Govind Bhawan Marriage Garden

Our host Mahijit greeted us with a very warm welcome to his lovely home and the annexe that we stayed in - both set in extensive grounds on the edge of Jhalawar. Our rooms in the annexe were delightful and provided us with everything that we needed for a comfortable two night stay. We ate very good home-cooked food which was served either in the beautiful garden or in the dining room of the main house, which is a fascinating room with beautiful furnishings and decorations. Jhalawar and Jhalratapan are both interesting towns and well worth exploring, and as Mahijit knows them well, he advised us on where to go and what to see. He kindly took us to see the sunset over the magnificent Gagron Fort on the Kali Sindh River - a magical and memorable evening. We were very well looked after by Mahijit and the staff of Vivendra Bhawan during our brief stay - it was a unique stay in a unique home.

On a recent trip to primarily heavily touristed spots in Rajasthan we were looking for one out of the way location for a change of pace and found Virendra Bhawan. It turned out to be such an enjoyable experience we did not want to leave. This is a heritage property but very much a homestay and not a hotel. The accommodation, veranda and gardens are lovely and peaceful. Mahijit is an excellent host and he and his son could not have been more generous with their time, excellent information on the region's history and it's attractions, and just general conversation. ||If you do not have your own transportation it can be arranged at very reasonable rates. If the timing works out the Chandrabhaga cattle & camel fair is great fun to visit and few tourists. I really hope I am able to visit again on my next trip to India. |

We had a wonderful stay at Virendra Bhawan. This was our second visit to this unique homestay, off the busy Rajasthani tourist trail. This family home surrounded by mature trees has been lovingly restored by the charming host Mahijit. ||Classical paintings, period furniture and family heirlooms create an interesting and authentic ambiance. A stroll through well tended gardens into field of wheat, orange groves and the small enclave of staff homes is a delight. ||The staff are warm friendly and extremely welcoming. Wonderful fresh home cooked food is provide throughout the day and is served either in the garden or dining room. ||Mahijit is hospitable and wonderful company, we spent many memorable hours sharing experiences, past and present. He has a wealth of knowledge about India and especially the local area. ||We will find it difficult not to return!

On a recent 5 week trip to India and Nepal Virendra Bhawan was the by far the nicest place I stayed.||I have been in contact with the host Mahijit for several years as I wanted to stay there previously, but he was in Delhi at the time. This trip I finally made it. It was not a disapointment!||Its a simply lovely place. The suite was gorgeously furnished in a retro style, in keeping with the age of the handsome building and its gardens.The place has a very relaxed ambiance. A great place to unwind from your travels and visits to Chandrabhaga Mela.||Mahijit was joy to spend time with, a great conversationalist and a charming gracious host. ||I would unreservedly recommend staying for a few days. Wonderful!

Work brought me to Jhalawar, a little known town in the south of Rajasthan. I contacted Mr Mahajit after seeing that he offers to share his abode and takes in guests. Humbly called "Choti Khoti" or "little mansion" , his place is far from "little"!. The architecture is royal, beautiful and incorporates the ingenuity of the traditional past. ||The highlight of this place is the quiet garden and orchard with multiple options to sit outside and enjoy nature at leisure. The cooks Babloo and Bandwari did an amazing job of serving some of the best wholesome home-made meals.||To me Virender Bhawan was unique in that it gave one an opportunity to live the forgotten way of relaxing as it was done in the pre-digital era; where good conversation, good books and nature was all that was needed to pass the time. I genuinely cherish the hospitality of Mr Mahajit and his son Jaisal; being from the long line of the Jhalawar Royal lineage, they never run out of interesting stories to share and have an intricate knowledge of the place that one may not find in any guide book/ internet. ||While Jhalawar may not be on the beaten Rajasthan tourist circuit, it has a lot to offer for one who wants to spend some relaxed time yet be steeped deep in the history of this beautiful state. ||||||

I was on a solo motorcycle trip across Rajasthan and was extremely lucky to stay at the heritage Virendra Bhawan Homestay and have wonderful informal chats over tea and meals with the host Mahijit Singh Ji as he described the unique history of the Hadauti region in general and Jhalawar specifically. Being from the royal Jhala family from whom Jhalawar gets it's name, his perspective on the region and it's history, heritage, architecture, conservation efforts is both unique and refreshingly relevant. His insight and advice helped me plan my rides extremely well as I soaked in the sights and sounds this relatively unexplored and delightfully non touristy region of Rajasthan has to offer. The rooms are very thoughtfully decorated and were perfect in every way. Mahijit ji and his staff took care of every little aspect of my stay and I would be tortured an extra hour in hell if I don't mention the delicious food from the local cuisine rustled up by Ramprasad ;) . Simply lip smacking Indian comfort food. The property itself is full of greenery and it was a treat to walk barefeet on the thick carpet like grass and mornings were made musical by the myriad birdsongs one gets to hear. Overall it was a wonderful experience and I am glad I have a few more places to explore in the region and will soon be back. Regards

Whilst searching for an alternative to Pushkar Fair, we came upon the Chandabargha Festival in Jhalawar. Similar, but less crowded, polluted etc; it also coincded with the Divai Full Moon festival and the Traditional Temple Dancing display at the 2000 y.o Sun Temple in Patan, Fabulous.||The search was then on for accommodation. We discovered the lovely Virendra Bhawan Homestay. The owner Mahijit & his staff were wonderful, welcoming & nothing too much trouble, which was great after enduring the fiasco of the finance in Jodphur.The 10 hour train trip & to be collected from the station and driven to the accommodation was also fabulous. The food was lovely and sitting in the garden in the mornings for brekkie, was so relaxing. In prior contacts with the owner we were informed of the best staion to alight at, etc. Most helpful. All in all a lovely relaxing stay in a historic estate. ||When we were leaving for our next destination Mahijit organised an excellent safe driver, good vehicle & seatbelts! to ake us on at a very reasonable cost. Do it, take a break from your busy schedules.

My wife and I have recently been lucky to have the chance to stay at Virendra Bhawan twice. Offering a charming and authentic heritage homestay, it is conveniently located for visiting all the must-see places in and around Jhalawar - like the Garh Palace and Gagron Fort. At the same time, set amidst well-tended lush farmlands, Virendra Bhawan offers a relaxing getaway from the daily hustle-bustle of city life.||||But most importantly, it was the owner and host Mahijit Ji's unsurpassable hospitality that made our stays so special.||||Whoever has stayed in Virendra Bhawan once will definitely want to visit Jhalawar again and again - like has been the case with us ....