MOUNTBATTEN LODGE, RANAKPUR

Accommodation and Amenities:
The four suites at Mountbatten Lodge are set in two bungalows – each Bungalow independent and private with a brief lounge leading to the two suites as well as a pool, verandah and sun decks. The living spaces of each suite have to spoken about in terms of space and scale – everything is generous, large beds and couches, high windows, beautiful bathrooms that incorporate a shower, hamman and a spa bed, twin vanities, everywhere there is the a glimpse of nature, thanks to the high windows. To this scale and space are design features like a back lit piece of art, corner lamps, whites and beige dominate, large cushions and rugs fill the space with warm and style and make up for a very inviting, comfortable and private space.
Dining are special times at Mountbatten, lunch is usually served under a large banyan tree brought to your table. Dinner is when the ‘colonial experience’ is laid out to full and fabulous effect, candle lit, flowers adorning the table, each cover set to perfection for that dreamy meal to be served course upon course. You will be tempted to go that additional mile to dress for dinner.
Amenities and Activities:
For its privacy and sheer individual space, Mountbatten Lodge is perfect for customization; hence every activity here has the potential to be tailored to individual interest and taste. Some of the signature activities here include the Leopard trail which is a must if you are keen to see one of India’s most elusive cats in the wild and will take you the better part of an afternoon. Riding trails to explore the countryside on horseback and pre-booked elephant safaris combined with camping in the wild are some of the recommended adventures while jeep safaris into the Aravallis to catch the iridescent sunsets are time to toast your time on earth to chilled sparkling wine. It would surely be a moment to remember to be seated right on top of a hill and on edge, champagne in hand watching a spectacle that plays out in front of you! A trek through tiny hamlets around the lodge is another one of the activities, bringing in the essential connect with local communities while excursions to Ranakpur and Kumbalgarh can be accomplished in half a day.
One of the most endearing features of Mountbatten Lodge and which we personally endorse and believe will get you coming back for more, is its element of fun. The main lodge which is the heart of Mountbatten Lodge is a hub of social activity as it houses the bar, a careful selection of books, charming artefacts, a billiards table and plenty of places to just be. This is also where Reggie’s collection of Jazz music plays through the evening setting the mood for relaxation and revelry. And on those occasions that Reggie joins in…. the party doesn’t end in a hurry.

MECH Review:
That is a small enough to contain the promise of a very personal experience and each suite generous, spacious and stylish to convey a sense of luxury is a MECH and endearing quality for any lodge. That a hotelier would leave large portions of the outdoors intact only to enhance the experience of four suites is both audacious and intelligent, that speaks of a reverence to the concept and choosing quantity versus quality. This is why Mountbatten is on MECH List.
Why Mountbatten :
It is often said as a part of the local lore that back in the days of the Raj an Englishman and his entourage believed to be Lord Mountbatten had camped around the same location as the lodge stands today. Reggie Singh inspired by the style, service, décor and architecture of the British in India, has conceptualized Mount Batten Lodge to mirror the colonial lifestyle of those times.

Things you should know about Mount Batten Lodge:
The lodge is also an ideal place for stop over lunches enroute between Jodhpur and Udaipur. Being a lodge with such limited inventory, please remember to book well in advance. All activities are best booked in advance. Mountbatten offers superb safaris out to Beda for sighting Leopards. A series of programs are offered including overnights in private campsites and safaris on elephant back as well, this we believe would complete the colonial camping experience.