Review of Amanbagh, by The TI Review Team

TI reviewer Eleanor O'Keeffe:

Amanbagh in Abjagarh, Rajasthan, might be considered something of a toddler to its elder siblings dotted gracefully in some of the most desirable places on the globe. Might is the operative word, though, as the only thing wobbling in this exquisite luxury resort is the heads of the staff as they assent to your every wish.

Designed by Ed Tuttle, the US architect who now has seven Aman resorts in his portfolio, a decided Aman style marks the property. Mughal influences pervade the clean lines, soaring ceilings and the inner courtyards. The hotel has clearly been designed for visual impact, and while this level of elegance and class sometimes falls flat, Amanbagh is actually charming. It's the people, of course, that make it so, starting with the general manager and then percolating through every one of the 200 staff down to the house dog, Mace.

Set in an isolated valley, it is implanted into rural Rajasthan and a short walk will bring you to fields sown with mustard and wheat, past 15th-century villages and, with the smallest dose of luck, into the cluster of houses teeming with endearing children who will proudly take you to visit their crops and favourite swimming holes.

Every part of the luxury hotel emits tranquillity. The public spaces are no exception. On the second level of the building, guests can find the library with reading terrace. Books on culture, art, wildlife and history can all be found here. Take a dip in the swimming pool or have lunch on the surrounding deck. The pool is located in the heart of the gardens so the scenery is epic.

Aman is about attention to detail, and everything is as near perfection as one might consider possible, from the green Udaipur marble bathrooms to the hand-painted wineglasses imported from France. The 40 rooms are both cavernous and cosy, with private terraces designed for watching the monkeys cavort in the eucalyptus trees opposite or for testing your ornithology skills on the vast array of exotic birds in this small oasis. With the lawns behind the pools of each of the 16 poolside pavilions open, one wonders exactly how private they are, but I'm assured that guests rarely stray onto the lawns of others…or if they do stumble upon poolside frolics, they're too embarrassed to admit it.