Neemrana is situated in the North Indian state of Rajasthan. It lies in Alwar District, between Delhi and Jaipur, and is located about 120 km from Delhi and 150 km from Jaipur. Neemrana was the site of a 15th century hill-fort. It was occupied by the Chauhans till 1947. They were supposedly the descendants of the famous Rajpur ruler, Prithviraj Chauhan. Neemrana is used as a base to visit popular nearby attractions like the Sariska Tiger Reserve, which is about 75 km away.
The highlight of the town is Neemrana Fort Palace, a 15th century fort that has been reconverted into a resort. It has beautifully decorated rooms, done up colourfully in a palatial manner. There are two outdoor swimming pools, a sundial, several attractive courtyards, an amphitheatre, and landscaped gardens. There is a popular restaurant called Jalgiri Mahal and a bar called Raj Mahal Bar. The resort is situated on a hill, and has scenic panoramic views of the area around it. The town also has other popular hotels for visitors.
I first visited Neemrana Fort Palace in 2009 with my friends Ruchika, Sujatha, and Sakthi. We went for the day and had lunch there, after exploring the palatial resort. It was barely a 1.5 hour drive from Gurgaon, and the highway was very good, so it was an effortless journey. In 2012, my wife, Kamalini, and I went there for an overnight stay. We found the resort beautiful, and the prices were reasonable.
Suraj Pol is the main gateway into to Neemrana Fort Palace. Chand Pol is another gate into the grand complex.
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Suraj Pol
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Sculpture at Chand Pol
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Reception
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Hawa Mahal is a beautiful hall, and is one of Neemrana Fort Palace's main attractions. The hall has a breezy feel to it (and hence the name - "Hawa" means wind), and is tastefully done up with works of art.
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Exterior of Hawa Mahal
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Interior of Hawa Mahal
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Roof of Hawa Mahal
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Painting by Anjali Ila Menon, Hawa Mahal
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Neemrana Fort Palace has an outdoor amphitheatre, where performances are held.
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| Amphitheatre |
The complex has an old fashioned, traditional sun dial to tell the time.
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| View of the Sundial from Hawa Mahal |
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Sun Dial
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Ooncha Bagh is a beautiful garden, with seating, at the side of one of the outdoor pools. Shatranj Bagh is an outdoor terrace, made to look like a chess board ("Shatranj" stands for chess).
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| Ooncha Bagh |
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| Shatranj Bagh |
There are several beautiful courtyards, including Aam Kund, Holi Kund, and Tulsi Chowk, where visitors can sit and take in the atmosphere.
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