India : Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan
After Jaipur we made our way to the beautiful Aravalli Hills for a getaway. One of my favorite hotel brands Six Senses recently opened their first property in India – Six Senses Fort Barwara in September 2021. So when we planned our India trip, one of the first places that was on my itinerary was Six Senses Fort Barwara! I was dying to visit this stunning bucket list luxury property in Rajasthan and I can now confirm that it is even more magical in person.
Six Senses Fort Barwara is located in a historic fort, which is what makes this stay an incredible experience by itself. This beautiful 14th-century fort was sensitively converted to become a Six Senses sanctuary of well-being , and it took them 10 years to sustainably restore it. Originally home to a Rajasthani Royal Family, the fort has 2 palaces, 2 temples and 48 beautiful suites within the fort walls. A large part of the property retains the original fort wall and remains from 700 years ago, while the rest has been reinterpreted to perfection to seamlessly blend it with the historic facades. Staying in this 700 year old fort made us feel like we experienced living like royalty in a whole other era and it was so magical!
HOW TO GET HERE?
Located in Sawāi Mādhopur among the Aravalli range, the resort is about a 2.5 hour drive from Jaipur airport. You can rent your own car and make the drive down to the resort, however I highly recommend the luxury transfers that the property offers to its guests as an extra amenity. We absolutely loved our comfy scenic ride from Jaipur to Sawāi Mādhopur. All the hybrid SUVs are equipped with water, snacks and fully reclining seats so you can arrive refreshed at your destination.
Sustainability at Six Senses Fort Barwara
Like any Six Senses property, sustainability is one of the core principles at Six Senses Fort Barwara and here are some of their sustainable efforts :
1 ) The 700-year-old palace and temples have been responsibly restored using traditional building techniques used in Rajasthan sensitively incorporating efficient design elements such as rainwater collection tanks and solar panels.
2 ) Their rewilding project aims to conserve the natural habit by removing invasive species and by planting native and endemic trees and plants which are vital for a healthy ecosystem.
3 ) They work closely with architects, artisans, farmers and suppliers who live nearby. They also help local schools with their English-language education courses and help donate medical equipment to the local hospital.
4 ) Wherever possible, they harvest ingredients from the resort’s organic gardens and carefully selected farmers from the villages and townships nearby.
STAY
There are 48 suites including 5 specialty suites throughout the property with views ranging from the countryside to Barwara village and beyond. Each accommodation is designed in contemporary Rajasthani style, reinterpreting the fort’s rich history while subtly incorporating state-of-the-art technology. With every stay you are also appointed a 24 hour GEM ( guest experience maker) who will be sure to make your stay catered to however you want, thus making it as enjoyable as possible.
Aravalli suite ( above and below )
PC : Six Senses Fort Barwara
We stayed in one of their stunning Aravalli view suites. These suites have a spacious living room, bedroom, powder room, bathroom, outdoor shower as well a private patio with a swing and outdoor garden area. The suite was so tastefully decorated with the perfect mix of old regal meets modern contemporary vibes, while still incorporating all the state of the art tech details. We loved waking up to see the sunrise over the Aravalli Hills in front of us!
Raja Man Singh Suite
I also got to check out their most luxurious suite on property – the Raja Man Singh Suite and wow this suite is fit for a king, just as its name suggests! It has a luxurious living space, a separate dining room, gourmet corner, a spacious bedroom, and generous bathroom and shower areas. There is also a private enclosed garden with a pool and dining pavilion outdoors with views of the lake, temple, and Aravali range.
PC above 3 photos : Six Senses Fort Barwara
DINING
Rajasthani-inspired fresh, sustainable cuisine highlighting Indian elements and flavors is the overarching theme of the three dining venues at the property. The resort sources local products from the resort’s organic garden and farms in the nearby village.
