Alila Fort Bishangharh, India 🇮🇳

Once a centuries-old fort, now a luxury hotel

Perched high atop a granite hill in the Aravalli Mountains stands a 230-year-old warrior’s fortress with seven-foot-thick walls and real cannon embrasures — today a fort where, instead of attackers, you’ll experience nothing but the sunset from the terrace and complete relaxation. From the musical welcome upon arrival to the dinner featuring hyper-local cuisine — here, rugged history and serene indulgence blend into an experience you won’t find anywhere else. If you want to know what it’s like to spend a night in a real fortress, you’ll find all the details in our in-depth review.

Review #131

You can now book all the hotels listed on our website and YouTube channel—and many more besides—directly through us. In many cases, you’ll enjoy additional perks such as room upgrades, breakfast, or hotel credit, without having to pay extra.

Alila Fort Bishangarh currently offers the following benefits:

• Free daily breakfast for two guests per room

• Early check-in and late check-out (if available)

• Free priority upgrade (if available at check-in)

In any case, your booking supports us and—together with the other EVRYWHRE crew members — helps ensure that we can continue our work and keep providing you with exciting flight and hotel reviews. That’s because a small portion of the booking price stays with us as a commission — without you paying a single cent more for your stay.

Location

Alila Fort Bishangarh is located, unlike most luxury hotels in Rajasthan, not in the middle of a city, but on a granite hill in the small village of Bishangarh—about an hour’s drive and roughly 70 kilometers northeast of Jaipur, in the foothills of the Aravalli Mountains. on a massive granite hill. The hotel is literally a 230-year-old military fort that underwent restoration for nearly a decade before opening as a hotel in 2017. So if you’re expecting to go sightseeing right outside the front door, you’re in for a surprise — but in return, you’ll get true seclusion and a view of the landscape that’s almost cinematic.

Still, you’re not completely cut off when it comes to day trips: The famous Amber Fort in Jaipur is about a 45-minute drive away, and its location right on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway makes the fort a great stopover on the route between the two cities.

Getting There

Alila Fort Bishangarh is located about 70 kilometers — a little over an hour’s drive —from the Jaipur airport. From Delhi, it’s about 200 kilometers, or roughly a 3.5-hour drive. It’s rather difficult to get there by any means other than car. Of course, you can also take an intercity bus and then make your way to the fort. But very few people are likely to do that. Virtually all guests arrive by car with a driver or via a pre-arranged transfer.

After a long drive of just over 5 hours from our previous hotel, The Oberoi Amarvilas, in Agra, we arrived down in the valley at the Arrival Pavilion, where we were warmly welcomed and our luggage unloaded from the car.

Check-in

Normally, check-in here at Alila Fort Bishanagarh takes place in the Arrival Pavilion. However, it was being renovated during our stay, so we were checked in instead at the building next to the pavilion — the same place where the “Tastes of India” event was held that afternoon. It’s actually a really nice place and perfect for check-in.

Right at the start, we were served a refreshing drink in a small clay vessel along with a cold towel while we watched a traditional music performance. After we had taken our seats, we were served another fruity, non-alcoholic drink. All other formalities were taken care of; we received some information about the hotel, and after a brief orientation, we took a buggy up to the fort.

We also had access to the most important information via a WhatsApp chat, and there was a sort of alternative reception desk up in the fort itself, where we could get answers to the most important questions right away without having to drive all the way down to the Lobby for every little thing.

Alila Fort Bishangarh at a Glance

70 kilometers from Jaipur, high up in the Aravalli Mountains, a 230-year-old warrior fortress stands atop a granite hill. It was built by the Shahpura Shekhawat family, loyal vassals of the royal house of Amber, who were tasked with standing guard and warning Jaipur of attackers from the north. The architecture is correspondingly uncompromising: seven-foot-thick walls, studded with embrasures for cannons and rifles. This was not a fortress for comfort, but for survival.

