we got a fantastic deal: Taj Summer Holiday Package (Buy 1, Get 1 Free). Obviously, we opted for the most expensive room: The Junior Suite. Food: Limited choice because of off-season, but well prepared. Beer @ Rs. 185 (tax included). Most of the cocktails @ Rs. 200. Hotel: Nice garden, average swimming pool. Room: lovely bathroom, extra bed complimentary in the summer offer. Private Sitout: not as exciting, insects get attracted by the lights and tend to drown in your beer. completely avoidable in rainy season. Staff: Courteous. Cricket & Football is possible in front lawns, if in a large group. Ranthambore National Park is about 20 minutes away in car. We saw tigress and three cubs in our first visit!! Must visit for a nice relaxing weekend from Delhi/Jaipur.

Despite previous reviews, the Sawai Madhopur Lodge was a pleasant stay. We stayed there for 3 nights and arrived there very late at night. The night staff, were excellent and catered for our every need.They were even better then the day staff.

Day staff did need alot of pushing and questioning but eventually they met with our requests which was to book an extra safari to Ranthambhore park and book an elephant ride.

We were 6 adults and we had 2 Junior Suits with a private siting area outside. It was beautiful. The gardens were lovely. The rooms were huge suits with beds bigger then king size!! They kindly put in a folding beds for the 3rd person in both the rooms, which was also comfortable. The bathroom with toilet was also good and everything was very clean.

At dinner, I would avoid the cold food. My mother became ill because she tried some of the pasta there, and if you think about it, pasta is not their national dish so I would leave this out. The traditional Indian food was good and well cooked. Those reluctant to eat the meat curry need not fear, this was safe too. Any hot dishes were good. They also has a chocolate brownie thing for desert which was my favourite. It was a great atmosphere at night, they light fires and candles and they have local musicians and kids dancing around.

During the day when you are not on safari, you can mess around the grounds with the bicycles that are there for hotel guests. You are not allowed to take these out of the grounds.There is also a couple of swings which my brother, cousin and myslef were messing around on despite our ages!! The security guard was also very friendly and quick enough to familiarise himself with us.

The hotel would provide you with hot drinks bwfore setting out on your safari so early in the morning, this was good.

I only had one complaint, my mother got ill (due to eating the cold food) and in the middle of the night about 3am we rang the reception for a doctor. No one was picking up the phone. So I went outside with my torch, boy is it scary!! I went into the reception area and no one was to be seen. The security guard was not even there. It was even scarier in reception as the stuffed animals ( hideous I thought considering they are trying to save the animals in the park, but I guess it fits in with the Raja's hunting lodge theme) were staring at you!! I screamed and shouted for someone to come, no one was there! I think we waited till the morning till the doctor came, again had to force the guy at reception to get the doctor. He didn't seem to understand the urgency, even though he thought he was doing such an importanat job!!

Anyway, I would go there again, but try not to get ill!!

Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge welcomed us with open arms. The compound was reminiscent of its past glory: once a hunting lodge for the Maharaja of Rajasthan. Pictures of British Royalties in their glory years decorate the main lodge...even the "taxidermied" tigers and leopards are there for proof!

The main lodge houses the dining area and refreshment center. as well as intertainment/recreational center and a library. Clean comfortable and always that elegant feel of the old hunting lodge frequented by the British royalties.

We upgraded to the garden suite (totalling to USD 300 for 2 room for 2 nights) which had a massive granite bathroom, to the period style furniture with modern amenities such as air remote controlled conditioning. The suite had living room and a huge bedroom. We had comfortable furnishings. We were welcome with a bottle of red Italian wine and fresh fruits.

The whole setting was immaculately manicured. Sometimes, monkeys are spotted playing on the swing or in the garden area. There are bikes for guests to use if their rooms/suites are in the area further out like the garden suites. My son learned to bike there...that'll be a wonderful memory of the place alone!

The dinners are served outside when we were there. The dinner was an assortment of dishes and was very delicious. The evening weather was wonderful. For breakfast, it was in the formally paneled dining room of the main lodge. Local entertainment was a nice touch during the night. A group to about 30 Americans were there and they were very please with the accommodations as well.

We felt very secure and relaxed in this place. It was very private and that open air feel was very nice to have after Agra and Delhi. We, if given a chance, will return to this old hunting lodge without batting an eye! 4 star place for a 5 star experience!

The best memories of course the sighting of the tigers and their cubs! No binoculars needed to see the fine markings and huge paws. They crossed the path of our safari jeep! AWESOME!!!

THere is one thing that people come to this part of India to do, see the tigers. While there is never a guarantee, it is a government rigged system. The hotel can book your canter or gypsy rides, but are obtuse and evasive when it comes to being helpful equally to all their guests with regards to the rides into the park. The rooms are average, the food pretty good. In fact dinner on the patio was lovely. The manager was quite helpful to us, but the rest of the staff only new how to say no or to put you off. If I were to do it again, I'd stay elsewhere.