The Ranbanka Palace Hotel
Centrally located along highway 62 in Jodhpur, India, the Ranbanka Palace Hotel is a posh upscale hotel by both Indian and international standards.
Having consistently high ratings and reviews on the popular hotel and travel sites, this charming hotel is unabashedly unique with an artsy style and attitude all its own.
The Courtyard and Decor
The secret to the hotel’s charm is its purposefully unique decor. Laid out in a colonial central-courtyard design, the hotel is designed to evoke the glory days of the past, but with a quirky modern twist.
A living tree incorporated in the design
Sample of the quirky artwork found throughout the hotel
The Rooms
Each room in this hotel is different; having different bed styles, bathroom tiles, and furniture – each room is meant to be its own unique experience with its own ‘feel’.
At check-in, I was immediately upgraded to the corner suite nearest the restaurant.
Bedroom
The bed was clean and comfy. Water and snacks were provided.
TV Room
The rooms were quite nice. The furniture was detailed and felt antique; they may have looked a little vintage and stuffy but rest assured they were in fact comfortable. The suite featured fans in every room and blackout curtains for privacy.
Bathroom and Shower
The only slight negative in the suite was the bathroom. It felt as though it somehow missed the renovation. The black tile was old and cracked and the shower glass was in need of some serious scrubbing. Even on the Hotel website, other bathrooms seem to have been upgraded – but not this particular suite.
The Restaurant
With the exception of breakfast, the on-premises restaurant seemed to be conspicuously underutilized. I’m not entirely sure why (but I had an idea) – the hotel was full, the menu seemed great and the restaurant seemed very nice.
The Restaurant Alternative:
For dinner, some tourists I ran into recommended a restaurant called ‘On The Rocks’, a mere 5-minute walk from the Ranbanka Palace Hotel. Turns out, it wasn’t a restaurant, but a collection of restaurants, bars, and clubs.
We settled into the open-air courtyard restaurant that served India food. It was a perfect little romantic setting to enjoy the warm and dry Indian night. It was semi-empty when we arrived, but slam-packed with a large wait when we left (so get there early).
The four Indian food groups: Indian Curry, Kingfisher beer, Basmati rice, and Indian pizza
The Bottom Line:
I would highly recommend the Ranbanka Palace Hotel and I would definitely stay there again. Its quirky artsy style and comfortable upscale accommodations made for a rare oasis of calm in India. It was located near a mall and cinema and very close to the “On The Rocks” boutique restaurants which I also highly recommend while in Jodhpur.
You could opt to stay in the nearby luxurious Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum, but it would also cost you nearly $400 US for a night. Bang-for-your-buck, you’d be hard pressed to find anything nicer than the Ranbanka Palace Hotel.
Cheers!
