Giving you a taste of the Maratha culture, a visit...

Giving you a taste of the Maratha culture, a visit to Fort JadhavGadh is no short of a trip back to the bygone era. Set in an actual all-stone fort, this three-star property offers royal services to its patrons.

Having heard so much about this place from family and friends, we were naturally intrigued by the place. So armed with our trusty DSLRs and phones, me and my gang set out to spend a couple of days at this beautiful property.

The hospitality and welcome begins before we even reach the actual fort. The lookout post at the beginning of the road that leads to the fort-hotel has a very authentic looking Mavala ready to welcome us.

Sprawled over 25 acres of manicured landscape, Fort JadhavGadh offers a number of stay options ranging from the king's own maharaja suite to the luxurious royal tents. A truly regal welcome awaits you as soon as you set foot on the cobble-stoned steps of the magnificent Maratha marvel.

Fort JadhavGadh offers a multitude of accommodation choices. Choose your pick from the Maharaja Suite, Maharani Suite, Museum Suite, Chhavni - Royal Tent and Kholi the regular rooms for the regular Joes and Janes.

Our Kholi was beautifully done up the artefacts in the small cubby holes in the walls, the welcome fruit and cookie platter, the decorations on the bed everything screamed hospitality at its best.

The heritage hotel offers a 45-60 min long audio tour of the entire place with pre-recorded snippets of information which you can play as you reach the different spots of interest.

Fort JadhavGadh also houses a museum called Aai meaning mother, which guards the glorious history of the Maratha empire. Each artifact adorning Aai is part of the treasured collection of Mr. Kamat over the last four decades. Unfortunately, photography is prohibited inside the museum however trust me when I say this, that is an experience that *has* to be taken.

Endless landscaped lawns at Fort JadhavGadh merging with the hills add a surreal touch to the evening functions.

The grandiose is only magnified by the 300 year old Ganesh Temple. Also an ideal setting for a traditional wedding ceremony, fit for the royalty.

Tired from all the walking during the audio tour [yeah, I completed the entire tour!! :D] and stuffed from our leisurely lunch, it was pool time for us. A gorgeous temperature-controlled pool in one turret of the fort offers a semi-private experience [away from Peeping Toms] with a spa next door. The beach chairs on the island in the middle offer the much-needed relaxation by the waterside.

Traditionally being a fort in its past glory, security of its inhabitants was a major function of Fort JadhavGadh and to that effect, the main doors used to be ceremoniously closed, locked and loaded every evening and opened the next morning. Even after being converted into a hotel, the management has retained this tradition so every evening, the doors are still closed for a short while with the same pomp and show. The doorman also gives the guests a short yet insightful history of the ceremony.



After thoroughly enjoying the martial arts show, we were treated to another mind-blowing performance; this time a Lavani performance by some really talented ladies at Payatha the ethnic foothill restaurant which also hosted the dinner afterwards.

Fort JadhavGadh has some amazing outdoor activities as well, in which guests can partake. Bullock cart rides, air rifle shooting, etc. are some of the activities to be enjoyed.

Fort JadhavGadh is a one of a kind resort in India that houses a museum, a poolside spa and plenty of other activities for your entertainment and relaxation - making it a perfect weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.

In case you don t wish to spend an entire weekend here, Fort JadhavGadh also offers day packages.