All through my earlier posts on Rajasthan, especially Bikaner, I expressed a desire to relive that era. Mostly for its luxurious residences, its rich lifestyle and the little quirks that the royalty used to indulge in. Little did I know that my wish was going to be granted – without me going back in time for it. A stay at Narendra Bhawan gave me a glimpse of the illustrious life of the Maharaja. I would not deem this as any luxury hotel stay. I would term this as being a guest in the home of the Maharaja – a little traditional and a little contemporary in its approach.
narendraThe entrance to Narendra Bhawan
History of Narendra Bhawan
Over my last visit to Bikaner, I had explored the history of the city with a visit to the Junagarh Fort. The royal family moved out of the stunning fort for a slightly more contemporary residence at Lallgarh Palace. Over time, with India attaining independence and the royal rule giving way to democracy, the last Maharaja of Bikaner – Narendra Singhji, moved out to a slightly more urban home which today, has become the stunning Hotel – Narendra Bhawan.
A stay at this palatial bungalow gave me a good insight into how royalty adapted to new times. A stay here is not just a stay but an immersive experience – one that showcases the art and passion that the Maharaja of Bikaner enjoyed. And if you are a heritage buff like me, living it even for a day, is something you would not want to miss!
Contemporary touch with Rajasthani Roots
The original home of the Maharaja was not as huge as what the current structure is. It has been tastefully designed to keep some of the original forms while adding those present-day sensibilities to it. The exterior with its Rajasthani styled jharokha windows are well mixed with the colored stained glass panels, their beauty enhanced by the fresh bougainvillea blossoming out of it. While the ceilings and walls may have some Indian touch, the floors delight you with its Portuguese tiles and designs.
A step into the hotel mansion does not take you to a hotel lobby but a lovely corridor that might have been to welcome guests. Comfortable seating greets you as you partake the welcome drinks – whether indoors or outdoors – the choice is quite yours. Over the three days that I stayed here, I tried both these options and absolutely loved the breakfast outdoors with friendly animals greeting you. It felt amazing to grab that fresh glass of juice under the pavilion with sparrows as your company and Jazz music lightening your mood.
The Interiors
Every floor is built in a manner that reminds you of its Rajasthani roots. The jhali balconies on each floor overlook the old courtyard of the Maharaja’s home called the Diwali chowk. This has been tastefully converted to an open-air cafe with small water fountains along the sides.
Narendra Bhawan at Night
I think this for me was the best part of the entire decor. Every visit to a palace in Rajasthan always gave me that feeling of how the nights would be magical with all those candles lit along its niches. Narendra Bhawan put life into that imagination of mine for when the night falls, it lights up like a jewel in the dark. The difference is that it is no longer the traditional lamps lit but well thought out modern lights.
The Diwali chowk sparkles with those orange lights and one can well imagine the many Indian festivals that were celebrated here. At the same time, the corridors with its warm lighting give you a distinct European feel with its decor. A few settings like the Charpoys one here, showcase how the Rajasthan Royalty moved with time. The three nights that I was here, made me feel like a Princess in 1001 Nights.
Stylish home of a Well-Traveled Host
As a traveler, most of us bring back some curios as a memory for our homes. This is why we all have a very mixed decor for our homes. There might be something from China sitting alongside something from Netherlands or India. I always treated this one of my quirks. Interestingly, it is not an unusual quirk for Narendra Bhawan pretty much follows the same theme.
At one end you have these lovely Oriental vases and curios while in some other corner, you will find collections from Europe. A Red piano by its lift is an excellent example of that little British feel that I got here while on its next floor, the Indian decor reminded me of heritage. The entire effect is very tastefully done and thus, you do not find this medley of cultures a misfit. It feels as if they belong together and I for one, was quite impressed with it.
Luxurious Rooms of Narendra Bhawan
The rooms of Narendra Bhawan, as explained to me, belong to 5 different categories. The designs of these have been done based on the life theme of the Maharaja itself. They represent the tastes that the Maharaja might have acquired at each of his lifestage – as a prince, as an army personal, as a young ruler or as a Republican. While all of them are amazing, I will just showcase the Prince Rooms that I stayed in.
Comfortable, contemporary and luxurious are the three words that came to my mind as I entered my room. The personalized greeting in the form of a note next to my framed photograph did make me feel special. The wide wardrobe space separating the restroom area from the bedroom was an interesting design element. The restroom area consisted of a modern shower cubicle attached to the toilets. The absence of the bathtub was a further testament to the modern touch to royalty in my mind.
