Guest User
February 12, 2024
Possibly the most ro***tic and beautiful hotel I have ever stayed in with the finest Rajasthani cuisine made all the more special by the attentive waiting staff and chefs plus the faultless, old school hospitality lavished upon us by the ever smiling, ever helpful, walking-talking historian, Mr Simmonds! This heritage hotel was a gem of a find, off the grid, in deepest Rajasthan near ***dawa, around a 3 hour drive from Jaipur. The restoration of this havelli is mind-blowing as is the stunning fresco work on the walls and ceilings. Waking up to the distant sounds of temple bells and prayers with *****s of sunlight filtering through the Belgian stained glass windows throwing a multitude of colours onto the walls was spiritual cleansing for my soul! The kingsize beds are very comfortable and the modern bathrooms are surprisingly spacious. The breakfast buffet is perfectly acceptable ***** with a live station offering freshly cooked dosas, omelettes, pancakes, waffles and puris. The lunch buffet consists of mouthwatering Rajasthani specialities but the very kind waiting staff brought out loads of off the menu dishes for us to try. As for the dinner - definitely not to be missed at this hotel. Served between 7-10pm, we chose to sit outside in the candlelit courtyard where there was a bangle making stall, puppet show and live folk singer with dholki player. The a la carte menu was extensive and every single dish brought out was delicious beyond words. A particular favourite was the dal bhatti churma and, of course, the home made gulab jamuns which we enjoyed by the firepit wrapped in duvets (it was a pretty cold night!). The standard of service at this property was impeccable and the previous two five-star hotels we stayed at in Agra and Jaipur could certainly learn a thing or two from the Vivaana Culture Hotel. My family and I were absolutely blown away by the attentiveness of the multi-lingual staff, attention to detail, quality of cuisine, beautiful accommodation and will definitely be returning as soon as we can. I, for one, will be returning with my husband for a ro***tic break and will be wanting the opulent royal suite with its hanging lanterns and frescoed wall art. A big thank you to all the staff including Pravin, the GM, who made a special effort to meet with us. The only complaint is that our stay was too short!