Narayan Niwas Castle

Truly atmospheric rooms, friendly staff and great owner. I felt very welcome. Rooms are full of character, beautifully decorated and are part of the maze-like fort that oozes history and charisma. The family and staff occupying the fort are all great people. Everything is possible and information + tips are always available. Feels like home stay in a fort. The rajasthani food served here is home made and very tasty. I've been travelling in India for total of 1½ years and still got some new tasty dishes during my one week stay. Mahansar is small village and by Indian standards very quiet during night. It's easy to sleep well here.

There is no word describing how far staying at Narayan Niwas Castle brings you. A part of History, a part of magical, a part of architecture. Could keep going long. The owners are a couple full of passion and time to share. The best souvenir ever! I have lucky enough to stay in iconic hotels around the world, I stayed in Palace but nothing to compare with the experience of sharing a part of the daily life of the 8th generation owner a 300 years old castle. Nothing moved, do not expect five stars service cause you will discover the soul you never could imagine to meet. Do not miss the guided tour by Radish which is such an ocean of knowledge. Be ready for a bit of challenge to reach the place if you decide to join it with a motorbike!!

Friendly welcome by Mr Singh whose family has owned this castle for generations. The room was unchanged except for the addition of plumbing and electricity so don't expect modern fixtures, rather you experience the way royalty used to live. The food was amazing and authentic and the chats around the fire pit with Mr Singh and some fellow travellers completed the stay.

We had a fantastic experience staying in the Castle. We had a formal greeting where the history of the castle was explained to us & I believe this was very educational. We found our room to be fine- our suite was very spacious and had all the amenities we needed. We were warm and comfortable. The staff were exceptional-carried our bags everywhere, served great food and generally looked after us. The food was outstanding for the 3 meals we had and we were offered plenty of choices for breakfast. If you enjoy a drink with dinner, make sure you order with the owner in advance. Just a wonderful stay in a rustic & authentic setting. It is easy to walk around the village from here

This place is simply magical! A travel in the history of Rajasthan! The hospitality of the owners and the kindness of the whole staff are remarkable. 16 years after a first journey, the pleasure to stay here remains intact. A wonderful dinner prepared by an excellent cook: the best of our trip in Rajasthan! Travellers, a journey here will remain an unforgettable highlight of your trip.

Booked a heritage suite through booking dot com based on the reviews I read. Excellent price point. I needed somewhere to stay between Jodphur and Delhi and luckily stumbled upon this place. Incredible property, very original. The heritage suite was a unique experience. The bed was comfortable and the windows and door flyscreened so you could get some ventilation. The cooling is via a ceiling fan, I didn’t need it on at night as the temperature was cool. You can ask for a bottle of water. Bathroom- Adjust your expectations- it’s ancient, well priced and mostly an experience stay. Don’t expect a/c or a modern bathroom. Soap, hand towel, bath towel and toilet paper are provided. Dining- welcome drink on arrival. Tea and coffee can be requested. A meal (delicious) was provided for 650 rupees plus tax. The sweet and sour tomato recipe was delicious. Specify veg or non veg. A dessert was also served. Breakfast was hearty and plentiful- delicious fritters. Tours- I took a tour of the significant sites as recommended. Rajesh provided a 1 hour tour at most for 500 rupee ( be aware there are additional charges if 50 and 100 to access 2 of the sites- you will need change). I believe the tour sometimes lasts longer, the other guest before me had a 2.5 hour tour- he was a photographer and was also using a drone. I’m not sure how you’d access the Havelis and temple without a guide, certainly without Hindi and knowing where to ask it’d be difficult. Staff- very pleasant and accommodating. Major bonus- they accommodated and provided good meals to my driver free of charge, he was extremely happy with this. A great experience for my last night in India.

This is a great place for a weekend getaway with family and friends. The owners and the staff are really polite and helpful. The owners kept the original look of the fort and haven't changed anything. Living in the makes you feel like you went 300 years in the past. The food is absolutely delicious. The owner can arrange a tour guide if anybody wants to go to popular tourist destinations in and around Mahensar, where this fort is situated. I personally recommend Rajesh Sharma. He is very knowledgeable and being a local, knows a lot a lot about local legends, stories and histories surrounding the various monuments. Highly recommended, 10/10.

We stayed here forn two nights having not visited Shelhawati for 26 years. What a real treat. Amazing room- we stayed in the heritage suite and very welcoming hospitality. As previously mentioned, it is by no means luxurious but that is not why you come here. Stay here for an unbeatable romantic break away from the over development of many similar properties in Shekhawati. If you fancy a taste of the real Shekhawati, then dont delay- it will not dissappoint, Food was fantastic and the staff were very welcoming.

We stayed inside this old and majestic fort belonging to the current royal family. A memorable experience! We had great company, excellent service and home food. Recommend this strongly if you want to have an authentic experience. We were also recommended a local historian / guide the next day who was well worth it. If you had guides before, you will notice the difference in having a local historian. Truly valuable!