The moment I arrived at the steps of Mountbatten Lodge I knew I was going to love this little haven of timeless elegance. The property exudes a taste of colonial bygone days and is set amidst the beautiful natural backdrop of the Araveli Hills. Dominating the landscape is a majestic ancient Banyan Tree which is over 300 years old and shades the al fresco dining area. I felt like I had walked into the pages of a Rudyard Kipling novel half expecting Bagheera (Jungle Book) to appear at any moment!!
Reggie Singh is the owner and a grandson of Maharaj Ratan Singh of Jodhpur. Reggie is also known for his polo and shikar exploits as well his passion for safaris and the great outdoors. It has been his dream to recreate the past colonial times during the days of The Raj and he has achieved this at Mountbatten Lodge.
The lodge opened its doors to guests in October 2014. Most of the lodge staff is of Reggie’s clan, the Rathores who established Jodhpur in the year 1459. He feels he has a responsibility towards them and although of very humble back round, they are proud people and this is reflected in their desire to please at every level of service. He also wanted to create employment opportunities for the local tribes. All the construction work of the lodge is been done by them, a true family affair!
The lodge shares its boundary with The Kumbalgarh wildlife sanctuary and can also boast of having two important historical sights of the country at its backdoor – the amazing Ranakpur Jain Temples and The Kumbalgarh Fort which is famous for having the second longest wall after the great wall of China.
The accommodation is of an exclusive all suite configuration and is definitely a two night destination for guests staying in Udaipur or driving between Jodhpur and Udaipur. Here one can take a safari or trek to the Ranakpur Temples or The Kumbalgarh Fort. Another option is a picnic lunch or champagne sunset excursions to a local village by elephant or horse.
Reggie is the most charming host and has an incredible collection of jazz music which played in the background of the sitting room while we were having pre dinner drinks in front of the roaring open fire. The food was delicious and the gracious staff were so warm and genuine, nothing was ever too much trouble.