Eventually, it fell into disuse and deteriorated over the decades — inhabited only by bats and monkeys. It wasn’t until 2007 that Atul Kapur, one of the three owners, took on the task: a ten-year mission to breathe new life into the ruin. Back then, there wasn’t even a road leading up the hill — every piece of building material had to be hauled up the mountain!

During the renovation, the rough-hewn character of the place was preserved rather than polished away. Raw stone walls, historic craftsmanship in the Shahpura tradition, and the spa is even located in the old vaulted cellar.

After seven years of renovation, the hotel finally opened its doors as Alila Fort Bishangarh in the summer of 2017 . The hotel features 87 Suites, rooms, and villas, divided into various categories. The so-called Hill Suites and rooms are located within the old fortress walls. For dining, guests can enjoy the Amarsar Restaurant, which serves meals all day, the open-air Nazaraa Restaurant, the Madhuveni Bar, and the Kachhawa Lounge. A real highlight is the Alila Spa, which was literally carved out of the granite rock in the fort’s dungeons. All of this is located within the fort itself.

The pool, the adjacent Haveli Restaurant, as well as the front desk and the gym are located at the foot of the hill, along with the tented Suites and villas.

Reservation

This time, we booked through our own booking platform again, a few weeks before our stay. Presumably because it was the off-season, the Royal Suite was about 20% cheaper than the entry-level room. So, naturally, we decided to go with that.

Thanks to our Globalist status with World of Hyatt and also because we booked the Preferred Partner Rate, all three of us received an upgrade: Julia was upgraded to a Grand Suite, and Fabi and I were upgraded to a Regal Suite. Conveniently, both Suites were located right next to each other.

Regal Suite

So let’s take a closer look at Suite No. 508 together.

Welcome

As a welcome gift, a small selection of various local sweets was waiting on the table in the sleeping area, beautifully presented in small jars. There was also a handwritten welcome card featuring the fort on the front, and its envelope was beautifully sealed with real wax and the Alila seal.

Entrance

Just past the Suite door, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of the spacious entryway.

This space offers plenty of room to entertain guests which also flows seamlessly into the living area and the bathroom.

Also in the entryway are the two closets located directly behind the front door and directly across from it. In the closets, you’ll find slippers, bathrobes, an iron and ironing board, as well as everything you need for having your clothes cleaned at the hotel.

Living Room

The living area, which adjoins the entryway, features a very cozy sitting area in the historic bay window with a great view of the surrounding countryside. You can also make yourself comfortable in an armchair.

The minibar is located in a sideboard next to the seating area. Hidden behind a flap near the countertop, you’ll find a kettle, a French press, and everything you need to make coffee and tea. There are two bottles of water in the refrigerator, and the safe is located in the drawer.

Bedroom

The sleeping area is located at the very back of the large room. Here in the open-concept bedroom, there is a table with two chairs next to the bed — which can be used as a dining table — and a seating area in front of another window. The TV is mounted on the wall opposite the bed.

As we arrived at the Suite, the truly enormous bed was beautifully decorated with the words “Welcome to the Fort” made out of leaves.

The hotel got the firmness of the mattress just right — it was very comfortable. The comforter, which wasn’t too heavy, and the pillows with varying levels of firmness also contributed to the overall sense of comfort.

Each of the brick nightstands has a bedside lamp that can be turned on and off individually. There is a power outlet on the left, and several charging ports on the right. The phone, along with a notepad and pen, is also located there.

Turndown

Alila Fort Bishangarh also offers its guests turndown service. While we were having dinner, the hardworking staff was already hard at work — they closed the curtains on all the many windows, set the decorative pillows aside, made up the bed, and laid out the slippers. You’ll also find a little treat waiting for you as a bedtime treat.

Bathroom

The open-concept bathroom is directly adjacent to the entryway and is located practically in the center of the Suite. Each of the two vanity units features a sink. Of course, you’ll also find the amenities and the hair dryer there.

