Heritage at its best

The 400-year-old Fort Dhariyawad in Udaipur is now run by the descendants of Prince Sahasmal who ensure that guests are treated like royalty.

TT Bureau

Dhariyawad was founded in the middle of the 16th century by royal prince Sahasmal, the grandson of Maharana Pratap, the legendary hero of Mewar, Udaipur. Situated on the confluences of the Jakham and Karmoi rivers, Dhariyawad is located in the south of Rajasthan and is surrounded by alluring valleys along with the Vindhyas and the Aravalli range running parallel to each other. Bhils and other tribal people inhabit this area. This region is unspoilt by modern civilisation, and the best cultural heritage can be experienced here. The fort of Dhariyawad has been converted into an exclusive heritage hotel whilst maintaining the decor and the traditional splendour of the fort.

Bhanu Pratap Singh, Owner, Fort Dhariyawad, says, “The USP of our property is the multifarious excursions we offer to our guests such as the Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary which is 16 km away from the fort known for its flying squirrels and panthers. We also organise riverside jungle lunches and sundowners at Jakham Reservoir. We engage our guests in live cooking demonstrations, the recipes for which come straight from the kitchen of Late Rawat Shaheb Udai Bhan Singh, ruler of Dhariyawad.”

“The USP of our property is the multifarious excursions we offer to our guests such as the Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary”

He adds that both inbound and domestic markets are equally important for him. “We are trying really hard to achieve balance in both the markets. The previous financial year 2017-18 has been impressive and we hope the same in the coming future. We’re intensively focusing on digital marketing because it serves as a substantial medium in attracting tourists. Travel trade fairs serve as the best forum for meeting buyers and getting to know more about the hospitality sector,” Singh concludes.