destinations like Muscat, Sharjah, Bangkok, Dubai, and London via New Delhi and major European cities like Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich and Moscow as well.
Factbox
Plunge pool category rooms start from £200++, inclusive of breakfast, high tea and either lunch or dinner.
Address: Ranthambore Road, Village Khilchipur, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, 322001, India
Phone: +91-9089777000
Website: bookmarkresorts.com
Photography courtesy of Bookmark Jogi Mahal Resort Ranthambore, Juhi Jain and Raul Dias