Between the two sinks is the walk-in rain shower, located in its own separate room—which even offers a view out the window. The hotel’s own brand of body wash, shampoo, and conditioner are provided for you there. Right next to it, you’ll find the restroom, also in a lockable room.

The bathtub, located right in the center of the room, is circular and would certainly accommodate several people. The hotel’s own amenities are provided here as well.

View

The view from all the windows is, of course, one-of-a-kind and stretches in virtually every direction — depending on where you’re looking. The view from the bay window is especially great — it’s just a wonderful place to relax and admire the surrounding landscape.

Grand Suite

Julia was upgraded to a Grand Suite — which, just like the Pool Villa, can be viewed on our YouTube channel by members from the InterContinental Club level and above.

The Taste of India

Anyone familiar with our reviews knows that this is usually where we discuss the hotel Lounges. While Alila Fort Bishangarh doesn’t have a Lounge, it offers something similar to all hotel guests in the afternoon with “Taste of India.” You’re invited to enjoy Indian specialties free of charge.

With live music in the background, you can enjoy chai, iced tea, desserts, ice cream, and similar treats. Since the hotel’s occupancy rate was only around 30% during the off-season, there were correspondingly few guests. Personally, we think it’s a really great idea. The event adds structure to the day and offers another little highlight in the afternoon.

Hotel Activities

Pool

Located in the lower part of the hotel grounds near the front desk, the pool is beautifully nestled in the green surroundings. The relatively large pool is a wonderful way to cool off in the prevailing temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius and offers truly refreshing relief. On three sides of the pool, there are several pairs of lounge chairs each with a umbrella, providing plenty of space for guests to relax. Shortly after we lay down, we were brought cool water, refreshing cold towels, a fruity snack, and even sunscreen right to our lounge chairs. Great service!

Kids’ Pool

Next to the main pool, there’s also a shallow kids’ pool where the little ones can splash around. Keep in mind, though, that there’s really just the pool here and nothing else to play with, and the pool isn’t really shaded either — unfortunately.

Fitness Center

The gym is also located downstairs at the front desk. The small room has a few pieces of equipment for a basic workout. Water and towels are also available for you.

Spa

Although the Alila Spa only offers treatment rooms and no actual spa area beyond that, it is beautifully situated in the fort’s former cellar, and one of the treatment rooms has its own small terrace with a great view and even a quite large hot tub.

Source: www.hyatt.com/alila-hotels-and-resorts/en-US/jaial-alila-fort-bishangarh

Tours

Alila Fort Bishangarh isn’t exactly known as the perfect starting point for tours of the surrounding area. It is intended more as a place to relax between stops on your journey. But of course, you can actually get to Jaipur in just over 90 minutes — so it’s also a great option for a day trip. Otherwise, in addition to tours of the surrounding natural areas, the hotel offers a variety of activities that change daily. For example, they offer a free 30-minute camel-cart tour through the town, which we politely declined.

Of course, Alila Fort Bishangarh also offers a selection of tours that you can choose from if you’d like.

Source: www.hyatt.com/alila-hotels-and-resorts/en-US/jaial-alila-fort-bishangarh

Restaurants

Haveli

Located right by the pool, the restaurant offers a classic poolside menu featuring light snacks and favorites, paired with Mediterranean specialties.

Madhuveni

In addition to Cocktails and small Tapas, the hotels Bar also features a Cigar and Cognac Lounge.

Nazaara

Arguably THE culinary highlight of Alila Fort Bishangarh is definitely the restaurant on the fort’s terrace! Here, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the sunset and really treat yourself. During the day, this area is much too hot and exposed — so the restaurant is open only for dinner.

The menu features what are known as “hyper-local” dishes — not just Indian or regional cuisine, but straight from the village! It doesn’t get any more local than that. It’s actually really cool. On top of that, there’s also a relatively large Buffet featuring local specialties, which — as is customary in the region — are cooked in clay pots and kept warm.

