If you’re anything like me and have already mentally checked out of 2024, the best thing to do is escape your hectic schedule and take off on a soulful holiday. With the unrelenting heat and unpredictable rains having made way for slightly cooler temperatures, I set off for the quaint village of Barwara in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district to stay at the beautifully restored Six Senses Fort.
Rajasthan is the perfect place to explore in the last few months of the year as the desert sun softens and the winters begin to set in. While the state has the reputation of being the ultimate wedding destination, not many people know it's also one of the best places for a road trip because it offers miles and miles of smooth tarmac, flanked by dunes on both sides.
After driving for 2.5 hours away from Jaipur, I arrived at my destination—the Six Senses Fort Barwara. Sitting under the watchful eye of the Chauth Mata Mandir, the luxury hotel sits inside a sensitively-restored 14th-century fort, belonging to the Royal family, who still have their private space at the resort cordoned off. A significant portion of the facade retains the conserved original structure and that the idea behind the restoration was not to introduce new elements, but rather bring back life into what already existed on grounds. This effort is evident in the opulent and regal ambiance of the resort.
This extravagant property comprises two palaces, each traditionally belonging to the King and Queen, two temples, 48 exquisite suites, three restaurants, a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, multiple event spaces, and even a sustainability lab, among other things. As we proceeded towards the lobby to check in, I realised that we were actually sitting atop a hill, watching over the Barwara village on one side and the Aravalli ranges on the other. And I realised that this spot was probably where paps got their hands on the “first look” of Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal’s strictly-no-phones wedding, which also took place at this very hotel.
The reception sits right under the domes and right next door was a gentlemen’s bar, called the Rajawat Room, which served creative concoctions, fine spirits, and even cigars. These can be enjoyed while you take a moment to check out some vintage pictures and belongings of the Royal family.
This portion of the Mardana Mahal opens up to a courtyard, where a perfectly manicured lawn surrounds four stone-made seating areas each having its own fire pits, and the former observatory tower, where the private dining areas are housed. The latter makes for the perfect, romantic date-night setting for couples. The Cortile restaurant, which serves both international and Indian specialties made from locally sourced products or ingredients from the resort’s organic gardens and farms, sits next door. They have two more restaurants on the grounds: Roohani and Rani Baug. Six Senses believes in the farm-to-table approach. But since it is hard to grow a lot of things in Rajasthan, some healthy alternatives are used for the unavailable ingredients—instead of using Avocados to make guacamole, they use peas to make picamole, for example. Even sauces, spreads, and dips are all made in-house. They’re also very strict about not using any plastic whatsoever and serving food fresh is their priority.
After a short walk around the property, I made my way to the room and as soon as I walked through the door, it was hard to believe that this was a hotel suite and not a grand room of an actual palace. Each suite has a living room of sorts, which has a coffee and cocktail bar, stocked with their homegrown gins, as well as a gorgeous terrace balcony. The bedroom houses a huge poster bed that you can simply sink into. In fact, the quality of your sleep matters a lot here: their groundbreaking Sleep With Six Senses program developed by Dr Michael Breus not only offers a variety of treatments to help improve your sleep but also includes equipping each room with a handmade mattress and cotton bedding, along with a menu of pillows to choose from. The enormous bathroom houses double basins, a walk-in wardrobe, a bathtub, a shower area, and one of those fancy Japanese bidets!
The first thing on my to-do list was to check out the much-talked-about Six Senses Spa, which has been praised by anyone who has tried it without an exception. The Spa reception is located within a 14th-century Ganpati temple. Here, patrons can indulge in the alchemy bar, where they can whip up their own body scrubs, face masks, lip balms and more using natural ingredients. The actual spa, however, is located in the beautifully preserved Zanana Mahal or the Queen’s palace, where much of the original structure and decor is still standing. Their extensive treatment menu has something for everyone–and that’s not an exaggeration. Apart from the regular ayurvedic and holistic offerings, the spa also offers treatments for kids between the ages of six and 12, pregnant women and even has a bio-hacking package for athletes. A standout treatment is the Tiger’s Eye package, which not only includes a massage of your choice, but also helps rejuvenate your mind with an aura and chakra cleansing. The Six Senses Spa provides separate wet areas for both genders, which comes with a sauna and steam, a cold plunge pool as well as a still pool.
A relaxing massage later, I set off to explore more of this stunning property. Evenings and nights at the Six Senses Fort are even more beautiful, and the credit for this goes to how mindfully the hotel is lit. The same team that has lit up several wonders of the world worked with Six Senses to ensure that the palace is even more breathtaking in the evenings than in the day. As the cocktail hour neared, General Manager Aaron McGrath and Commercial Director Rajat Gera were kind enough to reveal a secret location deep within the heart of the property, where a wine tasting was organised and I found myself lost in the stories and history of this beautiful fort. Soon, it was time for dinner, which was specially set up by the pool for us. Between the freshly-barbequed starters and the last serving of the Rajasthani thali, I realised there’s something especially regal about being served a hot meal under the stars with the sound of water flowing around us.
The next morning, I had the perfect start to my day with a sunrise yoga and sound healing session at the viewing deck, which overlooks all of Barwara. And because no perfect morning is complete without breakfast, I feasted on everything from their homemade granola to the live-station omelettes, without the guilt of consuming unhealthy calories.
My last stop before leaving was at their Earth lab, where they carry out several sustainability efforts. Preservation and conservation mean a lot to the brand, and to that end, they have a sewage treatment plant, a water purification plant as well as a bottling plant on ground, and are soon planning to install a solar farm.
The staff also leaves no stone unturned to make your stay memorable. That warm hospitality trait embedded deep within Rajasthanis shines through in everyone—from Rajat making sure we never had an empty glass in our hands to the Dadi who served us kukad ki cha during breakfast.
Pulling out of the Six Senses’ cobblestone driveway, I realised that I was feeling a lot less stressed and tired than I do after starting the day at the break of dawn. With a renewed sense of energy, I can now say that I have it in me to tough out these last few months of 2024. But I already know, I’ll be back for more before I know it.
