India

Shahpura

Shahpura is a typical, rural Rajasthani town: pleasant and friendly, with cows lounging by the roadsides and houses painted in pastel shades. Its ordinariness is its charm — you’re a long way from the tourist trail here — but what really makes it special is Shahpura Bagh.

Back to all places in North India, Delhi & Rajasthan

Once home to the Maharajah of Shahpura and still managed by his descendants today, Shahpura Bagh is one of our favorite heritage properties in Rajasthan. Established in the 1630s as a summer retreat for royals and visiting viceroys, it’s now a luxury boutique hotel set in a 45-acre garden estate. Here, royal sophistication meets modern luxury: think canopied daybeds beside a large, palm-fringed swimming pool; freestanding bathtubs in candlelit bathrooms; balconies with arches looking out over manicured gardens.

Even more than the hotel itself, however, what we love about Shahpura Bagh is its connection to the local community. The Shahpura family live onsite, mingling with guests, and dreaming up immersive experiences to get you beneath the surface of their hometown. They’ll take you to nearby Dhikola Fort, lead you in a Rajasthani cooking class, introduce you to villagers in the surrounding farmlands — or just sit and chat with you over sundowners by the pool.

Midway between Jaipur and Udaipur, Shahpura is a totally idyllic place to break your journey for a taste of rural Rajasthan.

Other destinations in this region

India

Agra

The home of the Taj Mahal, Agra represents the pinnacle of the Mughal Empire’s architectural achievements.

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Amritsar (Punjab)

One of India’s friendliest cities and the holiest site in Sikhism, with its hallowed Golden Temple and delightful maze of old havelis, bazaars & courtyards.

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Chambal

Chambal is fascinating: tales of outlaws, river safaris, camel treks to ruined cities and villages full of haveli mansions — all totally under the tourist radar.

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Chandigarh

Purpose-built in the wake of Independence, Punjab’s capital is a yin-yang experience: Brutalist architectural masterpiece meets exuberant, surrealist art garden.

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Chanoud

Stay at one of India’s most beautiful heritage properties and let the Singh family introduce you to their home, countryside and local community.

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Delhi

Where do we even begin? Mughal monuments and British-colonial buildings are only the start: India’s capital is a whole world contained inside a single city.

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Deogarh

Experience the rhythms of rural Rajasthan in this unassuming town, where the descendants of Deogarh royalty welcome guests to their home.

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Jaipur

Come for the flamboyant pink architecture; stay for the craft workshops, market-hopping, and non-stop street life. Jaipur earns its place in the Golden Triangle.

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Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer belongs in the pages of Arabian Nights, with its ridgetop fort, medieval market atmosphere, and desert surroundings.

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Jawai

Jawai is known for the peaceful coexistence of humans and nature: wild leopards living alongside Rabari herders in a wild, rugged and beautiful landscape.