Neemrana’s heritage hotel in Gwalior houses two 17th-18th century Maratha temples, two splendid cenotaphs and one pavilion with 36 arched doors.
In this travelogue, we review Neemrana’s Deo Bagh Gwalior where we had the unique opportunity of waking up in the summer house of the Jadhavs and the stunning “Char Bagh” Chhattis-Dari (36-pillared pavilion) where Mughal emperors once camped!
Ideal For
While my Mother-in-law loved the ancient temples, the kids loved running around the Nau Bagh, a garden chequered into nine parts.
Clearly not for a budget traveler, this heritage property is best suited for couples, senior citizens or multigenerational family travelers (like us)
Rating
- Location 4/5
- Cleanliness 4/5
- Food 3/5
- Value for money 4/5
Neemrana's Deo Bagh is a unique heritage hotel
Neemrana’s Deo Bagh is a unique heritage hotel with two 17th-18th century Maratha temples, two splendid cenotaphs and one pavilion with 36 arched doors.
History has it that in the late 1500 AD Mughals camped in the “char bagh” with a stunning chhattis-dari (36-pillared pavilion) at its heart.
The Chhattis-dari (36-pillared pavilion) has a moat of water on all its four sides. There is an underground chamber under this Chhattis dari which was used by the ladies. Due to water in the moat the underground chamber would stay cool and thus serve as an escape from heat during the summers.
Later, as the conquering Maratha army marched towards Delhi, the Jadhavs took possession of this natural water catchment area. Sardar Deorao Bhausaheb Jadhav and his son Sardar Krishnarao Deorao Jadhav used this ‘bagh’ as a summer house with the ladies’ section in Deo Bagh and the mens’ section in Jai Vihar, the family’s current home (Source).
Deo Bagh opened its doors in early April 2012 with 15 rooms spread across 5 wings, facing a Nau Bagh, a garden chequered into nine parts.
Our Room in Deo Bagh Gwalior
The kids liked the feel of royalty of the place.
We stayed in Rohini Raja Mahal in Zenana Wing. The Rohini Raja Mahal, named after the youngest daughter in the family, is a suite situated on the first floor level of the Zenana wing and dates back to the 17th century. It opens on to a large terrace that is shared with the grand Sakhya Raja room.
This suite is beautifully decorated in orange interiors. Three comfortable single beds adorn the room.
The bathroom has a bathtub and a separate shower cubicle too. An ideal choice for a family or three friends travelling together.
Food
The ground floor has a large dining room in the 17th century Zenana wing where all the meals are served.
Deo Bagh serves North Indian cuisine with a few Continental dishes.
If you are a non-resident and want to relish food at Deo Bagh, the Lunch and Dinner will cost you Rs.800/- (taxes extra). If you are a non-resident guest remember to book table in advance.
Bar facilities are not available.
Cost
Deo Bagh Gwalior is not for a budget traveler. The cost per night starts from Rs. 5500 to Rs. 8000/- depending upon the number of people and the room.
Breakfast is included in the room tariff, Lunch and Dinner cost Rs. 700/- (taxes extra).
What is the best time to visit Gwalior?
The best time to visit Gwalior is during Winters (October to march). Winter in Gwalior starts in late October, and is generally very mild with daily temperatures averaging in the 14–16 °C (58–62 °F) range. The days are mostly dry and sunny. January however is the coldest month where the temperature can plummet down to zero.
The Gwalior Trade Fair is a large trade fair in Madhya Pradesh, in Northern India. It was started in 1905 by the King of Gwalior, Maharaj Madhav Rao Scindia. More than 10,000 cattles are sold in this fair.
I have childhood memories of going to Gwalior Mela and sitting on rides, having chat at the food stalls and attending Music Nights with my parents.
In you are interested in Indian Classical Music, Gwalior hosts the four-day Tansen Music Festival from 21st – 26th January.
Gwalior in Summer (April – June) – should be avoided due to scorching heat with the temperature going up to 48°C (118 °F).
Gwalior in Monsoon (July – September) – Monsoons do bring relief from the extreme heat of the summer but the days tend to get humid with temperature range of 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) .The nights are cooler during the monsoon.
