A honeymooner’s paradise

Jaipur’s premiere attraction, the awesome Amber Fort

Our latest Escape of the Week is Tree of Life in Rajasthan. A honeymooner’s paradise, Tree of Life is all about romance and relaxation, offering the ultimate in privacy and service. This grand mini-resort features 14 stylish villas set on 7 acres of undulating land, with a sparkling infinity pool at its centre. It’s the vision of founder Himmat Anand – himself a perpetual, gracious presence at the property – who sought to create a haven of bliss away from the bustle of city life.

The sparkling pool at the centre of the resort

Each villa has a private outdoor spa, and the central resort spa offers extensive treatments, a steam room, a sauna and a Jacuzzi. There’s a restaurant for dinner, but most guests just wrap themselves in robes and dine in their villa, from a personalised 4-course menu that you design daily with the head chef’s help. But if you feel the need to leave the resort, there’s plenty to do nearby: take a morning elephant ride up to the spectacular Amber Fort and explore its opulent palace complex, spend a day sightseeing and shopping in the bustling ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, or borrow a bike and cycle into the village. The locals are incredibly friendly and the little farm fields are beautiful.

One of the villas at Tree of Life

Rooms: You don’t just get a room at Tree of Life, you get your own villa with a garden and an ‘outdoor spa’ with foot baths and treatment beds for couples’ massages; some have their own plunge pools, too. Inside, the living spaces are extravagantly large and airy. While their design borrows from traditional Rajasthani architecture, their feel is utterly modern: the soaring domed ceilings are painted vivid shades of pink, purple, yellow or orange and inlaid with shimmering mirror work. Top-quality amenities complete the deluxe experience: flat-screen TVs with surround-sound, espresso makers, pillow-top mattresses, a pillow and towel menu, bathrobes and cotton kurtas, Grohe bathroom fixtures, rain showers, and Kama Ayurveda toiletries. Who could ask for more?

Inside one of the villas

Food: Tree of Life is about customised luxury, and the food is no exception. Each evening, the chef visits your villa to discuss what you’d like for your 4-course menu, and later it’s served in your private living area or garden. If a 4-course meal is too much, you can always order off the all-day à la carte menu or ask the chef to come up with something – pretty much anything! – to your liking. You can be sure that the ingredients, many of which are sourced from local farms and the hotel’s garden, will be fresh and the taste combinations tantalising. In-room breakfasts won’t disappoint either: we loved our fresh-pressed juices, creamy cappuccinos, fluffy omelettes and delicious Indian fare.

Your Chef will come up with pretty much anything to your liking

When to go: The resort is open all year round. October to April is peak season, featuring bright days and often chilly nights. July to September is the monsoon: typically rainy and lush, though quite hot. The scorching mid-summer months of April, May and June are best avoided.

i-escape guest review: “Quite literally an oasis in the desert. Being outside of Jaipur proper results in the Tree of Life being a haven of tranquillity and calm. From the bangle ceremony upon arrival, to the sweet-toothed departure, staff really try to apply the zen qualities of the resort to every aspect of your stay. The villas are spacious and each has its own unique design. The personalised dinner menu is a must, as is simply lounging in the aesthetically well-crafted outdoor spaces. The Tree of Life is ideal for those who are seeking to explore Jaipur, but withdraw from the hustle and bustle (and dirt!) to someplace more serene at the end of the day. It was a really relaxing stay.”
Tasmin, India (24.04.12)