Facilities within Narendra Bhawan
A large infinity pool overlooking the Bikaner city is something that most of us would love to use. As would the modern gym below it and a Spa. Narendra Bhawan is quite well connected with Wi-Fi for those on a working holiday like me and in some ways, it is pleasure to work here with its outdoor ambiance. Though there is a cafe and a dining hall, food in Narendra Bhawan is served anywhere on its premises. The logic as I understood from their staff, is that a guest in the Maharaja’s house should always feel at home.
Curated Experiences by Narendra Bhawan, Bikaner
The one thing that makes Narendra Bhawan different from a lot of Heritage hotels is its bouquet of Curated experiences. These follow the theme of royalty and give you a good experience of the history and culture of Imperial Bikaner. It is not just about place but the culinary delights of Rajasthan – and even though I am a non-foodie, I must say that I loved all that they treated me to. Over the three days that I stayed with them, here are the ones I experienced
The Royal tour of Bikaner
Here is where you start at the home of the first ruler of Bikaner – Rao Bika Singhji and traverse in time to Laxmi Niwas Palace, the Lallgarh palace, Sadul Museum and finally, the royal cenotaphs. An architectural and cultural delight, this actually took care of all the heritage aspect that I had missed on my last visit to Bikaner. It wasn’t just about seeing the place in our case. We were even treated to a seven-course meal – Maharaja style at the Laxmi Niwas Palace. One that still gets me rubbing my belly with just a memory.
Merchant Exploration of Bikaner
This possibly was the highlight of all my tours as I played Indiana Jones. The trail takes you to the merchant area of Bikaner that is full of those age-old havelis with stunning designs and themes. Bikaner being on the silk route, had its share of rich merchants – their wealth being reflected in their traditional homes.
A Blindfold Dinner Experience
Organized within Narendra Bhawan, the Blindfold dinner was a five-course meal which you cannot see but only feel, smell and taste. It was kind of fun to let your other senses take over and participate in the guessing game of what really went in.
Sundowner at the Ratadi Talai
This is how it must have been when the Maharajas went for hunting or a war. Candle lights lighting up a watering hole that served as the Maharaja’s hunting ground greeted us with soft musical notes of a flute maestro. The outdoor setting under the starry sky with scrumptious meals served by the Narendra Bhawan staff is one experience of a lifetime.
Warm Hospitality of Narendra Bhawan
My stay would not have been so amazing if it weren’t for the lovely staff of Narendra Bhawan. With ever smiling faces and an inherent charm, these guys will bowl you over. Whether it is the doorman or your housekeeping or even your guide on the exploratory tours, you cannot but help appreciate them for their friendly tips about Bikaner – which in fact, reflects the pride of their heritage.
Narendra Bhawan struck me as a hotel in Bikaner that is not just a place for you to rest but one where you can get to know the city, its culture, its local traditions and its history better. In fact, I would term it as a starting point for your tour to Bikaner. Wouldn’t you agree?
Getting Here
- Bikaner has a small airport with a single flight connectivity from Delhi. You can book yourself on the Air India flight to get here. There is one flight every day.
- Alternately, you can drive in from Jodhpur – which is the other nearest airport from Bikaner. However, this is at a distance of 250 kms from the city.
- Bikaner is well connected by road and railways to all the major cities of India.
- Click here to get Narendra Bhawan on your mobile maps. Getting to the hotel is easy as it is quite central to Bikaner. Any of the taxis and auto drivers will take you here.
Travel Tips
- Here is the official website of Narendra Bhawan. You can get the latest rates and deals through the site.
- All the exploratory tours that I mentioned above are not included in the basic package. You will have to book the same separately.
- Bikaner is a small city. Narendra Bhawan is 5 km away from the city railway station. It is equidistant from all the main sites within the city and that makes the location fairly decent.
- The best time to visit Bikaner is from October to March. After March, it gets fairly hot.
- Evenings are cool in Bikaner. If you are headed for the Sundown experience or any outdoor experience, carry a shawl with you.
P.S: I was invited by Narendra Bhawan to experience Bikaner. However, this has no bearing on my opinions, which are truly and honestly my own!
Rajat
Stunning pictures there.. Bikaner was my first posting after I got commissioned in the Indian Army in 2006. Although I stayed there for a limited time, as my unit was moving out to North East, I have fond memories of the place. As a matter of fact, the name Bikaner comes from the clan of ‘Bikas’, one of whose present generations I trained with..
This place reminds me of my visit to the ‘Heritage Resorts, Bikaner’. I didn’t captured much images that time, wish had done that before. But, will be traveling again to relive the memories..
Ami
And this time I hope you experience a stay like the Maharaja. Interesting to know the memories you have of this city.
