User:Alila Fort Bishangarh/sandbox

Bishangarh belongs to the Shahpura thikana that was initially set up at Manoharpur by Rao Manohar Singh in 1584 when he was granted a mansab of 1000 zat and 600 sawars which was later increased to 1000 zat and 800 sawars. Bishangarh Fort was built by Rao Bishan Singh in the last few years of the eighteenth century. Rao Bishan Singh was the ruler from 1793 to 1810 and he shifted the capital from Manoharpur to Shahpura. The rulers are Kachhawa Rajputs of the senior branch of the Shekhawat sub-clan. This thikana has been a part of the Jaipur Darbar, ruled by the Suryavanshi rulers from Amber Fort. The erstwhile ruler of Shahpura is Rao Rajendra Singh, who is also the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan from Shahpura. Being a ruler by birth and a servant of the people by election gives him a unique position and his simplistic yet royal character is reflected in the creation of this fort-hotel. 'Location'Bold text Located barely 6 km off Delhi-Jaipur National Highway No. 8, it is easily accessible from both Delhi and Jaipur. It is 180 km (3 hours) from Indira Gandhi International Airport while it is only 55 km (1 hour) from Jaipur Airport. The drive to Amber Fort at Jaipur is only 45 minutes one way and you can easily use Bishangarh as a base to explore Jaipur’s innumerable tourist attractions. While coming from Delhi, just before the Manoharpur Toll (near Jaipur) you turn right and in case you’re coming from Jaipur, you cross Manoharpur Toll and take the first left turn. You then travel 6 km into the interiors into a region whose rural landscape mystifies you. The first distant view of this fort enthralls you and you yearn for more as you travel along an old river bed on a nice two-lane metalled road. Along the way you get glimpses of the colour and simplicity that represents rural Rajasthan. The Aravalli Hills beckon you and take you into their fold, reminding you that they are India’s oldest fold mountains. Finally you arrive at the quaint little village of Bishangarh which has a population of barely 4000 people. You could choose to go through the village to the fort (if your vehicle is small enough to let you do that) or you could carry on and take the road along the river bed. From the river bed you come into the ravine-infested area below the hill which has been landscaped to integrate this area with the surroundings. You’re in the village, yet away in a secluded and secure area. You shed your vehicle and surrender yourself to the surprisingly different ‘soldiers’ of Bishangarh Fort, brilliantly trained and put together by Alila Hotels and Resorts. You are now their prisoner, a prisoner of impeccable hospitality amidst a setting of yesteryears. Welcome to a time gone by. Welcome to tomorrow’s holiday experience. Get carried away by the amazing experience that Alila Fort Bishangarh unveils just for you.

 Alila Fort BishangarhBold text Alila Fort Bishangarh is a luxurious heritage fort-hotel, with a fantastic combination of the rugged, untouched inhabited parts of the old fort and carefully reconstructed royal residential areas, recreating the truly authentic flavor of Shahpura’s royalty. The grandeur is in its stark and inherent simplicity which blends seamlessly with a created luxury, a responsible luxury that has been built into the masculine solidity of the fortification. This is eco-restoration at its best, the perfect blend between yesterday and today. You find untouched areas where granite boulders compete with the rock-solid fortifications for attention. You also find areas created for specific purposes within the forts ramparts to make your experience memorable while retaining the essence of a bygone era. Probably the only warrior fort that has been converted into a heritage hotel, this fort stands out as a unique example of the architecture of the Jaipur gharana with an influence of both the Mughals and the British interwoven into it. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it does not deem to be a palace; on the contrary its two-meter thick weathered-walls with openings for firing weapons and the burjs (towers) define its character. The original fort has been left intact and a complete structure created above it and outside it to house the modern suites that merge seamlessly with the existing fort. It is these luxurious suites, individually created with an eye for detail that make this fort-hotel a uniquely desirable destination. Add the rustic charm of Bishangarh village with its havelis, and the host of rural and adventure activities that are on offer as ‘Journeys’ and you have Colourful Rajasthan’s most complete heritage hotel which can pamper to whatever experience you seek. Quite simply, Alila Fort Bishangarh has everything you could possibly want on offer – you decide your holiday. Alila Fort Bishangarh is representative of responsible ecotourism since it includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of the local people of the Bishangarh-Manoharpur-Shahpura triangle. In addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of this ecotourism project is the use of local materials for construction, promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation and creation of economic opportunities for the local communities. The project has been fully conceived, planned and executed keeping the welfare of the local communities in mind. You rediscover the pleasure of royalty in a responsible manner as you take a trip back into time.