5 Best Glamping Destinations in India
Glamping is a novel concept that has steadily crept into the mainstream luxury travel industry. Glamping stands for ‘Glamorous Camping’ which directly translates to luxurious camping. It’s meant for those looking to have a vacation close to nature without forfeiting their creature comforts. Like everything luxury, human imagination is the only limit to how luxurious glamping can get.
Tree houses, yurts, tents, cabins and cottages – any traditional camp can be upgraded and converted to a luxurious camp. Glamping is incredibly appealing to those who want to travel close to nature but not ‘rough it up’.
Glamping has recently exploded in popularity and the Indian hospitality industry has seen several dedicated ‘glamping’ properties coming up in recent years. India hosts a few of the best glamping sites in the world. The most appealing are featured below.
1. Aman-i-Khas
Aman-i-Khas is a boutique luxury camping resort on the border of Ranthambore National Park at the outskirts of Jaipur. This camp is super exclusive, with just ten massive Mughal-style luxury tents; each with 20-foot canopy ceilings, air conditioning, classic furnishings, and a stand-alone shower and tub. The three communal-style dining tents, enough to accommodate guests when the camp is at full strength, features seasonal ingredients harvested from the camp’s own organic garden.
Aman-i-Khas is a seasonal camp, operating only from October to May each year. The camp runs guided excursions twice a day to take guests into the park and show them indigenous species of the tiger, chital deer, hyenas, leopards, crocodiles and more.
As a full-fledged luxury property, Aman-I-Khas boasts of stellar services, a wide range of amenities and a ‘ludicrous’ feeling complementing everything around.
Travellers have claimed the experience to be ‘the best of the best the country can offer’.
2. Chamba Camp Thiksey
The Chamba Camp, Thiksey is a boutique luxury camp sandwiched between the snow-capped mountains of Leh and the Thiksey monastery. The Chamba Camp is the only property in the region that lives up to five-star hospitality standards. The mesmerizing location and the impeccable service further elevate the magnificence of the camp.
The camp consists of a lavish and spacious reception tent, a grand dining tent, a gift shop and a library. The living quarters host several Luxury Suite tents and an extravagant Presidential Suite tent. The tents are triple layered to ensure insulation and warmth. Suites are equipped with heated rooms, wooden flooring, en suite bathrooms and an annex which can be used as a sitting area or for additional bedding.
The Chamba Camp Thiksey is revered for its excellent gourmet cuisine and impeccable service. The chef is known to personally consult diners for feedback and unique requirements. The camp operates elaborate treks and hikes with knowledgeable personal guides and dedicated chauffeurs. There are several exciting trails in the vicinity waiting to be explored.
Travellers described the camp as ‘A Lap of Luxury at 11,500 feet’ and ‘A 7 – Star camping experience’.
3. The Machan
The Machan is not your conventional luxury resort. This uber-luxury award winning eco-property offers luxury tree-house accommodations. From a simple one-bedroom cottage to a full-fledged 3 bed, 2 bath ‘hanging in the air’ cottage with a patio, a private pool, an open-sky shower and a ‘hanging room’.
The treehouses at The Machan are named Machans, the premier most being the Starlight Machan. The basic option, a wooden cabin on the ground, is simply called ‘Woods’. The resort curates different experiences according to the season such as a cozy campfire in winter or bhajiyas and masala chai during the monsoons. It’s small yet significant.
As the Machan is more of a luxury escape, there are a variety of activities one can indulge in. You can learn recipes with the chef, privately dine amidst Mother nature, go stargazing, bird watching or even animal spotting with experts who’ll guide you every step of the way. The Machan offers incredible opportunities.
The resort’s energy needs are met solely through energy generated by solar and wind, resulting in a minimal carbon footprint. Water needs are met by a 300 feet deep mountain bore well. The Machan goes to great lengths to do justice to their ‘eco’ tag.
Travellers described it as, “A place over which Mother Nature smiles.”
4. Chhatra Sagar, Rajasthan, India
Chhatra Sagar is a luxurious tented camp perched atop a dam that sees a lot of birdlife throughout the year. There are just sixteen hand-made tents, two of which sit on a higher mountain range offering 360° views of the lake. The adjoining nature reserve leads to the farmlands of the Aravalli Hills. The views are soul scattering. You can take in everything this place has to offer and yet yearn for more.
Earlier operated by two descendants of the royal family, Chhatra Sagar was acquired by RAAS in April 2019 and is now known as RAAS Chhatra Sagar. Facilities such as a heated swimming pool, a world-class spa and private dining options are now key elements of the guest experience. You can also take part in several activities including nature trails, village tours and bird watching.
The tent interiors are fit for royalty with the floral design theme, spotless en-suite bathrooms and private sit-outs. The tents offer panoramic views of the lake in the East and the peaceful natural vistas in the horizon.
Travellers described Chhatra Sagar as ‘A fascinating experience of rural Rajasthan unparalleled by any.’
5. The Oberoi Sukhvilas
Set against a backdrop of over 8,000 acres of the Siswan Forest Range at the foothills of the Himalayas, Sukhvilas is a flagship Oberoi property featuring a hybrid set up of ultra luxury tents and villas. The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort, New Chandigarh was listed as ‘One of the World’s Greatest Places’ by TIME magazine in 2018.
The suite interiors take inspiration from Mughal palace designs and offer stunning forest views. Sukhvilas offers two tent options, either with a garden or a private pool. The tents are air-conditioned and triple canopied. If you’re a history fan, you’ll really appreciate how the tents pay homage to the desert caravans of a bygone era.
Suchvilas also offers a very well equipped spa providing Ayurvedic, Eastern and Western therapies. The resort doesn’t cut itself short on the experiential front either. You have the opportunity to take a private helicopter tour of Amritsar, go mountain biking in the Siswan forest, taste exemplary Punjabi cuisine or rejuvenate yourself with a forest bath. And there’s a lot more you can do.
The resort has been designed as a true escape from the bustle of urban life. The entire resort has been designed with a very open architecture, complemented by intricate landscaping featuring sweeping views from all angles. A stay here is sure to leave you feeling refreshed, destressed and energized.
Travelers dubbed The Oberoi Sukhvilas as ‘The perfect staycation destination.’
These properties are among the very best the Indian glamping scene offers. Despite being a relatively young space, glamping has carved out a niche for itself in the country with such properties witnessing a surge in both domestic and international luxury travelers opting for glamping destinations as their next luxury escape.
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