Accommodation Review: Nana-ki-Haveli in Jaipur, India

Jaipur, the pink city of Rajastan, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Along with Agra and Delhi, it makes up the so-called "Golden Triangle" for tourist routes in the subcontinent. Instead of being accosted by taxi drivers recommending their "cousin's" hotel, it's best to know your options and book ahead. Last time we were in Jaipur, we stayed at Nana-ki-Haveli, and we would certainly go back. The name actually means "Grandfather's mansion," and the place really evoked the feel of visiting Grandpa at his old manor home.

Location

Nana-ki-Haveli is a delightful traditional style manor house in a tranquil area where public transportation is readily available. It's close to Moti Dungri Road in Fateh Tiba. Although it is not within walking distance of the old city or the flash sites of the newer side of Jaipur, you can get an autorickshaw or bicycle rickshaw by just walking 5 minutes towards the main road. If you're looking for a quiet place to sleep, this haveli is a good option.

Rooms

A haveli in India or Pakistan is a traditional mansion. There are several rooms of different sizes and prices. All have simple yet tasteful décor and very warm quilts. This was important during January when the weather was quite cold. It may have been the only hotel we stayed in where we were actually warm at night! Everything was impeccably clean and there are hot waters in the private bathrooms. The front of the property has beautiful manicured lawns, and you can make reservations to eat home cooked food at the haveli for dinner.

Service

This haveli is run by a lovely couple who seems willing to help guests in any way. Both the husband and wife speak English and Hindi, and when we were there the husband even got up in the wee hours of the morning to make sure we made our taxi to the train station. They took care of booking the taxi for us and offered us a lot of help in figuring out what to do and where to go in Jaipur.

Value