Ajabgarh, India
Renovated
2023
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe WellnessOutside the door
The house
AmanMughal sandstone palace
Domed cupolas, scalloped archways, and pink sandstone pavilions recreate the regal solitude of an imperial Rajasthani estate.
“Amanbagh is a stunning modern maharajah’s palace of the palest pink sandstone two hours outside the fabled Indian city of Jaipur.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Ed Tuttle modelled rose-pink sandstone pavilions with scalloped Mughal arches and domed cupolas.
Remarkable
Lantern-lit dinners unfold beneath ruined chhatris, while suites feature monolithic marble bathtubs.
Remarkable
An in-house physician formulates herbal Ayurshala tinctures for multi-day Ayurvedic healing immersions.
What they say
Two Michelin Keys
Michelin
Forbes Recommended
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
Also in Condé Nast Traveler, The 50 Discovery and Wallpaper*.
Amanbagh revives Mughal splendor and serenity, and makes these things exclusively available to twenty-first-century patrons.
“Amanbagh sits within the grounds of the former campsite for royal tiger hunts. Now re-shaped by architect Ed Tuttle, the modern-day Mughal palace has been carved out of the palest of sandstone and local pink marble.”
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Pastoral Meena villages surround the valley, alongside the 17th-century hilltop fort of Ajabgarh and the eerie ruins of Bhangarh.
The rooms
Suites open onto private courtyards, and bathrooms center on deep tubs carved from single slabs of green Udaipur marble.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A 33-metre emerald marble pool stretches beneath date palms and rose-pink sandstone colonnades in the central courtyard.
The spa
Treatment suites rest behind carved jali screens, where therapists perform signature Maharaja and Maharani massages.
The Restaurant
Chefs prepare Rajasthani and North Indian dishes beneath vaulted ceilings, using herbs and vegetables picked from the organic garden.
Amanbagh rises quietly amid the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan. Its pale-stone pavilions and courtyards echo Mughal architecture like a place from another time.
At the table
Colonnaded courtyards host private open-air dinners, and folk musicians play during sunset drinks on the library terrace.
How it began
The walled grounds once served as a staging campsite for royal tiger hunts hosted by the Maharaja of Alwar.
“Set in the whisper-quiet Aravalli Hills mountain range overlooking Rajasthan's sepia-toned citadels, Amanbagh occupies what was once a royal hunting basecamp.”
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.