Raas Jodhpur

The Raas Jodhpur hotel embodies understated elegance in tune with an exemplary restoration of traditional townhouses—in the shadow of a stunning fort rising from the desert plains of Rajasthan.

Surrounded by and towering over the “blue city” of Jodhpur, the Mehrangarh Fort spans the crest of a mighty mountain, intimidating every side of the city—and beyond—with its sheer size. And yet it is rarely visible from the street level in the oldest parts of Jodhpur. Blocking the view are townhouses painted in beautiful blue or rosy pink, forming a maze of narrow medieval alleys.

The Raas Jodhpur hotel cuts through the urban chaos, turning an uninterrupted view into a real spectacle.

Our arrival

Our driver steered the car through an old picturesque gate and we were welcomed in the all-glass reception. As we were led further, an impossibly tall corridor, seemingly splitting the main hotel building in two, opened onto a truly magnificent view.

The architecture is clearly designed to unveil the Mehrangarh Fort in a most dramatic fashion—and the part of the hotel that the pathway leads to is arranged almost like an auditorium to the fort.

With the swimming pool in front of the main restaurant and rooftop bar above, with gardens and water features, spa and Heritage rooms at the back, this is where things are happening at the hotel.

Exploring the blue city

We loved to start our day with a delicious breakfast on the Baradari Restaurant terrace, eyeing the fort and listening to the chirping birds and the humming city.

From there, on to city exploring—Raas Jodhpur is ideally positioned for that. Busy street life is just outside the gates and the hotel is within walking distance from the Clock Tower bazaars.

It was also nice to be able to come back to the hotel when we got tired, without having to rely on taxis or tuk-tuks. But, that’s also fun—and we did use this ubiquitous method of transport on occasion, and also rode the hotel’s original blue tuk-tuk, exploring the winding streets of Blue City in style.

After sightseeing, what’s better than chilling out by the hotel’s swimming pool, under the canopied daybeds? Finally, we would end the day with sundowners on the rooftop bar, watching the sun hide behind the fort, and waiting for its walls to lit up with the night lights. This is when the Mehrangarh is at its most spectacular.

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Jodhpur, re-interpreted

Raas is as secluded from the incredible hustle and bustle of the old city as it is immersed in it. It offsets the city’s rough charms with sophisticated luxury while grafting contemporary design onto the local architecture.

The hotel showcases a high level of craftsmanship. Custom-made rosewood furniture, shiny black marble terrazzo floors, creamy monochrome stone bathrooms all are tasteful and minimalist. Fabrics are light and neutral. Inspired by the medieval Havelis decor, the rose sandstone shutters cast geometric shadows across corridors and the stylish bedrooms.

From glass reception and sleek bathrooms to organic cavities of the Heritage Suites and spa, the hotel feels eminently fashionable and cool.

Checking out many a hotel during our Rajasthan trip we observed that too often these properties would simply restore old palaces and conform to a traditional style. Among them, Raas Jodhpur is a rare and welcome thing.

in our opinion

Hidden among the cobweb of old streets of Jodhpur, Raas enveloped us in its unique brand of luxury and design, nurturing a thoroughly Rajasthani atmosphere without ever coming across as stuffy or old-fashioned. This is modern India we really dig.

What we love

• Great design that re-interprets architectural traditions of this part of India in a contemporary style, masterfully combining the old and the new. It makes Raas original and unique.
• Amazing view of the Mehrangarh Fort, which no other hotel in Jodhpur can offer in quite the same striking way. Best enjoyed from the rooftop bar with a drink in hand.
• Heritage Suites are beautifully restored and designed, especially the ones above the spa. We stayed in suite # 337—highly recommended.
• On the other hand, the modern-style rooms are super chic. We stayed a night in one of them too and loved it!
• Breakfasts were our favorite part of the day—and the food was simply delicious!
• Raas is a great place for all who want to be in the center of the action—location is superb, very close to the Clock Tower market, restaurants, shops, etc. It is even possible to walk to the Fort. We spent hours just exploring the medieval city all around the hotel.
• And when we got a bit tired walking, there was the pretty blue tuk-tuk provided by the hotel, with a free ride of 30 minutes to 1 hour.

What you should know

• The neighboring mosque will wake you up at 5 AM with the call to prayer. There is also some noise coming from all around, sometimes even loud music—but Raas is in the middle of a large city in India after all. By the way, the modern rooms are more soundproof than the Heritage, plus the hotel provides earplugs.
• Also, the modern rooms are better heat-insulated. Our Heritage Suite had no air conditioning in the bathroom and the red stones of the building, treated with the direct sun during the day would give out the heat throughout the night. But, visiting in one of the hottest months, we sort of knew what we were getting into.
• There are two complimentary bottles of water per room per day—more is chargeable (and more is necessary, in the hottest months). Water is also at extra cost at breakfast, even as other drinks and juices are included.
• If you are staying at the hotel in the low season, expect breakfast to be a la carte rather than buffet… which is what we prefer anyway!
• Wifi is a bit unreliable (kept dropping), but it is free.
• Getting there: The flight-comparison sites such as Skyscanner (www.skyscanner.com) or Kayak (www.kayak.com) will help you find the best flights and deals.