It is a beautiful thing to wake up in your comfortable hotel bed and look over out the window and see it there, up among the heavy monsoon clouds, in all its glory. You can’t help but hum the Octopussy theme song.
And the view of the 19th-Century Monsoon Palace really defines your stay at the newly opened JüSTa Sajjangarh Resort & Spa. While the palace is visible from almost everywhere on the property, the hotel itself is the antithesis of what you would expect of a hotel in this erstwhile princely state known for its Rajputana glory. Instead of jharokhas and intricate wall carvings, you are greeted by clean lines and an aesthetic that is minimal with pops of colour.
Located in the Udaipur suburb of Sajjan Garh right at the base of the hill you have to ascend to go to Monsoon Palace, JüSTa Sajjangarh is a 40-minute drive from Maharana Pratap Airport. The L-shaped property is built on a patch carved out of the rocky terrain that surrounds it. Spread over six levels, including the ground floor and the rooftop, it has 63 rooms. You can pick from spacious suites and premier and deluxe rooms in twin and double bed setups. The suites feature a living room with a couch and a dining table with two televisions (because why not?) and just as many bathrooms, one with a bathtub and a glass wall that offers views of Monsoon Palace. The alcoves in the rooms, a great place to sit and enjoy a book and occasionally look up to admire the view of the surrounding area, are also a nice touch. The colourful and fun Rajasthan-themed upholstery by designer Deepika Govind also add cheeriness to the overall look.
Art is everywhere at JüSTa Sajjangarh. Right from the sculpture on the driveway leading up to the lobby to the paintings that line the bright orange and blue walls of the hallways and the installations upcycled from car parts on the rooftop, they were all crafted by artisans from all over the world at Chitrashaala, an annual art fair that JüSTa hosts.
The hotel is positioning itself as a unique food destination in Udaipur. Sabor, the restaurant on the ground floor has a long live kitchen where chefs can rustle up everything from Middle Eastern mezze platters to lal maas and delicious tagliatelle made from scratch. The restaurant also benefits from a dedicated pastry section where chefs produce delicious and whimsical treats such as activated charcoal croissants fresh every day. Adjoining the restaurant is a bar, one of three watering holes at the property.
On the rooftop, you are greeted with a wall covered in colourful graffiti where the hotel plans on holding open-mic nights. Behind it is a pub-style bar with soundproof walls so the party can go in till late at night. Running adjacent to this space is a long bar where guests will be able to order drinks and finger food. At the far end is a gazebo that will be Udaipur’s first fine-dining Teppanyaki restaurant.
On the east, sandwiched between the hotel building and the hill behind it, is a little paddle pool with a fountain flowing down from it. Beside it is what will be the spa and wellness centre. Downstairs you will be able to get yourself fresh fruit juices and smoothies while upstairs are two treatment spaces, each complete with a massage, jacuzzi, steam, and sauna rooms. And while the grown-ups relax on the massage table, the young ones can hang out downstairs in the rec room playing foosball, darts, and board games.
Behind the wellness centre is a 22,000sq ft terraced lawn that is as perfect for sunrise yoga classes as it is for wedding parties under a starlit sky. This, in addition to the banquet hall on the first floor, makes it a perfect destination to hold all manner of events–from business conferences to a destination weddings.
If you’ve been to Udaipur before and have done the whole palace hotel experience, JüSTa Sajjangarh offers a fresh new perspective with an oldie-but-goodie view.
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