Aman-i-Khas

Ranthambore, Rajasthan

The vast stretches of bushy forest in the Ranthambore National Park at the foot of Mount Aravalli is a major site for the majestic Bengal tiger. Formerly a hunting ground for the maharajahs of Jaipur, the domain of Ranthambore, a protected site since 1980, contains no less than forty of these rare felines which have made the park famous, and which can be observed from a jeep or a small van. Feared and admired for a long time, the Rajasthani tiger was a popular prey of the maharajahs for whom hunting was a major diversion a well as a principle of education. Fortunately the tiger is now a protected species. Since 1973, Project Tiger, created by the Indian government, guarantees the safety of the animal. Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful animal reserves in India, the park possesses many other riches. About ten kilometers northeast of the city of Sawai Madhopur, lies the fort of Ranthambore with its more than a thousand year old stones, where the faithful still come to worship at the temple of Ganesh.

Tracking the Bengal tiger

On the green fertile plains of the Ranthambore National Park, 10 tents open their white canvas domes, their facades facing the hills of the Aravalli mountain chain whose undulating movement seems infinite. Inspired by the nomad encampments set up by the Moghol populations, Aman-I-Khas stretches over a vast and remote property, in deepest Rajasthan. The only access to this luxury camp is a path through the forest of thick bushes, yellow grass and green trees. The resort, a refuge in the heart of Indian wildlife, is an ideal starting point for tracking the veritable lord of the jungle, the Bengal tiger, immortalized by Rudyard Kipling in his legendary “Jungle Book”.

At nightfall, the exterior part of the camp is lit by fires, providing a perfect occasion for guests to share this common space in a moment of conviviality. Modern, elegant and refined, the interiors are discreetly luxurious and designed for contemplating the Rajasthani landscape. From the tent restaurant to the thousand year old stones of the Ranthambore fort, guests of Aman-I-Khas can enjoy the Indian and European cuisine prepared by the hotel at the site of their choosing; a unique and attractive way to take advantage of the extraordinary beauty of the land.

“Aman-I-Khas is a haven of peace and tranquility where only the herons, lapwings and kingfishers around the lake break the silence.” - Home Review, India