GQ featured Lakshman Sagar in their Off - The - Radar Hotels list

A must visit winter destination in India - Arabian Gazette

Wondering where to go this New Year’s? Head straight to India and look at this gem in the lap of nature–Lakshman Sagar

Genre: Romantic, Luxury, Nature Retreat

Just a day before the trip, I realized that I might have limited access to Internet and phones. I was wondering why I agreed to visit the ‘badlands’ of India’s Rajasthan.

Little did I know that approach road to this rocky terrain would be better than most city roads. Little did I know that the smiles of the people will eat into my apprehensions. Neither did I know that this would be one trip that I am going to cherish for a long, long time.

Glad that I agreed to be here and glad that I have the opportunity to share my experiences with my readers.

I was growing impatient and wanted at least a small glimpse of the building. After all, I was already two hours into my road journey from Ajmer railway station. My research revealed that it was a Marwar heritage property that was used by the erstwhile 29th-century rulers as their hunting lodge.

There is some sort of serenity attached with the property. The main buildings of the property stand intact, proudly, in their historical glory. The women’s’ quarters are painted in candyfloss pink while that of the men’s is in manly yet pleasant blue.

Times moves at its own pace here. You can choose to head for an early morning walk, trying to spot some harmless wildlife and mostly birds. I did compete with a tortoise before deciding to head to the groundnut farms.

While my stay was for two nights, I recommend you to park yourself for atleast 3-4 nights to do complete justice to the place. You are spoilt for choice—it is difficult to decide whether to go and have breakfast in the fields, or go birdwatching, or settle for a royal spa in the comforts of your bright and lively cottage or enjoy a dip in the attached private pool.

Afternoons can be a bit boring if the sun is shining bright out there. But, we strictly recommend that you should head out to the local market, check out the local produce, indulge in some delicacies and savouries that form a part of the street food. You could also sit back in the cottage and play some traditional Indian games that are equivalent to the modern day Ludo or chess.

I decided to give all this a miss and call for a village girl to apply some henna on my hands. After all, the region has one of the best Henna farms of the world. Satisfied at the traditional Indian tattoo, I headed to meet the potter. Complete with a potter’s wheel, we spent the afternoon creating beautiful clay utensils. Who needs to be on Facebook when there are so many activities that can engage you and your mind? And the resultant creativity is food for the soul?

That is not all, towards the evening, you should head to this crater-style common pool that has warm water from the afternoon sun. Don’t forget to run straight to the high-walled terrace lounge right next to this pool. Sunset and star-gazing experiences from here are unbelievable. Living in a city, you would never know that nature has so much to offer.

Wondering what kind of food is served here? The chefs are right there to cook food according to your liking. However, when in Rome, do as Romans. Eat the local food, Dal Baati Choorma, Gatte ki Sabzi, Laal Maas and Ker Sangeri. Trust us, the food will not disappoint you. After all, it is organically grown right there in the resort premises. To read more 

Lakshman Sagar has been featured in Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Abroad

Mango Fiesta at Lodi – The Garden Restaurant

Lodi – The Garden Restaurant is the perfect amalgam of picturesque ambiance and delicious food. This premium offering by Sewara Hospitality brought us the perfect remedy the beat the heat this summers by hosting a month long ‘Mango Fiesta’ with a menu that offers a wide range of Mango cocktails and desserts.

The beautifully lit garden has lanterns dangling from the lush green trees and the wooden tables in curtained pavilions, setting it a class apart from the usual fine dining restaurants in the city.Celebrate the hero of the season – the glorious Mango amidst the lush green location of this beautiful restaurant and fall in love with the most romantic spot of Delhi – Lodi – The Garden Restaurant!

Mango Bellini – With a fancy and classy presentation, you can count on this delicious Champagne based cocktail to soothe your senses on a hot day while leaving the lingering taste of Mango on your taste buds!

Raw cut pieces of Mango

Raw cut pieces of Mango – Rich and fresh varieties of Mango after a wholesome meal are some of life’s underrated pleasures! Dig in this simple dessert and recall the childhood joy of eating mangoes in summers!

Mango Cheesecake – The brilliant plating, the gooey and extremely moist texture of this cheesecake leave nothing but a smile on your face! The lasting taste of Mango and perfect balance of sweetness are the highlight of this dessert.

Mango Cheesecake

Mango Pudding– It is one of the simple pleasures of life to enjoy fresh and juicy pieces of mangoes in a dessert. Mango Pudding happens to be the best offering of the menu at Lodi. The pudding melts in the mouth, and has a taste that you will remember for long. To read more

Comedy In The Garden

Lodi – The Garden Restaurant and Comedy Wala present Open Mic Comedy Come and watch the creation, death and resurrection of jokes.
 
