Tucked
away in the age-old Aravali hills of Rajasthan, the 18th century
Devi Garh Fort Palace, in the village of Delwara commands one of
the three main passes into the valley of Udaipur. Sajja Singh, who
hailed from the neighbouring state of Gujarat, was awarded this
strategically significant principality, in recognition of his bravery
and loyalty to Maharana Pratap against the Mughal emperor Akbar,
at the battle of Haldighati (1576). The actual construction of the
fort palace started only in the 1760s, under Raghudev Singh II,
with further additions being made to the structure by the rulers
who followed. The palace was absorbed into the state of Rajasthan
in the 1960s, and was subsequently abandoned.
Today,
after years of restoration and reconstruction, Devi Garh has regained
its past glory. An imposing and impressive structure, it is now
a unique all-suite boutique hotel, with 23 suites and 6 tents.
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