Rustic Gateway
Located just minutes away from the world-renowned Ranthambore National Park, the hotel happens to be the smallest among Aman Group‘s 34 hotels, many of which have been mindfully created close to or within Unesco-protected sites. It’s this very approach that has made Aman, named after the Sanskrit word for ‘peace’ the gold standard when it comes to unforgettable travel stays.
With its unassuming front porch and deep terracotta walls, the entrance of Aman-i-Khas almost melts into the landscape of Rajasthan at first glance.
Upon touching down at the property, Aman-i-Khas’s you are given a homely welcome, the highlight of which may just be its refreshing homemade lemonade laced with rose essence from the camp’s garden.
Housing just 10 tents, the hotel aims to treat its guests with the utmost attention and care, assigning a special butler, also known as Batman in Aman-i-Khas lingo to each tent.
Rising between a maze of wild ferns and stone pathways, ten buttery white tents make up the entirety of Aman-i-Khas. As the camp functions only between October and March of each year, these jungle stays are resurrected annually in time for the winter.
While older, more worn-out tents are repurposed to create tote bags for future guests, new tents maintain safety and aesthetic standards for the property.
Imagine the tents you read about in fairytales, magically extending beyond comprehension, then give them a luxe update with sky-high ceilings, creamy white cashmere furnishings, earthy furniture in rich shades of brown, and throw in dedicated dining, lounging and study spaces
Each tent also comes with a deep soaking bathtub and state-of-the-art tech to forever change the way one thinks of residing with the wild.
Aman-i-Khas offers guests two safari opportunities per day (one every morning, one late afternoon), each of which is led by a handpicked selection of expert drivers and safari guides who ensure a thrilling experience each time. The National Park is replete with majestic beasts including leopards, jackals, sambar deer, crocodiles, monkeys, and close to 300 species of birds including peacocks and owls and of course, the Bengal tiger.
To ensure the most seamless experience, each ride comes well equipped with warm capes, binoculars, and refreshments like tea and cookies that can be enjoyed during a mid-safari break in the wild.
A roster of ever-changing menus is offered up in the hotel’s dedicated dining tent, but guests are also invited to enjoy private bush dinners, or alfresco breakfasts at neighbouring local farms.
At the very centre of the property sits a communal firepit, where guests can enjoy stargazing and pre-meal drinks each day. The menu at Aman-i-Khas is lovingly prepared using ingredients that are grown on the property itself. Your Batman can take you for a tour of its fragrant herb gardens and the hotel’s outdoor cooking station, where guests can participate in making their own meals.
Set up right in front of a marigold-laced fountain is the hotel’s spa tent, which houses two double treatment rooms. Here, guests can indulge in a selection of soothing massages, Reiki healing, scrubs, wraps and baths before enjoying a quiet hour or two in the hotel’s rustic step-well pool. Surrounded by trees and the soft humming of nature, the pool isn’t too far from the property’s sun-kissed yoga space, where the hotel’s resident yoga specialist invites guests every morning for invigorating sessions.
Editor’s Note
Safaris are the star attraction of Ranthambore and between all the safaris, where you stay will make all the difference. Aman-i-khas is that wildlife camp which will become that sweet spot for tired afternoon snoozes, hearty meals after long days in the park, and cooling showers or pool plunges before you hit the bed. If you’re headed there to catch sight of the wild cat soon, nothing can supersede the experience of this stay.
