Bhenswara is a quaint little village situated in western Rajasthan at the foothills of the Aravalli Mountains, possibly the oldest mountain range in the world, which stops the vast expanse of the mighty Thar Desert from extending into the rest of Rajasthan. The village is situated on the northern bank of the Jawai River, which begins in the Aravalli Mountains and flows all the way to the Rann of Kutch, in the state of Gujarat.

Amidst this rural village stands the Rawla (castle) Bhenswara. The rawla was built approximately 240 years ago by Thakur Jagat Singhji Rathore of Champavat, who received the jaghir (feudal land grant) for saving the life of Maharaja Man Singhji of Jodhpur at the Jalore Fort. Seven generations and many additions later, this regal manor is now a Heritage Hotel, run by Thakur Dalvir Singh, his son Kr. Shiv Pratap Singh and his daughter-in-law, Uma Kumari. It is a perfect place to take a break and immerse yourself in the local culture and lifestyle. The friendly aristocratic family give this place a homely touch, welcoming all their guests and treating them as part of the family.

Places of Interest
This historic fort is located approximately 16 kms. from Bhenswara. Thefort stands atop a steep, nearly perpendicular hill and is reached after a 5 kms. walk, passing through 3 distinct lines of defence.

Excursions/Activities

VILLAGE SAFARIS
The day begins with a drive in an open-top jeep to the remote tribal hamlets that are tucked away in various pockets of the region. As the sun begins to set, you move ahead to the hilly regions at the foothills of the rocky Aravallis to watch the sun go down, casting pink and orange hues on the grey granite rocks.

GAME DRIVES
These game drives are usually undertaken at dusk. The open-air 4-wheel drive jeeps are equipped with powerful spotlights and you traverse terrain that is not approachable by any road and it is a true pleasure to watch Shiv Pratap Singh use his expertise to blaze his own trail and navigate this wild terrain. If you are lucky, you can see foxes, hyenas and the most sought after sighting, the elusive leopards in the hilly terrain, while in the flatter, sandy area, you can see chinkara, nilgai (blue bull), rabbits as well as several species of birds.

BULLOCK CART RIDES
These rides are usually taken after breakfast and last until lunchtime, before the sun rises high in the sky and the temperature begins to soar. These carts seat 4 people comfortably and as you set out, you hear the tingle of bells.