Things to do in Deo Bagh
Deo Bagh Gwalior is an archeological site by itself.
There are two 17th-18th century Maratha temples which make an interesting place to visit.
These temples are little away from the hotel rooms and you need to walk through an uneven path.
Be warned, bats have made these heritage structures their homes and thus leaving them stinky.
Two splendid cenotaphs and one pavilion with 36 arched doors, within the property makes Deo Bagh one of the unique heritage hotels in India.
We were told that over 30 species of birds are a part of Deo Bagh. We noticed large families of Peacock near the temples.
Things to do in Gwalior
With its imposing hilltop fort, palaces and other historical monuments, Gwalior has a timeless appeal. The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khayal Gharanas. Legendary musicians like Tansen and Baiju Bawara belonged to Gwalior. Different dynasties have ruled Gwalior the influence of which can be seen in its heritage structures.
Gwalior Fort
Known as the ‘Gibraltar of India’, the Gwalior Fort is an 8th Century fort spread out in an area of three square kilometres (1.1 square miles). The palaces here include the Man Mandir Palace, the Gujari Mahal, the Jahangir Mahal, the Shah Jahan Mahal and the Karan Mahal.
Gwalior Fort light Sound Show – There is a Light and Sound show in the evening at the fort.
Timings:
In Hindi – 7:30 pm
In English – 8:30 pm
Entry fees:
- Indian (Above 15 years) Rs. 75
- Children (Under 15 years) Rs. 40
- Foreigner Rs. 250
- Camera Rs. 40
Duration: 45 Minutes
Location: Man Mahal
Jai Vilas Palace – The Jai Vilas Mahal (also known as the Jai Vilas Palace), is a nineteenth century palace which is now partly Museum. Remaining part is the residence of descendants of the royal Maratha Scindia dynasty
Tigra Dam
About 23 km from Gwalior, Tigra Dam creates a freshwater reservoir on the Sank River. It plays a crucial role in supplying water to the city. The dam is 24 metres high at its crest, and 1341 m long.
If the weather is good, consider going for boating in this beautiful lake.
Click here for popular points of interest in and around the city.
Getting there
By Air: Deo Bagh, is at a distance of 16.7 km (Around 35-40 minutes) from the Gwalior airport. The Gwalior airport is well connected to all major cities. Private taxis are easily available outside the airport.
By Train: Deo Bagh, is at a distance of 5.8 km (around 20 minutes) from the Gwalior railway station. The Gwalior railway station is well connected to all major cities and towns in India. Private taxis are available outside the station for onward journeys.
By Road: Gwalior is connected by road from other major cities of the country.
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Great post, a onestop guide for anyone going to Gwalior. Will keep this handy when i go
I am glad you found this useful 🙂
This heritage hotel is so impressive and the images are lovely. I did not have much idea about Gwalior, but now I would definitely love to visit there. Thanks for sharing the detailed information!
Heritage Hotels have such Royal feeling 😉
Thanks for sharing this post, didn’t know about this place. The photos look very enticing and make me want to visit someday!
I am glad you found this place enticing 🙂 Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, India is rich in History and Heritage sites!
Although our travels are budget-conscious, we always appreciate this kind of special accommodation and we are willing to pay a little extra if we can. In my opinion, where you stay is an important part of every trip, especially when there is a chance of staying in a place so unique as Neemrana’s Deo Bagh Hotel. Thanks for sharing!
Maria you have put it so well – I absolutely agree with you – even we are budget conscious but when the entire stay experience is as rich as this property we make exceptions!! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Always visited this place as a child. Never explored these places. Will definitely go here next time. Thanks for sharing!
Always visited this place as a child. Never visited these places. Will definitely go so in my next visit. Thanks for sharing.
Even we used to visit Gwalior a lot as kids 🙂
Ive never heard about Gwalior but its seems like a wonderful place! I cant wait to visit India one day and explore such a stunning places like that
India is full of Interesting Historic places – If you like History and Forts, then India will definitely interest you 🙂