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Niteen158
Cincinnati, Ohio

Opportunity to live like the Royals in a living fort !

5.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed 6 Feb 2018
Never imagined one could live in an actual fort. The hotel has the choicest location in the fort. The breakfast on the forts' ramparts was an incredibly relaxing experience. Bhanu, the co-owner, is passionate about preserving history and improving the tourist's experience in Jaisalmer. Rooms are clean, and immaculately decorated. Excellent service; the pickup from the railway station (at midnight) was absolutely flawless. Given a chance, would love to stay at this place again in the future.
Date of stay: October 2017
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lucaji, Owner at Hotel Killa Bhawan, responded to this review
Responded 9 Feb 2018
Dear Niteen

Thanks so much for your kind comment. I'm really glad you appreciated my place and hope you will visit us again.
Cheers
Luca Borella
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Reviewed 19 January 2018

A trip to Jaiselmer would be incomplete without a couple of nights at Hotel Killa Bhawan. It has incredible charm and character; it is a complete stunner to be precise. Well this is not surprising given that it is not often that one gets to stay on the ramparts of a medieval fort (800 years old) - that too one that counts among the very few 'living' forts in the world.

The place is designed very aesthetically, with artifacts (mainly old metal pots and urns and art objects, embroidered fabrics and camel paraphernalia) installed all over the place. In fact you have old (and traditional) heavy metal pots in various corners that are used as trash bins!

It is small hotel (8 rooms if I am not mistaken) with a personalized touch. Staff are extremely courteous, friendly and helpful, which made our stay that much more special.

Killa Bhawan serves very good breakfast on the rampart terraces, from where you get awesome views of the fort as you enjoy breakfast. Now you can't beat that, can you?

Being a small establishment, they however don't serve lunch or dinner on site. For that you need to either go to their cafe (a very good one where we had delicious Rajasthani food) located very near Patwa Haweli, or can go to one of the numerous other good restaurants in close vicinity of the hotel.

The hotel arranged for a very good guide, Mr. Lallu, who was very knowledgeable, competent and and very likable. He showed us the fort and the small town below the fort. If you are looking for a good guide, Lallu is your man.

Killa Bhawan also has a handicraft shop which has some really good and high quality stuff. I would recommend a visit.

In case you are looking for opulent luxury and indulgence, you might be better off somewhere else. But if you are looking for elegance, comfort, warmth and real character, Killa Bhawan is the right place for you.

Many thanks Bhanu and team for our memorable stay. It was simply magical and we look forward to going back, next time with our daughter.

Date of stay: December 2017
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Sleep Quality
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
1  Thank Shumon-Sengupta
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lucaBorella, Owner at Hotel Killa Bhawan, responded to this reviewResponded 20 January 2018

dear Sir

thanks so much for your very kind comment!! Jaisalmer is a magic place and I tried to recreate the same atmosphere in Killa Bhawan, thanks also to the formidable people working there. Hope to see you again, cheers
Luca Borella

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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewed 17 January 2018

If you think of a desert city as bleak, think again. You feel the magic of Jaisalmer, the Golden City, land of the Bhatti princes, born of the moon, as soon as it comes into view. The fort, rising from the mighty rock like a giant sand castle, parapets, balconies, and terraces included, crowns the city. The beauty of the living fort, the havelis, and the Jain temples, all carved from the same honey gold stone, will leave you breathless. And what better place to stay than a hotel in the fort built in 1056 AD. The Killa Bhawan hotel has all the soul of the fort and all the comforts of a luxury hotel. We knew we’d made the right hotel choice from the moment our host, Bahnu, welcomed us with a warm, “Relax, you’re home.” We were even more sure as we watched him wave goodbye to us from the city gates. Our flight was canceled because the mists rolled in from the “snows in Kashmir.” The tiny airport had canceled fights the day before and most likely would again the next day, so we weren’t sure how we would rework out plans. However, Bahnu and his staff at the hotel found us a driver and hotel in Jodhpur and handed us hot grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches wrapped in foil, along with spicy chips, chocolate cookies and cold bottled water for the trip…a canceled fight has never been so easy. It was this hospitality that we experienced daily in the city and especially at Hotel Killa Bhawan. The hotel and its café, just a short tuk-tuk ride away, will exceed all your expectations. If this isn’t the best hotel in Jaisalmer, I’ll kiss your thali.

