Tucked
away in the age-old Aravali hills of Rajasthan, the 18th century Devi
Garh Fort Palace, in the village of Delwara commands one of the three
main passes into the valley of Udaipur. Sajja Singh, who hailed from
the neighbouring state of Gujarat, was awarded this strategically significant
principality, in recognition of his bravery and loyalty to Maharana
Pratap against the Mughal emperor Akbar, at the battle of Haldighati
(1576). The actual construction of the fort palace started only in the
1760s, under Raghudev Singh II, with further additions being made to
the structure by the rulers who followed. The palace was absorbed into
the state of Rajasthan in the 1960s, and was subsequently abandoned.
Today,
after years of restoration and reconstruction, Devi Garh has regained
its past glory. An imposing and impressive structure, it is now a unique
all-suite boutique hotel, with 23 suites and 6 tents.