Narayan Niwas Castle

If you are looking for an authentic stay within an original castle, look no further. Do you want to feel like a real Maharaja, book the heritage suite! A room with authentic elements. The Niwas Castle Heritage Hotel is situated in the middle of the small village of Mahansar. It was an authentic experience and pleasant way of spending the night. Our welcome was very warm and the dinner provided by the Hotel family was exceptionally good (and a lot!). For those interested in wildlife you can take a walk around the castle and find many different types of birds, for those interested in history and architecture you can ask for a guide to show you the village and the havelis. The owner and his wife are adorable people who helped us out when our original taxi driver last-minute cancelled our pickup on the day of departure. Also really grateful for the luggage carrier and the other staff.

This hotel is a great stay for people who like the authentic India. Don't expect high tec and modern luxurious features - if you are hooked on the latter you are not at the right place. For example: the suite is located in a half open space of the castle, which is super nice for stargazing. But of course, turning on lights during night time can and will attract insects. The badroom is next to the open area - basic but all works properly. You just need to turn on the boiler 30min in advance, but hot water is assured. And although the entry of the hotel might seem like a maze a little in the beginning, as it's quite big castle, it's easy to find your way around after a while. Normally a guard will help you find the way, but we arrived earlier than anticipated so he was not yet on duty.

Like stepping back in time. What a magnificent place to stay. We loved our room (no. 1) and the views from the rooftops. Food was excellent, staff were helpful and nothing was too much trouble. The owner of the castle organised our day trip, sorting transport and a wonderful guide and made sure we got to the train station in good time on the day of our departure. A unique stay and a great memory!

It is an old property, not a business hotel. Its idiosyncrasies are to be embraced!

A wonderful experience for anyone who has ever wondered what it’s like to live as a king within a fortress. The two rooms we booked were fit for a palace, and our first arrival at the castle was a truly welcoming moment. The host and his wife were incredibly accommodating and happy to share stories about the history of the place in the evening around a bonfire. The food was the best I had in Rajasthan—hats off to the cook. I’ll never forget the profound sense of introspection I felt while gazing at the full moon at night from the walls of Narayan Niwas Castle.

We had an amazing time at the castle, the suite was beautifully decorated and the food served was amazing! Really worth it

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Our experience at Narayan Niwas Castle has been unique and amazing. It felt like traveling back in time and being surrounded by an incredible past. The room was splendid, impeccably clean, and the mattress was super comfortable. We highly recommend dining there, whether for lunch or dinner, both for the delicious variety and the generous portions. The staff was very kind and friendly with us, and honestly, they made us feel like part of their family. We also highly recommend taking a tour with Rajesh, a fantastic guide who knows the area inside out. Without him, we would have missed much of the history behind each building. And if you go in winter time, do not miss the bonfire! Thank you for everything, and we hope to return soon! :)

We loved our stay at Narayan Niwas Castle because of its authenticity, excellent hospitality and freshly cooked delicious meals. It is a homestay, so please don’t expect room service or modern conveniences. You have to be prepared to walk a number of stairs and don’t forget to bring some warm clothing in winter. We were sorry to leave and hope to visit again.

Super friendly place to stay, so welcoming! Lovely suite, the whole place has a great atmosphere. The cook is a miracle, the food fabulous and her daughter who seems to do almost everything is kind, charming and so helpful. Stay here and you will not be disappointed.

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Staying in the old castle was an experience, as if stepping back in time. The host has lived there all his life and is an interesting chap and very formal! The castle is his ancestoral home and cannot be compared to a hotel, as it is a totally different concept. Their staff keep the place very clean and the kitchen staff make the best food. Do not go there expecting luxury otherwise you will be dissapointed. Just go there and enjoy the ambience and revert back in time for a moment and enjoy the ride!!!🌻

When I travel, especially when solo, I seek places that are amidst nature and away from touristy noise as much as possible. I chose Narayan Niwas looking at the reviews and it was exactly meeting the high praise of guests. You get the feel of a real royal residence here with this 18th century castle and we are lucky that the place is open to stay for tourists. This is the best view in Mahansar easily to soak in the village life around, sights and sounds and beautiful sunrise and sunsets. The room I stayed in (top floor) was basic but had all essential facilities, and of course, great views and aspects of history attached to it. I liked the climbs up and down the castle, reminded me of our own ancestral haveli in Jaipur. The hospitality of owner, Thakur Maheshwar Singh Ji and the staff (Sita, Mangloo) was top notch. I will cherish my long conversations with Thakur Ji who is a storehouse of knowledge and history. The food was home style yet very different and tasty, especially the rice pulao and tomato sabzi, and Dal Bati spread. They also helped design my 2 day itinerary and provided the best guides to me (Rajesh, Mudita) for my exploration of Shekhawati. I was completely taken care of at a personal level right from arriving by train until leaving back for Jaipur. I recommend Narayan Niwas for anyone looking for history over luxury, authenticity over modern-day décor. Cheers to Mahansar!