The hunting lodge of Jodhpur's former Maharaja Umaid Singh is now a resort. Built in 1933, the verandas of this pink sandstone-and-granite building have fabulous views of an artificial lake that attracts birds migrating between October and March. Just beyond the lake are the sands of the Thar Desert. Rooms are decorated in their original fittings, though they also have some art-deco furnishings. Reserve through Balsamand Lake Palace (the phone line is more likely to be working there). Pros: beautiful setting, good spot for bird-watchers. Cons: far from Jodhpur, and not much else around.
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