TOH Bunny Review – The Fort Ramgarh

With the hint of the spring in the air, Bunny’s wanderings took him to Fort Ramgarh, a medieval heritage delight just outside Chandigarh Panchkula complex, just 4 hours of comfortable drive from Delhi. The property situated at Ramgarh is in a class of its own with outstanding hospitality, classic style and a value for the tradition.c

The Fort Ramgarh – Main Gate

The property’s high point is its imposing façade guarded by a 37-Ft-high door, recognised to be the tallest wooden door in India by the “Limca Book of records”. It is interesting to note that this door is higher than the ‘Buland Darwaja’ at Fatehpur Sikri, popularly thought to be the highest wooden door in the country.

The Fort Ramgah – Dastarkhan

The Fort Ramgarh – Old Swords

The property interiors are adorned with lattice work, mirror mosaics and frescoes and reminders to the years gone in the form of period paintings, antique furniture, vintage cars rubbing shoulders with contemporary classic of a Rolls Royce beauty that serves as favourite wheels of the current scion of the mighty Chandels of Ramgarh.

The Fort Ramgarh – Imperial Suite

The Fort Ramgarh – Royal Suite

The Fort Ramgarh – Vintage Room

With a part of the property still occupied by the descendents of Chandel Rajputs, who held sway over Central India in the past for a long period stretching from AD 800 to AD 1182, created magnificent ‘Khajuraho’ temples and in later years settled at Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh and later descended to Punjab plains in the then Ambala district.

The Fort Ramgarh – Lawn

The Fort Ramgarh – Courtyard

It was a delight for the TOH bunny to catch the patriarch of the family sunning himself at the property in a ruminative mood and the conversation with him comprising a throwback to the past was a delight. The property itself possibly occupied a much larger area in the past. What now survives is basically the zenankhana (women’s courtyard). Perhaps to protect women especially, it boasts of 18-ft thick walls.

The Fort Ramgarh – Heritage

The family has painstakingly renovated and restructured the part of the fort now under use. The property exudes a throwback to tradition in more ways than one. While one is reminded of brave Rajput households; in keeping with the Rajput tradition in many a part, the property serves only vegetarian food and also does not serve any liquor.

Sukana Lake – Chandigarh

The location of the property makes it an ideal place to explore the charms of the city beautiful- Chandigarhin the form of its Lake, the Rock Garden, Chhatbir Safari or the joy riding ‘Gedi’ that is ‘piece de resistance’ of Chandigarh. With Ramgarh as base, you could also  explore  the magnificence of Mughal garden architecture at Pinjore, catch in a round of Golf at Chandigarh or Panchkula or make a quick dash to nearby Kasauli or Barog. The place is also a convenient stop over from Shimla en route to Delhi should you want to take the drive easy. The property with its old world charm, large spaces, adequate conference facilities and a location that is not too distracting also makes for an ideal time for a medium size group to catch a bit of work and play in a conference, meeting, group bonding session or just plain old fashioned enjoyment. Whatever your motive bunny sure recommends adding a heritage twist to it at ‘The Fort Ramgarh’.

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