Rajat
Thanks a lot.. 🙂
Sachin Baikar
The interiors and amenities here looks to be rich and luxurious. The blindfold dinner is something new 🙂 Nice write-up and beautiful photos Thanks for sharing
Ami
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed my experience and I am hoping you also, get down to visiting it and creating your own memories. Cheers
xhobdo
wow truly awesome Narendra Bhawan. Amazing pics. Loved the post.
Ami
Thank you Rupam. Glad you liked it.
Hannah
Wow, ThrillingTravel! This looks like a magnificent place to stay. I recently visited Jaipur, India and I see some similar styles to the building architecture and color scheme. It looks like you were living the life of a princess, even with the fancy food. Thank you for sharing your experience throughout your article, “A Royal Stay in Bikaner with Bhawan Rajasthan” and for the lovely photographs! I will have to visit India again soon.
Ami
I hope you visit soon and have your own memories here. It will last you a lifetime. Thanks Hannah for stopping by
Kala Ravi
What a stunning post! Blown by the opulencecand richness of the property! Your vivid description of the experience, the grandeur, the interiors and palate tickling fares are tempting me to visit this place for sure!
Ami
Thank you Kala. The place needs to be experienced. And I hope you get to it sooner. Cheers
shwetadave09
Whenever I read Rajasthan on your blog it stings me in a positive way that I havent seen this culturally rich and beautiful state. Awesome post as always Ami 🙂
Ami
Thanks Shweta. I know what you mean about Rajasthan. I too, have a special place for it in my heart.
Lisa
Wow Narenda Bhawan looks absolutely incredible! I love everything about this place, from the decor to the old style architecture I only see in photos! The doorman at the end would be so photogenic I can imagine! Would love to come and stay here if I ever get to India one day! Beautiful photos too.
Ami
Lisa – a stay here is right up your alley. You will absolutely love it. Hope you get to India soon.
Rachelle Gordon
Narenda Bhawan has such a lushness to it, full of character and history. I love everything about the architecture and color scheme. Staying here would be a royal treatment indeed. I love the idea of the blindfolded dinner!
Ami
The Blind fold dinner was an experience that I will always recommend to people. It definitely was one of its kind. Thanks for stopping by Rachelle.
Sydnee
I want to now book a trip here just from the food picture and the gorgeous roof top pool! Absolutely stunning place, the architecture is perfect and the culture is amazing!
Ami
Thanks Syndee. I hope you plan one visit soon for this experience. Cheers
Aditinona
This Bhawan looks stunning, I haven’t been to Bikaner yet, but come winters I am planning to travel Rajasthan extensively and will surely try and cover Bikaner too. I loved the exteriors of the Narendra Bhawan, though the rooms have quite a modern appeal, I wish they had kept a few rooms in some authentic decoration also.
Ami
I know what you mean but trust me, even without the traditional rooms, the entire place has an authentic Maharaja feel. Winter is a great time for Rajasthan and I hope you can visit Bikaner. It has a very different appeal.
Joella
What an incredible experience to get to stay in this place. The rooms look luxurious and that outdoor pool is to die for. I would love to try that blindfolded meal it really seems like fun and I bet it was so tasty. Simply incredible.
Ami
The Blind fold meal was tasty even more than what you see and it. It demonstrated how your other senses take over. In general, the food at Narendra Bhawan is superb. Hope you have a chance to try it out for yourself.
Ramya Abhinand
Lovely Ami.. This is indeed Royal..
Ami
Thanks Ramya. No other word to describe it better!
Heidi Medina
What an amazing and beautiful hotel. And that blindfold dinner would have to be on my list of things to try, along with the yummy food! It all looks heavenly and the photos opts would have me clicking for hours. Love the modern touches threaded into the historical ones!
Ami
The place is a photographer’s paradise. You are right about clicking for hours. I did just that. Thanks Heidi for your lovely comment.
Stella Jane
This looks like an amazing experience. I would also feel like a princess from 1001 Arabian Nights. I like the idea of breakfasting outdoors with the animals. But the blindfolded dinner sounds completely incredible. I want to go to there!
Ami
Thanks Stella. Hope you plan a visit this winter. Best time to go.
Yukti
Narendra Bhawan is a perfect example of lavish royals of India. The decor of this palace is amazing with full elegance and a perfect blend of Rajasthan and European styles. I loved the sumptuous choices in thali and really loved the concept of blind folded dinner.
Ami
I am glad that I got a chance to live this lavish lifestyle and I hope you do too. And yes, those meals will delight you.
gastrotravelogue
What a beautiful hotel.I regret that I never made it to Bikaner when I was in Rajasthan. I also have a mixture of decor items in my house from my travels so I love the regal decor. The blindfold dinner looks like fun as well. I have bookmarked this for my next trip!
Ami
Good to know that you liked it enough to bookmark it. It is definitely an experience of a life time. Cheers
Danik
Yup, I can see myself staying here one day. It looks stunning and would love to check out the dining experience.