Delicious breakfast spread at Cortile
The main restaurant called The Cortile is located within a leafy courtyard and serves international and Indian specialties. We loved starting our day with the daily breakfasts here, the spread was spectacular and had a good mix of both continental faves and local ethnic faves. Dinner at the Cortile was a whole other experience altogether where the whole space transforms into a romantic setting with all the candles and live Rajasthan folk music.
Lunch at Ranibagh
The second restaurant Roohani overlooks the historic domes of the fort and serves seasonal menus curated by Guest Chefs. The third restaurant Rani Bagh is poolside and serves fresh fast casual cuisine from an open kitchen. This was our fave spot to grab a quick poolside lunch or a yummy homemade popsicle on a warm afternoon.
Destination dining at the Shikar Burj
Destination Dining is available at various unique locations around the fort for special occasions. We had 2 separate destination dining experiences and they were both so memorable. One was at the poolside and the other was in the private dining area housed within the former observation tower of the fort – called the the Shikar Burj. I highly recommend the latter if you are looking for a special dining experience if its a honeymoon, special occasion, etc. The setting is utterly magical and the spread was phenomenal! We opted for a Mediterranean dinner for this destination dining and the chef completely wow-ed us with his curated menu.
SPA
Six Senses Integrated Wellness plays a pivotal role at all Six Senses resorts and spas. Here at Six Senses Fort Barwara the spa is located within the Zanana Mahal (the female palace) and the setting is so unique and ethereal. The Six Senses spa in Rajasthan offers an extensive Ayurvedic “whole body” healing system, meditation, and personalized wellness programs based on the preventative principles of Eastern medicine and result-oriented Western influences. They use their own signature range of indigenous essential oils, muds, clays, gels, and vegetable oils.
In and around the Six Senses Spa
Some of the different services opted at the Spa are :
• Wellness readings and programming including curated Wellness Days
• Sunset/sunrise yoga and breath work : I did this on one of the days and it was such a beautiful space to get a sunrise yoga session.
• Ayurvedic treatments and programs
• Meditation at the meditation temple
• Hair and nail salon
• State-of-the-art fitness facilities – we loved the modern state of the art gym here!
• Steam, sauna, tepidarium, Swedana, cool pool and still pool
• Different Spa services – we opted for the couples massage and it left us feeling super rejuvenated.
• Aerial yoga pavilion
THINGS TO DO
- Daily fitness classes or yoga sessions
- Heritage and horticulture walk within Six Senses Fort Barwara property
- Destination dining in the Shikar Burj
- Morning hike and sunrise picnic in the Aravalli Hills
- Afternoons at their beautiful outdoor pool area
- Trying our hand at local arts and crafts such as pottery
- Earth Lab activities : We loved making our own sustainable beeswax paper here.
- Cultural walks to nearby villages (Barwara Village, Shri Chauth Mata Temple, Shiwar Village, Shiwar Fort)
- Cooking classes
- Organic garden and local market tours with chefs
- Safari to Ranthambore National Park to spot some tigers! ( we really wanted to do this but had no time unfortunately). The park is just an hour away so I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary.
- Water bottling plant and sustainability tour
- Mountain biking
GET INSPIRED TO VISIT :
Breathtaking scenes at every corner
What an epic entrance!
Around the Spa area
Zenana Mahal
Nothing like chai on a sunny afternoon in the Cortile courtyard (below)
Obsessed with the walls of this 700 year old fort! You can see the Chauth Ka Barwara temple in the background.
Stunning vistas at every corner!
Favorite part of the resort – their beautiful outdoor pool area!
So many gorgeous spots for relaxation.
The property is even more magical at night with all the candlelights and dim mood lighting everywhere.
Overall we had the most memorable stay at Six Senses Fort Barwara! I cannot reccomend it enough for a luxurious yet authentic stay that gives you the feel of being in royal ancient Rajasthan. It would also make a beautiful destination for a honeymoon, destination wedding or a special occasion.
You can also check out my full travel guide to Rajasthan here. Thanks for stopping by! xoxo
Jyo
**This stay was sponsored by Six Senses Fort Barwara but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