On our last evening, we naturally chose this option and were by no means disappointed. The view is amazing, and the food and service were once again great. So in the end it was a real good decision!

Kachhawa Lounge

You can rent this space for private events, but you can also enjoy a traditional English high tea here.

Breakfast

Alila Fort Bishangarh serves breakfast to its guests in the Amarsar all-day dining restaurant. The room, with its beautiful arched doorways, offers plenty of space for all guests.

It is rather unusual for India that the Buffet on offer is on the small side, but all the more exquisite for it.

On the other hand, the à la carte selection is all the more extensive. You can really order all kinds of breakfast options. Just like the hot beverages, these dishes are, of course, served right at your table. The service was very friendly here as well. Since it was the off-season, there weren’t that many guests at the hotel, and the staff were very attentive — they kept checking in to see if everything was okay and even brought us dishes now and then that they thought we absolutely had to try. Unfortunately, after a while, this became a bit overwhelming — first of all, we couldn’t possibly eat that much, and second, with all the questions, we barely had a chance to eat — but it was well-intentioned and in the end really nice.

To bid us farewell, we were also given a chocolate cake and even two chocolate candies to take with us.

Alila Fort Bishangarh Breakfast Menu

Service

Overall, the service during our stay here was Top-Notch, with many little touches such as welcome gifts, good-night treats, and chocolates upon departure. Unfortunately, though, the well-intentioned but frequent inquiries were actually rather disruptive. This is certainly due to the low occupancy rate and isn’t always the case.

Checkout

Check-out took place at the pool restaurant again, rather than at the front desk. Everything was well organized, and the actual process was over quickly. In fact, we even received some small gifts. A bracelet for the lady, and a wooden luggage tag for the boys. Nice, isn’t it?!

Costs

For this one night at Alila Fort Bishangarh, we paid just under 21,500 IDR per Suite. At the time of our stay, that was the equivalent of just under 195 euros. Mind you, this was for the Royal Suites — the upgrades to the Regal and Grand Suites were kindly granted to us by the hotel upon our prior request. These aren’t a given or standard, but rather a gesture of goodwill — thanks again to the hotel staff for that! Breakfast was included in the rate, while food and drinks by the pool and in the evening were charged separately.

Departure and Onward Travel

We’re now heading back to Delhi, where Julia will be leaving us. After that, we’ll fly to the south of the country, where we’ll be checking out the Grand Hyatt Goa and the St. Regis Goa for you — and I can already tell you this much: the results are definitely going to surprise you! So stay tuned — it’s worth it, and it’s going to be exciting!

Conclusion

Alila Fort Bishangarh is absolutely amazing — especially because of its architecture, its uniqueness, and the view! The pool, the quality of the food, the location, and the check-in and check-out experiences all add to the experience. There’s really a lot to love here. In between, there were the well-meaning but somewhat exhausting and at times slightly intrusive questions that kept coming up on a loop. Still, the service was just really, really good!

In our opinion, the hotel isn’t really suited for families, but it’s definitely more suitable for couples and solo travelers; business travelers are unlikely to end up here anyway though.

On our internal EVRYWHRE rating scale, we place Alila Fort Bishangarh more in the Premium segment than in the Luxury segment, even though it exhibits characteristics of both!

Rating

We award this one night at Alila Fort Bishangarh a well-deserved 9 out of 10 possible points.

We’re deducting just half a point each for the service, which can sometimes be a bit taxing, and we simply missed having a spa area that all guests can use.

Go there?

Definitely: Go there!

Book with EVRYWHRE

Would you like to vacation at Alila Fort Bishangarh? Then book using our Preferred Partner Rate! It won’t cost you any more, but it offers real benefits:

✔ Free breakfast
✔ Upgrade based on availability
✔ Early check-in & late check-out
✔ Earn points—as usual

You can find all the details on our Booking Hub.

YouTube Review

Want to see more of the view and the sunset? Then be sure to check out our YouTube review of this hotel. I promise you: it’s worth it!