Bhanwar Vilas Palace

Karauli, India

Destinations

India

Accommodation

Bhanwar Vilas Palace

A glorious melange of Rajput architecture and Art Deco design, Bhanwar Vilas Palace was built in 1938 as the new palace for the Maharaja of Karauli, in place of the family’s medieval Karauli Fort.

The royal family, who claim direct lineage to the Hindu god Krishna, still lives on site; having sensitively and authentically modernised the palace to run as a hotel in the 1990’s. This is authentic Rajasthan, refreshingly off the beaten tourist track, and the palpable sense of heritage and tradition throughout the property makes a stay here an immersive cultural experience.

Sitting proudly in the centre of its serene 45-acre estate, the hotel has 13 rooms all overlooking either the courtyard or gardens. They are traditionally curated with lavish paintings gracing the walls and Art Deco furniture throughout. The palace kitchen serves outstanding traditional cuisine, perfected by generations of royal chefs, using fresh ingredients sourced from local organic farms, including the palace’s onsite dairy. Within the grounds the whimsical regal influences are all pervading, from the ornate swimming pool, surrounded by verdant gardens, to the stable of Marwari horses bred by the royal family and a vast collection of vintage cars, royal palanquins and elephant howdas.

What we love

Savour the region’s distinctive culinary culture with a hands-on cookery demonstration by the palace kitchen staff
Saddle up and tour the palace grounds on some of the royal family’s home-bred Marwari horses, an ancient breed native to this Marwar region of Rajasthan
Take the time to unwind and enjoy the serenity of this regal estate with a traditional massage treatment

Don’t be put off by the hotel’s museum-like public spaces, hung with hunting trophies from a bygone era. This is an authentic palace, offering privileged access to the state’s royalty, the cultural experience remains with you long after your stay

Children welcome with extra beds available. Family cricket matches organised by palace staff on request

The hotel runs its own organic dairy on site and manages the organic farming of its own estate and the surrounding farms. This approach actively promotes a farm-to-table culture that supports local business and reduces the carbon footprint of the food on offer. With a focus on the preservation of Rajasthan’s architectural and cultural heritage, the hotel puts educational tours at the forefront of its offering to visitors. Guests are offered personal tours of the royal palaces, and the hotel showcases traditional Rajasthani music, dance and artisanal crafts. The palace has been supporting local schools and educational programmes, helping children from Karauli get better access to learning opportunities

Set on the edge of the city of Karauli in south-eastern Rajasthan, the hotel is a great base for exploring the ancient treasures of the local area. From the impressive views at Ugdir Fort to the elaborate architecture of the 14th century Karuali Fort, prized for its intricate carvings and inner Madan Mohan Temple.

What our travellers say

We went to Sri Lanka as a three-generation family of three. The superb trip was organised by Samanthie and the team and it's difficult to see how it could have been bettered.

Roy Wood (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

Red Dot organised the most wonderful 3-week holiday for us. Samanthie built a trip around the amazing sights we had requested visiting, together with her own suggestions and a wide mix of hotels, which gave us the flavours of both traditional Sri Lanka and the sleek, stylish contemporary version of the country. Our Driver made the whole experience incredibly special for us.

Alie C (February 2026) Read the whole review here Trip Advisor

I can’t thank Cherylle and the Red Dot team enough for their meticulous planning of our family holiday to India travelling through Rajasthan over Christmas. As a family of all adults, every suggestion from daily activities to hotel choices was simply perfect. We travelled through Delhi, Ranthambore (an unforgettable tiger safari!), Jaipur and Agra and I truly feel we experienced the very best of each destination while moving at a relaxed, well thought out pace

Daisy Stanton (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

My partner arranged a holiday trip at fairly short notice to Sri Lanka with Red Dot on a recommendation, Samanthie was so patient & helpful with her suggested itinerary which we followed with some minor amendments. On arrival at Colombo we met Manjula our chauffeur/guide who was absolutely brilliant!

Andrew S (February 2026) Read the whole review here Trip Advisor

Dulmini and the Red Dot Team arranged a fantastic trip for us around Assam and North East India. Faultless service. I cannot recommend them more highly.

Martin Thomas (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

Wonderful company. Our holiday in Sri Lanka was perfect. Local knowledge made all the difference

Sandra Nicholson (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

We looked up, and communicated with umpteen tour operators. Though Red Dot seemed to have offices in Sri Lanka and the UK, they seemed to have the best reviews. We were fortunate enough to correspond with Cherylle, who not only assured us of the safety of our friend, but created a personalised, and flexible, itinerary which we could not have done ourselves.

Jayant Banerji (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

A 14-day tour with Red Dot Tours was the perfect antidote to the bleak UK winter. After a glowing recommendation from a friend, we contacted Red Dot Tours and were not disappointed. Our consultant, Lahiru, curated a seamless itinerary. Throughout the planning phase, Lahiru was incredibly responsive; the final itinerary—delivered via a user-friendly 'Guest Portal'—was impressively detailed, covering every hotel stay and excursion.

Phil Blair ( February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

Choose your adventure

Speak to one of our team to get started. After all, your travel journal won’t write itself.

Let's get planning