Hotels Luxury

Specialist Reports Holiday by Accommodation Hotels Luxury Mahout 

	Mahout
36a Kensington Mansions, Trebovir Road, London SW5 9TQ			MAP
tel: (020) 7373 7121
email: mary@mahoutuk.com

A marketing group of independent hotels of character. The company can forward brochures or fact sheets for any of the hotels represented, In addition the MD is an expert in the Indian sub-continent and could offer helpful advice to those planning a holiday. Although a new business, the aim is to keep it small enough for the personal touch to remain an integral part of it.

Where

In India. There are around 25 properties in the group.

Style

Aims to represent the best of India's ‘heritage hotels' ranging from mountain plantation houses to restored forts.

For Children

Particularly recommended for families are:
Khimsar Fort nr. Nagaur, two hours east of Jodhpur, on the edge of the Great Thar Desert, still home to the ebullient family who own it and who are involved in the running of the hotel. It is large and rambling with battle scarred walls, wide ramparts, inner courtyards and a large garden surrounding the swimming pool. Bedrooms have been decorated in Rajasthani style. They always have lots of children staying and welcome them. There is a tennis court, croquet, a movie theatre created out of a turret (so with surround sound) with the film projected on to a whitewashed wall. The owner has created a football pitch for children. Outings include a camel or jeep ride into the desert, spending a night in an oasis ‘mud hut'. Visits to the little visited Nagaur fort, recently restored by the Getty Foundation.
Neemrana Fort-Palace a newly renovated palace two hours from Delhi with a good pool, and large rambling building reported always full of children. On a plateau en route to Jaipur or Shekhavati, the building is part fort, part palace and sprawls over 10 levels, clinging to the hillside.
Deogarh Mahal at Deogarh in the Aravalli Hills, makes a good overnight stop between Jodhpur and Udaipur and is close to Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh. The family has restored their fort from near ruin, creating a swimming pool and elements like roof terraces and traditional bedrooms. The surrounding town is reported one of the friendliest and safest for visitors and the neighbouring countryside has good picnic spots. For children they suggest elephant rides in the surrounding countryside, a short train ride through the nearby ‘ghat section' (a series of low, forested hills with tunnels in and out), or a visit to the owner's art collection. He was a teacher at one of India's leading schools and there are always grandchildren running about.
Sherbagh at Ranthambore, a jungle camp, just a few minutes from the gates of Ranthambore National Park (where there are tigers) with very comfortable, well decorated tents arranged in a semi-circle around a central, tented pavilion. The bathrooms are green marble and copper. Game viewing is mornings and late afternoons. The rest of the time there is Ranthambore Fort to explore and the camp's naturalists to chat to. They are reported very good explaining about the local flora and fauna to children, hoping to encourage them in the future.
Tranquil Sultan's Battery, Wynad, a mountain retreat on a coffee estate in the Western Ghats in a little known area of north Kerala. Based round a 70-year-old plantation house with airy verandahs, planters' furniture and open courtyards, it is run by a large family so there are always children. Visiting children can use the pool, go on hill walks and see how coffee and pepper grow and tea is produced.

Sample Price

High season Khimsar £55 to £80 per room per night, extra bed £8 per night. Neemrama £45 to £130 room only extra bed £10 per night. Sherbagh from £120 per tent per nigh full boardt, extra beds allowed at £20 per night, but not encouraged. Deogarth £50 to £100 per night extra bed £8 per night. Tranquil £160 per room per night full board and including transfer to and from Calicut.

Child Prices

No special offers for children.