This 19th century palace has been restored into a luxury hotel & even has a private cricket stadium!

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Photo of This 19th century palace has been restored into a luxury hotel & even has a private cricket stadium! by Neha Bhise Sadalge

Over the last few years heritage houses have become my personal favourite. They have a certain charm that transport you back to the earlier era. Filled with stories of the past, they offer the warmth that big hotel chains often lack. While India with it’s rich culture and history has many such houses, most of them have sadly faced the wrath of time gone by and are left in shambles. However, there are certain families which have taken the initiative to painstakingly restore their family homes and turn them into the most beautiful resorts that you can imagine.

About the property

Photo of This 19th century palace has been restored into a luxury hotel & even has a private cricket stadium! 1/1 by Neha Bhise Sadalge

Located near Kathiwada in Madhya Pradesh is this beautiful 19th century mansion which was once the hunting lodge of the Kathiwada Royal family. The Kathiwada royal family history can be traced back 700 years to 1434; however, this hunting lodge was commissioned by Rana Onkar Sinh in 1895 and passed on to the current owner Sangita Devi Kathiwada and her husband late Yuvraj Bharat Sinh during their marriage.

The library room has over 2000 books and is dedicated to her late husband

Photo of Kathiwara, Madhya Pradesh, India by Neha Bhise Sadalge

Covering 181 km. of flat lands and dense forests, this property is situated in the Vindhya range of hills in Madhya Pradesh. Like most properties, this also over time fell into a state of decay over the years. This is when Sangita Kathiwada decided to take up it’s restoration in 2007. Restoring heritage properties can be challenging though; deciding what to keep back and what to change for adapting to modern day practices is always a tough situation to be in. This is when she sought help from conservation expert of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage(INTACH), Professor Ravindra Vasavada. He connected her to a team of experts who would understand and appreciate the heritage structure without destroying it.

Their trophy room is one of the most appreciated rooms at the resort

Photo of This 19th century palace has been restored into a luxury hotel & even has a private cricket stadium! by Neha Bhise Sadalge

Importing craftsman experts from all over the country, Sangita and her son, Digvijay Singh personally lent their expertise to the restoration.

Photo of This 19th century palace has been restored into a luxury hotel & even has a private cricket stadium! by Neha Bhise Sadalge

Known to run her successful business in textiles and fashion in Mumbai, she channelled all her energies in selecting handicrafts for the resort. Each of the 12 bedrooms have 12 different custom woven fabrics. From lampshades to upholstery and framed family photos, all have been designed to retain the character of their past.

Photo of This 19th century palace has been restored into a luxury hotel & even has a private cricket stadium! by Neha Bhise Sadalge

This massive project was completed finally after a period of five years and is now the pride of the Kathiwada region.

Things to do

Learn Block printing at their in-house facility

Photo of This 19th century palace has been restored into a luxury hotel & even has a private cricket stadium! by Neha Bhise Sadalge

One of the best things about this resort is the amount of unique in-house activities that are a part of the property. Art lovers can indulge in learning the process of hand-block printing and trying their own hand at designing at their in-house facility or enjoying some mud-therapy by visiting their local pottery studio. With such a large property also comes the opportunity to experience life on their farms by planting your own sapling or helping them with harvesting activities.

Jholia Waterfall

Photo of This 19th century palace has been restored into a luxury hotel & even has a private cricket stadium! by Neha Bhise Sadalge

The resort also offers a guided walk through the tribal settlements of Muljhipura & Juna Kathiwada to see the local houses and their way of living. You can also take a guided trek into the nearby forests and witness the magical Jholia waterfall. If you want to destress from your daily hectic life, then it’s the perfect place to relax through the guidance of their Yoga experts who also offer star gazing and transformational therapies.

One of the highlights of this resort though is their world-class cricket ground. Once used by the Kathiwada family and their royal neighbours, it now plays host to various Indian and International cricket clubs.

Jama Masjid in Champaner

Photo of This 19th century palace has been restored into a luxury hotel & even has a private cricket stadium! by Neha Bhise Sadalge

If you are keen on taking day trips then, the UNESCO World Heritage site at Champaner (90 km.) is a must do. The rock-cut Buddhist caves at Bagh (106 km.) are also highly recommended for their mural paintings and architecture.

Rooms and Tariff

Photo of This 19th century palace has been restored into a luxury hotel & even has a private cricket stadium! by Neha Bhise Sadalge

The resort has 3 types of accommodation in single and double occupancy. The Cottage Villa for a single person costs ₹ 8960 per night. The Heritage rooms can cost you around ₹23000- ₹28000 per night depending on single or double occupancy. The Royal Suites which are the largest are priced at ₹26000-₹32000 per night depending on single or double occupancy. All packages include all meals at the resort.

Enjoy a royal meal during your stay at the resort!

Photo of This 19th century palace has been restored into a luxury hotel & even has a private cricket stadium! by Neha Bhise Sadalge

You can book your stay here!

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