What story about Rajasthan ever began or ended without cliches, you are thinking? But then, this is the land of cliches - sand-sun-sky all colored the same strange and beautiful color of burnt amber and beauty. If beauty had a color, this would be it.
Riding past camels at sundown on the way to Suryagarh luxury hotel in Jaisalmer, and it was only then that one stopped doubting all the photography cliches of capturing a setting sun and camels silhouetted against it. This was magic indeed.
Arriving at Suryagarh in the early evening light of a crisp October night, and it was like something out of the movies. Light and shadow, smoke and mirrors. All touched by a little gold dust, same as the Jaisalmer fort by day.
The entrance to Suryagarh lined up with lanterns all along the side of a long rectangular pool, that led straight into the main lobby area. This was the time when one finally understood the price and meaning of "luxury".
Day beds were rolled out right as the morning began, just outside our room on the upper terrace floor space. Peacocks flitted about as we had a morning cup of tea sitting, lazing, lingering, reading, listening to music on these day beds. Suddenly it was clear to us how the afternoon was to be spent!
The famous Suryagarh steps. That anyone who has ever stayed at Suryagarh will know of, and would likely have photographed at every possible hour of the day and night, just to watch these amber-gold shadow-lights play against the steps.
Of course I was no exception - and went a literal (and figurative) step ahead to get myself fitted into the beautiful frame as well, in that gorgeous morning glow before the desert sun began its purposeful march across the sky!
And... here is where breakfast, lunch and all the meals by day and night would be served. Of course there was the indoor dining space as well, but with this ambience and winter slowly steeping into the days, it made perfect sense to be sitting out here for all meals over our stay.
Suryagarh has so many beautiful corners and nooks for a good read, curling up with a book, or a good old gossip session with friends, over cups of tea and a mild afternoon sun.
You get tired of the outdoors and you can promptly move indoors when the sun starts to get to you. Floor seating ensures that you can sprawl about practically anywhere and let yourself go. This is what #luxury is really about. A hotel or a host that understands your need for a quiet wind-down from t
Suryagarh has this beautiful vast sense of space, much like the Thar desert itself. Open, warm, private, non-intrusive and always that amber gold-colored sandstone everywhere that blends so beautifully into its surrounding. The true gateway to the Thar.
The good folks at Suryagarh are also very happy to arrange desert safaris, dune bashing (if you're into that sort of adventure travel), or just plain old spooky Rajasthan experiences like a tour of Bhangarh at midnight!
As our beautiful desert stay came to an end, we figured we would always remember this desert rose, one they call Suryagarh
