Page 41 - Seniorstoday September 21

really the best, but thankfully has very limited After a jeep safari inside the park (of course
traffic. Sariska is a beautiful nature park. I
really would not call it a tiger sanctuary as
there are just a couple of the big cats left. The
place has deer and is full of various species of
monkeys. Some say that there are bears and
leopards but we did not see any. Entry into
the park is restricted to park vehicles (jeeps)
only. The Sariska Palace, originally built as
a hunting lodge by the Maharaja, is really a
elegant building with sprawling lawns and
huge rooms. The evening spent here was very
enjoyable and peaceful as it was the last night
out on the trip.
A local entrepreneur from Alwar town
bought a derelict and abandoned old castle,
restored it and now runs a very successful
heritage hotel at Dadhikar Fort. It is done
up very nicely and caters for all modern
amenities in a heritage setting.
Neemrana Fort & Palace - the trend setter
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #27 | SEPTEMBER 2021
saw only monkeys and more monkeys) we left
for Delhi
but not before going to the famous Neemrana
Palace for lunch. I am sure people who have
been to this fantastic place before are now
regulars to this relaxing place, so close to
Delhi. It is highly recommended for people
who wish to get out for a relaxing weekend
getaway. The original owners have done such
a fantastic job of restoration that it started a
trend in heritage hotels. These derelict castles,
forts and palaces all over have been restored
to their original glory and have added a new
dimension to Indian tourism. The rustic
charm, yet sophistication are a magnet for
history buffs and regular travelers who abhor
going to standardised hotels across the world.
One of the few places in North India to have
introduced zip lining to adventure junkies,
Neemrana is a well-known name in heritage
hotels. If you are not staying the night at the
castle, you have to pre-book your meal. The
entry charge to the castle is more of a cover
charge. Later hitting Gurugram traffic at
the end of the day (due to office hours) was
absolutely killing and so it is best to return in
the mid-afternoon time and beat the worst of
the city traffic.
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