Bhanwar Niwas, Bikaner

A boutique heritage hotel inside the walled old city and the grandest haveli belonging to the Rampuria family, Bhanwar Niwas is full of character and history. Commissioned by the late Seth Bhanwarlalji Rampuria in 1927, the architecture of the haveli and its interiors is a fascinating blend of Indian and European styles, with gold leaf painting on the walls, adding an element of kitsch, reflecting the fashion of the 1920s. There are 25 comfortable and individually decorated rooms with en suite bathrooms. Traditional haveli architecture was styled to keep out the hot desert sun, so you may find some of the rooms lack natural light, as they were meant to keep cool during the summer months. There is also a large internal courtyard which is the perfect spot to escape the desert sun. The large dining room serves delicious Indian vegetarian food, making it very difficult to leave this unique haveli.