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Lake and forest at Ranthambhore
Lake and forest at Ranthambhore

Experiences
at Khem

Forest, grassland and lake
A 45-acre rewilded private reserve

Days shaped by the jungle, from first light on the trails to evenings by the lanterns.

Included with your stay

Naturalist-led walks

9 km of trails

Check availability
All ways to stay
Lake and forest at Ranthambhore

DAYS AT KHEM

Experiences

Days shaped by the jungle, the grassland and the lake.

Lake and forest at Ranthambhore

DAYS AT KHEM

Experiences

Days shaped by the jungle, the grassland and the lake.

Half the day in the jungle, the other half on the land around you, and evenings by the fire at the lake.

01 · INTO THE PARK

Jungle safaris

 

Ranthambhore National Park shares two of our boundaries. Twice a day, in the morning and again in the afternoon, its gates open for safaris in open jeeps (gypsies) and canters, along tracks through dry forest, past lakes, old ruins and the walls of the fort. The tiger is the reason most people come. Leopard, sloth bear, sambar, crocodile and more than 300 species of birds are the reason they come back. We are happy to recommend trusted local operators to arrange your safaris, and in winter we send you off with blankets for the drive.

Loungers beside the plunge pool among the trees
A spotting scope on the terrace under a starry sky above the Aravalli hills
Ranthambhore Fort rising above the forest
A camel cart beneath the Ranthambhore ridge

02 · ON OUR LAND

Nature walks

 

Nine kilometres of trails wind through 45 acres that were barren land when the family began planting in 1989. Today it is forest, grassland and water again, home to jackals, jungle cats and crocodiles, with a bird list that grows every season. Walk at first light or in the late afternoon, at your own pace or with one of our naturalists.

 

Walks are included with your stay.

03 · FROM THE GARDEN

Meals at Khem

 

Meals at Khem are vegetarian, and much of what reaches the table is grown in our own garden, with the rest from organic farms nearby. Lunch is light; dinner brings the cooking of Rajasthan and the rest of India, served in our dining room. Tell us in advance what you enjoy, and the kitchen will shape the menu around you. For a special evening, a private candlelit dinner can be arranged on request.

04 · SLOW AFTERNOONS

Dhyana Spa

 

Between the morning in the park and the evening by the fire, Dhyana Spa keeps the quietest hours of the day. Its therapists draw on Ayurveda and modern holistic practice, and work only with organic oils and botanicals such as sandalwood, vetiver, rose and ginger. Choose the signature Dhyana Fusion Massage, shaped around what your body needs that day, or a massage suited to your dosha. Treatments are best reserved ahead.

05 · LONG AFTERNOONS

Plunge pool

 

Set among the trees, the plunge pool is a quiet corner of the property all year round. Loungers wait in the shade, there is a book to finish, and the only sound is birdsong. Between the morning and afternoon safaris, this is where the day slows right down.

06 · WINTER EVENINGS

Evening bonfire

 

Through the winter months, a fire is lit beside the lotus pond as the light goes, right next to the bar. Chairs are pulled close, and the talk turns to what everyone saw in the park that day. The calls of the forest carry across the water, the first stars appear above it, and the evening is in no hurry to end.

07 · BY THE LOTUS POND

The bar

 

All year round, evenings at Khem begin at the bar, set beside the bonfire seating on the edge of the lotus pond. Settle in with a drink as the sky changes colour, trade safari stories with other guests, or simply listen to the birds settling in the trees for the night. The lanterns are lit, and there is always time for one more before dinner.

08 · AFTER DARK

Stargazing

 

Away from the lights of town, the night sky over the lake is deep and full of stars. After dinner, step out onto the lawn and look up: the Milky Way arcing overhead, planets bright above the hills, and the calls of owls and nightjars from the trees. Winter brings the clearest skies, and a telescope can be set up on request.

09 · BEYOND THE GATE

Ranthambhore Fort

 

Rising from the forest inside the national park, Ranthambhore Fort has watched over this land for more than a thousand years. It is part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. A morning's climb leads through great gateways to temples, step-wells and palace ruins, with langurs on the walls and views across the jungle. Its Trinetra Ganesh temple draws pilgrims from across India.

10 · BEYOND THE RESERVE

Local crafts and Dastkar

 

In nearby Sherpur Khilchipur, the craft centre Dastkar Ranthambhore gives women from the villages around the park a living from block printing and other traditional crafts. Watch the printers at work, sometimes even try a block yourself, then choose textiles and handmade pieces to take home. In town, artists paint the tiger in the Ranthambhore miniature style. Closer to home, a slow camel ride along the track beside the camp, on the boundary of the park, can be arranged on request.

An open jeep in tall grass beneath the Ranthambhore ridge
A jeep in tall grass, a guest standing to look across the meadow
A guest with binoculars standing in an open safari jeep
A safari jeep on a track through a tunnel of bamboo
A safari jeep on a forest trail near Ranthambhore
A naturalist walking a guest along the trail
A Khem Villas naturalist with binoculars in the grassland
A dinner table strewn with rose petals by candlelight
A vegetarian thali served at a candlelit table
Breakfast carried out through the trees to the garden tables
A breakfast table set beside the lily pond
Dinner in the restaurant at Khem Villas
A brass bowl of petals and candles at Dhyana Spa
A foot ritual in a bowl of rose petals at the Dhyana Spa
Warm oil poured for a massage at the Dhyana Spa
A spa bed decorated with rose petals and leaves
Morning yoga on the lawn, facing the Aravalli hills
Sparks rising from the evening bonfire
The fire pit lit at dusk, with chairs drawn around it
A bonfire by the lake at dusk
A campfire on the terrace in the evening
The thatched bar lit up at night
Bottles lined up on the bar counter by candlelight
A drink being poured at the outdoor bar
Drinks served to guests around the evening fire
  • An open jeep in tall grass beneath the Ranthambhore ridge
  • A jeep in tall grass, a guest standing to look across the meadow
  • A guest with binoculars standing in an open safari jeep
  • A safari jeep on a track through a tunnel of bamboo
  • A safari jeep on a forest trail near Ranthambhore
  • A naturalist walking a guest along the trail
  • A Khem Villas naturalist with binoculars in the grassland
  • A dinner table strewn with rose petals by candlelight
  • A vegetarian thali served at a candlelit table
  • Breakfast carried out through the trees to the garden tables
  • A breakfast table set beside the lily pond
  • Dinner in the restaurant at Khem Villas
  • Warm oil poured for a massage at the Dhyana Spa
  • A foot ritual in a bowl of rose petals at the Dhyana Spa
  • A brass bowl of petals and candles at Dhyana Spa
  • A spa bed decorated with rose petals and leaves
  • Morning yoga on the lawn, facing the Aravalli hills
  • Sparks rising from the evening bonfire
  • The fire pit lit at dusk, with chairs drawn around it
  • A bonfire by the lake at dusk
  • A campfire on the terrace in the evening
  • The thatched bar lit up at night
  • Bottles lined up on the bar counter by candlelight
  • A drink being poured at the outdoor bar
  • Drinks served to guests around the evening fire

SWIPE →

SWIPE →

SWIPE →

SWIPE →

SWIPE →

SWIPE →

Dhyana Spa at Khem Villas
Evening by the lake at Khem Villas
Dhyana Spa at Khem Villas
Evening by the lake at Khem Villas
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