Ami
Food at Narendra Bhawan is exquisite. Hope you can experience it for yourself.
quirkywanderer
Bikaner blew my mind away with it’s amazing architecture: the intricate temples, the majestic fort and the grandeur of Narendra Bhawan. Laxmi Niwas is still to be visited. Next time for sure. You have described the opulence of Narendra Bhawan so correctly. The experience has to be lived to be understood. Loved their hospitality!
Ami
You got that right Divsi. This place has to be experienced to know what it is like.
Leah
This looks like my kind of place! I love the decor, especially the carvings in the corridors. And, that blindfold dinner looks like it was a hoot! Certainly a change from the ordinary.
Ami
You got that right. The blindfold dinner is truly a different experience. In general, I can say that about all the experiences of Narendra Bhawan. Thanks for stopping by
tombourlet
Wow that bed! You could roll along for hours on that and still not reach the edge! That food looks incredible as well, it might be early morning here, but I’m now thinking about ordering a curry or a thali. I love the sundowner lit up by candles as well, great shot
Ami
Thanks Tom for your lovely comment. The place is an absolute luxury and I hope you can experience it for yourself. And yes, no doubt the food is amazing too!
Medha Verma
Wow looks like a great place to stay! I have always wanted to experience a royal Rajasthan resort which has been converted from a palace/ fort to a hotel. There are so many of those in Rajasthan, and since my parents live in Delhi, it is not impossible for us to experience something like this over a long weekend getaway! I found the idea of a blind-folded dinner quite amusing, would love to try something like that. Also, the sundowner terrace looks pretty cool!
Ami
Bikaner is great for a weekend getaway and the best part is that you have a flight from Delhi that makes it easier. Go for it – Narendra Bhawan is indeed an experience to cherish.
Ryan Biddulph
I love the outdoor seating Ami; such attention to detail. I see the Brit influence there and enjoy spots where one can get outside and breathe the fresh air. Especially in such a gorgeous place. I can see why you loved your visit so much. A step back in time for sure.
Ami
Thank you Ryan. This visit was one of its kind and am glad I could try this out once at least. Cheers
Nisha
You just rekindled my memories of Bikaner and Narendra Bhawan. I can never forget the experience. While we enjoyed all the activities , my personal best was visit to the Havelis.
I never could imagine I could so much when I was there 😉 😉
Ami
The Havelis were my favorite too. Narendra Bhawan will always have fond memories for me too. And I guess the next time I see posts on it, I will able saying exactly this
Meg Jerrard
Narenda Bhawan sounds like a fabulous accommodation experience – what a stunning hotel, I would love to stay like a Maharaja! I love the history that excudes from the building – definitely a full blown immersive experience as opposed to just a regular hotel stay. I lve the Jhali styled corridors, and the touches throughout the interior which remind you of its Rajasthani roots. They’ve done a wonderful job of modernizing the facilities while staying true to the theme of the Maharaja, and preserving traditional heritage. I would love to stay. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Ami
I hope you do get here Meg. It is quite an experience – one that you will not forget for a long long time
Indrani
Narendra Bhawan experience is unforgettable for me too. The staff there, food, old time ambiance with modern flavor all of it is so special. I felt so glad there that they took effort to recreate the royal magic.
Ami
I can quite relate to that having experienced the magic myself. Thanks Indrani for stopping by
Lauren
What a beautiful spot! I love all of your photographs. The architecture really is something, so unique. And a blindfold dinner experience? That would be quite special and fun – not like anything I’ve ever done before!
Ami
Thank you Lauren. The place is quite special and yes, the blind fold dinner is quite unique. Hope you get to experience it.
Siddhartha Joshi
Absolutely lovely pictures Ami…but then Narendra Bhawan is so beautiful that it’s tough to go wrong there with your camera. Thanks for also sharing the history of the palace…adds more perspective to the place. Now I can’t wait to visit Bikaner once again 🙂
Ami
You are right. The place is really beautiful and I don’t think any of the pics do justice to it. Would love to go there again myself. Cheers
Brenda Hayes
I have visited Jaipur a few times and visited various forts and palaces there. But looks like it was only a part of the Royal state, Rajasthan. Need to visit Bikaner soon.
Ami
Ooh, there is so much more to Rajasthan than just Jaipur. Bikaner for instance, is an underrated gem. I do hope you can visit it for you will love it.
Semon Sehal
Wow! Narendra Bhawan looks very nice place and its eye-catching royalty attract each and every people. The amenties and interiours looks very rich and luxurious. This is really a great place, it looks so beautiful at diwali night.
Ami
Thank you Semon. I do feel the same. It looks lovely at night.