Room tip: The honeymoon suite with balcony was astonishing.
Date of stay: November 2017
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Location
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
2  Thank JeanA2776
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lucaBorella, Owner at Hotel Killa Bhawan, responded to this reviewResponded 20 January 2018

Dear Jean

I'm speechless ......you really did understand everything about Jaisalmer magic......Thanks so much for your lovely word. Indeed, people of Jaisalmer are everything we long for.
I fell for Jaisalmer long back and never get tired of it.
thanks again, cheers
Luca Borella

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Reviewed 16 January 2018

This beautiful and characterful hotel was our first stop in India after Delhi and by far my favourite of all our destinations. The setting is sublime and Bhanu and Manish run it to perfection. Nothing was too much trouble and they made us feel really special. They are super-informative on everything and provided amazing breakfasts on the hotel roof. Our bedroom was the one I reserved and after the desert evening we were upgraded to an even better room. I love that each room is different and there are numerous sunny terraces for sitting and relaxing, including Indian day beds. All the staff are very helpful, hard-working and discreet. They always do their utmost to please. I would definitely recommend this hotel and will return without a doubt. I have recommended it to several friends already. Thanks again Bhanu and to all your staff!

Room tip: We had a room at the top with a balcony overlooking Jaisalmer.Don't know number. Room n°8 is also lovely.
Date of stay: November 2017
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Sleep Quality
    • Service
1  Thank Julia L
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lucaji, Owner at Hotel Killa Bhawan, responded to this reviewResponded 9 February 2018

dear Julia

thanks so much for your lovely comments!! It is a pleasure to read about people who really appreciate what we are trying to create here.
Hope you will visit again, cheers
Luca Borella

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Reviewed 2 January 2018 via mobile

This boutique family run hotel, managed by Manish, one of the brothers, is set within the fort walls overlooking the fort and the Old City. From the moment we arrived we were met with a welcome to remember. We were led up to the terrace for a chai as Manish offered advice on our plans for our time in Jaisalmer. The people make the place and this was our experience at Hotel Killa Bhawan. The hotel and the rooms have an Arabian Nights feel. The view of the fort from our terrace was spectacular. We loved stepping out from our room onto the terrace looking out over the characteristic city and fort. A great place to break the exploration of the city with a relaxing chai sitting on the terrace and soaking up the atmosphere of this exotic city. Manish and the team made us feel at home and our stay here exceeded all expectations.

Date of stay: January 2018
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
2  Thank Damascasrose123
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 26 December 2017

This hotel probably takes the top spot from among those where I stayed during my trip to India, but it may very well be down to one room - I think the staff called it the royal suite (we hadn't asked for suites per se when booking our tour). The name is well given - the room is in one of the fort's towers, has its own private sitting balcony overlooking the city, a sort of antechamber with seating for friends or guests or co-travellers, an access onto the tower roof, and is decorated with tremendous character and taste. Breakfast is served on the battlements (for all rooms), and though choice isn't tremendous the quality is good. The hotel is hidden down an alleyway in the old city so also provides priviledged access to explore the fort in your own time. Staff were friendly and accomodating. I really recommend checking if they have rooms available if staying in Jaisalmer, and in particular asking if the suite in the tower is available!

Date of stay: August 2017
  • Trip type: Travelled with friends
    • Value
    • Rooms
    • Service
2  Thank sebgolding
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lucaBorella, Owner at Hotel Killa Bhawan, responded to this reviewResponded 29 December 2017
Google Translation

bonjour
Merci beaucoup pour votre très sympathique et long commentaire! je vous rassure, il n'y a pas que la chambre 10, la "Honey Moon " suite qui vaut le détour. Toutes les chambres sont différentes et ont leur caractère propre et fenêtre ou balcon sur la ville!
je suis très heureux que vous y ayez pris du plaisirs, autant que moi chaque fois que j'y suis!
Bonnes fêtes de fin d'année
Luca Borella

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