The Road to Ranthambore
Having checked off another “Seven Wonder” with the Taj Mahal, I boarded the bus for the six hour drive to Ranthambore National Park. The absolute beauty of the Rajasthani desert was tempered only by the harrowing white-knuckle drive from Agra. Seemingly endlessly, the bus careened wildly down the narrow highway – dodging potholes, motorbikes, lorry trucks, and cattle. Passengers on the tour actually took out their cameras and began shooting video. Screams were audible. It was so absurd it was laughable.
The Pugmark Resort
Image courtesy of thepugmark.com
The Pugmark Resort was a little slice of paradise, having been granted a respite from the surrounding roads. Immediately, you felt you were somewhere special, somewhere really close to wild nature.
I was escorted to my room and shown the way to the cash bar in the courtyard where they would be showing the Queen of Ranthambore later in the night as a primer for the next day’s safari. Drink in hand, I was feeling fine.
The Bungalows
The Bungalows (image courtesy of thepugmark.com)
The hotel is set up in a series of quaint bungalows. Each is a self-contained unit with a small porch.
The Room
Standard Room (image courtesy of thepugmark.com)
The Rooms are standard, nothing really of note. Well, except the strange lack of a television in the room (which didn’t bother me because I was too busy with the Safari and Fort). The bed is comfortable and the room was clean. The A/C worked great and plenty of water bottles were provided. The bathroom, however, seemed really old and in dire need of a remodel.
The Dining Hall & Buffet
The Dining Hall (image courtesy of thepugmark.com)
The dining hall was great, as was the buffet. The buffet was basic, but what it had it shined with. There were curries, dosas, spaghetti, and plenty of warm and fresh naan-bread.
Location
The Pugmark Resort was literally the closest hotel property to Ranthambore National Park. However, it is semi-isolated. The nearest town is not within walking distance, so you are pretty much stuck there.
Giant Gecko in my room (my guest for the night)
The Bottom Line:
The Pugmark Resort was beautiful to look at from the outside, and perfectly located near the entrance to Ranthambore National Park. Inside however, it was dated and could use a little work. Probably the best part of the stay was the service staff. They were really great and would go out of their way to make sure you had whatever you needed whenever you needed it. This included staying up into the wee hours of the night bringing alcoholic drinks to people swimming in a pool that was technically closed. Although I probably would try somewhere different next time, I’m glad I stayed there for my first trip to the park.
Cheers!
