Lying nestled in the Aravalli Hills, just north of Jaipur, Samode Palace is a magnificent example of Rajput-Mughal architecture and is undoubtedly one of Rajasthan’s finest palace hotels. Formerly the regal home of the Samode Family, the palace was in a tragic state of repair before the inspired Samode brothers decided to put their life, heart and soul into restoring it and bringing it back to life.

One of the first palaces to be restored and converted into a hotel, Samode Palace has been re-born and is now an outstanding boutique hotel. History is everywhere here and part of the hotel is open for exploration and taking a wander through the extraordinarily beautifully painted, arched rooms. With exquisite frescoes and mirror-work throughout the property, the traditional yet modern bedrooms and suites are fabulous. A large, sprawling palace with endless different wings, terraces, courtyards and levels, the dreamy rooms are scattered all over the building and each is gorgeous, colourful, Rajasthani and unique. The ingenious bathrooms are equally fun, well-equipped and stylish. The vast Royal Suites, with their balconies and Jacuzzis, are more like ‘homes’ than rooms, and the sort of place you simply don’t want to move out of.

The cuisine is an important part of life at Samode Palace and is superb. It comprises constantly changing Indian and international menus, whilst the wine list is similarly extensive. Choose to dine in the airy dining room, in the courtyard or on your very own, candlelit terrace. Alternatively, venture out into the countryside for a gorgeously romantic picnic or bush dinner – something never to be forgotten. The magnificent main pool is the perfect place for a snack in the sun or an outrageously romantic dinner, whilst the roof terrace pool is beautifully discreet and sits above the sophisticated a la carte dining room.

A walk in the hills or a stroll around the village is an excellent way to discover the more rural side of Rajasthan. Alternatively, a camel ride in the countryside, followed by sundowners in the dunes under the stars, will leave you with similarly wonderful memories. For garden lovers, a stroll down to the superb Mughal-style gardens at Samode Bagh, replete with fountains and lawns and an array of flowers, is magical. Whatever they do at Samode Palace, they excel at it and do it with style, romance and panache, in true Rajasthani tradition. This is Rajput hospitality at its best and an ideal base for anyone wanting to visit Jaipur and the environs but not keen on staying in the city.

Eco / environmental / responsible tourism policy

• Samode Palace and Samode Bagh have Sewage Treatment Plants and the treated water after being treated is recycled and used for irrigating the palace plants and gardens.
• The wasted food storage area is air-conditioned so it can be preserved and sent to the piggery farm, to be recycled via manure.
• Samode Palace and Bagh recruit and train people from the local area and work closely with them to try to improve living conditions and to educate the surrounding communities. The result of which is that more than 70% of the employees are from the local areas.
• Both properties are active in supporting and giving indirect employment to vendors from the local communities by providing services for their guests such as camel rides, farm lunches, jeep safari and trading of handicrafts and paintings. This has lead to increased wealth and contentment and stability in the surrounding villages.
• Samode encourages farmers to produce vegetables and herbs which are purchased directly by the hotels.
• Samode Hotels has its own charitable trust which helps the village panchayat to improve sanitation, education, medical and infrastructure. From every room sold 2% goes to the charitable trust. Some of the work done by the trust includes: providing invertors for electricity back up for the school at Samode; providing doctor's kit and medical equipment to the Government Hospital; offering and providing financial help for medical treatment to villagers; the restoration and repair of the ancient village temple; providing milk and fruit distribution to students in the village schools as refreshments; providing water supplies to the village during the summer months when water becomes scarce; cleaning and maintaining the village roads.