Overlooking the Aravali hills in villas

Tree of Life Resort and Spa, Jaipur, India

The Telegraph

This resort an hour outside the Pink City of Jaipur is designed to pamper guests with spacious villas, a swimming pool overlooking the Aravali hills, a spa offering excellent treatments, an organic garden, and walking trails that encourage solitude and reflection.

Telegraph Review/ Shoba Narayan/ Travel writer 

Location

8/10

What’s nearby? In a word, nothing – and that’s a good thing. It’s located in the village of Kukas, an hour outside Jaipur, surrounded by fields growing corn, radishes, tomatoes and bajra, a local grain. There are other resorts in the area, but none in the vicinity. Guests who value privacy and silence will love this place.

Style & character

8 / 10

With 13 villas spread over seven acres, this resort does not do weddings or parties, giving it a luxurious quietness when compared to other resorts in and around Jaipur. Instead, the goal of this relatively new brand is to foster serenity and peace amongst its guests. Naming each of the spacious villas after a local flower is a unique charming touch. The yoga pavilion is surrounded by idols of the elephant-headed Hindu God, Ganesh, which have been collected from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia and all over India.

Service & facilities

9 / 10

The service is extremely personal and warm.

The spa has a sauna and steam room. Each villa has two outdoor massage tables and a hot tub for couples’ massages in situ. Try the signature Aravali bath at sunset with bubbles, rose petals, and fragrant essential oils.

In the morning, a yoga teacher teaches asanas, meditation and pranayama breathing techniques.

Guests can also choose to visit the surrounding villages for curated “experiences”. The villager on whose land the resort was built is at hand to take guests to his home for a cup of masala chai under the neem tree. Beside his home is a 1000-year old temple. Guests can choose to ride a tractor on the sandy village roads or sit in comfort at the back on white cushions.

  • Wi-Fi

  • Fitness centre

  • Laundry

  • Parking

  • Bar

  • Pool

  • Restaurant

  • Room service

  • Sauna

  • Spa

  • Steam room/hammam

Lots of roses, birds and butterflies in the grounds. The surrounding villages are picturesque and full of character.

Rooms

8 / 10

Even entry-level garden villas are about the size of a London apartment. Some villas have a small private pool in the back, and a spa pavilion with massage tables, and outdoor hot tubs. All have a living room, bedroom, walk-in wardrobe, and a giant bathroom. The domes above the bed in floral hues have intricate thekri or mirror-work designs of lotuses and vines that draw upon the Indian aesthetic. Floral inlays on the ground continue the theme. Rooms have a safe, ironing board, coffee and tea, and large windows.

Food & drink

7 / 10

Saphire restaurant, with a mix of white marble and aquamarine upholstry, is open all day. Breakfast is continental—eggs, croissants and excellent capuccinos made from a European machine lie alongside Indian flatbreads, fruits and nuts. The rooftop fine-dining Indian restaurant, Rasa, does Rajasthani dishes in a thali or round plate which contains multiple dishes. Folk dancers balacing pots on their head swirl around to live music. The bar downstairs with a billiards table has high-quality liquor.

Value for money

8/ 10

Villas from 9875 Rupees (£114) in low season (April to August); and from 16125 Rupees (€209/£186) in high (September to March). Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.

Access for guests with disabilities?

While many of the public spaces are wheelchair accessible, most of the villas involve climbing up steps.

Family-Friendly?

An extra bed for children over 12 is provided for a charge of 2500 Rupees (£28) per day.  Pets are welcome and are charged the same rate. Given the ethos of quiet and serenity, there are no specific activities for children beyond the pool, lawns, and a friendly staff.

Address details

Kacherwala, Kukas, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302028, India.
 

00 91 9602091000

 
treeofliferesorts.com

© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2017

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