Sunday 3 October 2021

Tijara Fort Palace | Palace Hotels In Rajasthan | Delhi Weekend Getaway | Neemrana Hotels

Dear Readers,

Hope you are well and keeping safe amidst these tough times. Sharing a weekend getaway right before India was struck with Covid wave 2. In the early months of 2021 (sometime around mid March), me and my husband decided to explore one of the great heritage Neemrana property in Alwar district of Rajasthan - Tijara Fort Palace. It is an exclusive weekend getaway from Delhi NCR and the property is quite well maintained in terms of hygiene and sanitization. Scribbling some details below about this exclusive palace hotel.

How to reach -
Tijara fort palace is situated in the Alwar district and once can reach by all three means, road, rail and air. Nearest airport is Delhi Airport situated at about 95 kms from the property. Road journey typically takes around 2.5-3 hours from Delhi and ~2 hours from Gurgaon/ Faridabad. Nearest railway station is Alwar, which has trains to almost all major cities of Rajasthan. 

About the Property - 
Tijara Fort palace is a 19th century fort. Stay at this property will mesmerize you with the unique heritage of India and will lead you to discover more. This fort hosts 71 suites and rooms named after India's leading designers and painters who helped create them. This fort offers magnificent flora, wide landscapes and beauty much more than one can soak in. Experience the musical chirping of birds, beautiful sunrise amidst the Aravali ranges and lush green landscape - it offers enough and more for the solitude seekers or one with the artistic eye or the poser - fills everyone with contentment. There is a sunken pool to relax and rejuvenate and the seven terraced gardens (also known as the hanging gardens) offers impressive and  striking views of this fort.

Bookings - 
You can do bookings directly via the hotel or through third party source - Make My Trip, Agoda, Booking.com, Goibibo, Yatra etc. Room rent is usually around - 6000-8000 (exclusive of taxes) and it fluctuates as per the season and demand. there are various room categories like Heritage Romance, Splendour and Royal (each offering a unique experience). High teas are complimentary and cultural events are performed usually on the weekends.

Tips and Tricks -
  • This fort is one of the most sought destination for weddings,  pre/ post wedding photoshoot, magazine cover page photoshoots etc and hence usually sold out for weekends. Please ensure that you make bookings in advance to avoid any last minute hassle.
  • Since, there are no nearby restaurants etc, do ensure that you add meals in your package before hand to get a good deal.
  • Carry a mosquito raquet with you if travelling during changing seasons. While the hotel do offer mosquito repellent sprays etc. it is always good to carry your stuff. (At the end it is a fort stay 🌝)
Cultural Events 



Gallery -





















Watch out for the next destination, till then happy travelling and safe safe!
#toastytrips #staysafe

Wednesday 3 March 2021

The Gateway Resort Damdama Lake Gurgaon | Staycation near Gurgaon

Happy New Year !!!

My first post comes in much delayed but hoping that all my reader are healthy and keeping safe amidst this pandemic. With minimal travel last year, I planned to explore some luxury resorts near Delhi NCR to unplug and unwind ourselves. We booked 1 night stay at The Gateway Resort Damdama Lake, Gurgaon on the new year eve. It was quite a refreshing experience, and had to be as we were stepping out after almost 10 months of lockdown (literally at home all this while... Phew!). Given this property is away from the hustle bustle of the city, one can recharge their mind, rejuvenate their souls and get wrapped in the lap of mother nature! Sharing candid and detailed review on this property.

Location 4/5- This property is situated around 45kms from the Delhi airport and is connected well by road. Spread over 20 acres land, it allows enough and more to unplug and unwind.

Room and Ambience 3.5/5 - We booked the Superior Resort room courtyard view (#201) and it was quite happening. I loved the room location and it was quite nice (approachable from the front desk, restaurant and even the gardens). Room was clean however few things needed renovation. The headboard was ripped off from few places and the stool and high chair provided were quite dirty (Honestly not as per Taj standards). It had stains at multiple places. Lighting was decent and bed was comfortable. There was a leakage in the washroom, near the toilet area. Water was dripping and kept that area wet throughout.  




Service and Hospitality 3/5- Staff was courteous, however service was not up to the mark. Given the new year rush, the entire resort was fully occupied and the staff wasn't able to manage the same. We ordered soup through the in room dining facility and did not get the same. Had to check again after 45 min just to know that the order was missed out! Phew... 

Food 2/5 - TERRIBLE! Below average food as per 5 star standards. We ordered North Indian for lunch and to our horror found hair in the dish. The hotel staff did not charge us for the same but were arrogant to even acknowledge the situation. It was handled quite unprofessionally and added bitterness to our experience.



Other Services and Activites 4/5- The property hosts gym, spa and pool as well however pool as closed due to Covid restrictions. There are lots of outdoor activities as well like Spiderweb, Wall climbing, Ziplining, ATV ride, basketball and lawn tennis. 

This resort allows non residents as well to explore the property and enjoy the activities.

Overall Experience - 3.5/5

Picture Gallery










Happy Travelling and Exploring! Wear Mask and Stay Safe!

Neemrana - Delhi Weekend Gateway

With the onset of holiday season, I thought of penning down my Neemrana experience, one of the favorite weekend gateways from Delhi. Neemra...