The comedian will come on the spot and present themselves. Comedians to register themselves online. Around 15 performers come and perform!
 

Venue- Lodi - The Garden Restaurant
When – Saturday 4, 2015
Time – 8pm onwards
Address-  Lodi – The Garden Restaurant, Lodhi Road, Opposite Mausam Bhawan, New Delhi - 110003.
For Reservation Call: 9818743232
Entry is free of cost

June Specials with Sewara Organics

New At The Deli

  

Discover the many flavors of delicious seasonal produce from jams to dried herbs to a variety of oils! All of these are now available at The Deli at Lodi - The Garden Restaurant.

 

  Gurgaon Farmers Market

Healthy, seasonal and fresh – we’re bringing you the best veggies of the season every Sunday at Gurgaon Organic Farmers Market from 9am to 11am at Sushant Lok C Block, Community Centre (Near Paras Hospital) Gurgaon. For more details Call +919873374745 or +911126494531.

 

  Now Delivering 

We bring fresh, seasonal organic produce from our Sewara farms right to your doorstep. Call us on +919873374745 or +911126494531 to create your own customized basket!

Delhi Travel Massive Meetup at Lodi The Garden Restaurant

This event is generously hosted by Sewara / Lodi, The Garden Restaurant.


This edition of Delhi Travel Massive will be held at the city's favourite al fresco dining restaurant on 27th of march 2015 at 18:00 onwards. Situated in Lutyens Delhi, Lodi continues to be a popular haunt for leisurely Sunday brunches, evening cocktails and other gastronomical experiences. Highlighted by its lush botanical surroundings, pebbled walkways and bamboo railings, the restaurant is an extension of Lodhi Garden itself. 

 Follow Lodi – The Garden Restaurant page on Facebook.

Twitter @SewaraTweets and Instagram @SewaraHospitality




Delhi Travel Massive is organized by original co-founder Mariellen Ward of Breathedreamgo.com and Sachin Bansal and Nidhi Bansal of India City Walks (former Delhi Walks)

Review of Lakshman Sagar by Sharell Cook

View of Lakshman Sagar Zanana (Women's) Tower. 
Rakhee Ghelani

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There are plenty of hotels that don't live up to what's portrayed on their websites. Lakshman Sagar isn't one of them. From the moment you arrive, this spectacular hotel will mesmerize you with its striking concept and design, attention to detail, and outstanding service. It tops my list of hotels in India that I've stayed in.

Lakshman Sagar: Location and Setting

In terms of accessibility, Lakshman Sagar is situated near the village of Haripur in the Pali district of Rajasthan, off National Highway 14. It's approximately two hours drive from Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Ajmer (near Pushkar). Guest also frequently come from Jaipur.

The location is an aspect of Lakshman Sagar that holds particular appeal. Rural and rustic, and just incredibly picturesque and peaceful, it's set around a ridge with a large lake (sagar means lake or ocean in Sanskrit) below. One of the only sounds you'll hear there is that of birds -- the splash of ducks in the water, and the call of peacocks during the day and owls at night.

The first thing to catch my eye as I approached the hotel was the gleaming white and pink Zanana (women's) tower. It's imposing, but the extensive grounds that lay beyond really took my breath away.

Lakshman Sagar was originally a royal 19th century hunting lodge, owned by the then Thakur of Raipur, who hosted noble families and British dignitaries there. The Mardana (men's) tower has been converted into a breezy white and blue dining space, with a kitchen below it, while a swimming pool has been cut into the rock plateau behind the Zanana tower. Day beds, sheltered by thatching of dry vegetation, line one side of the lake. And, 12 mud and stone guest cottages are spread out over the 32 acre landscape


The way the hotel has been constructed is ingenious. It blends old and new in a very chic way. Eco-friendly architects Revathi and Vasanth Kamath, as well as Delhi interior designers Sahil Bagga and Sarthak Sengupta, have shown remarkable creativity in using local products and culture for inspiration. Not all of their ideas are obvious though. One of the hotel staff pointed out the light fittings, made from recycled and painted milk cans and truck diesel filters. I never would've guessed!
Lakshman Sagar: Accommodations
The 12 cottages are no less stunning than the rest of the property. They're very spacious (around 900 square feet each), and have independent bedrooms, living rooms with fireplaces, private plunge pools overlooking the lake, and stone bathrooms with rain showers. 

I loved the way my cottage was furnished, with cushions and rugs providing the bursts of color that Rajasthan is known for, against the earthy beige dried mud walls. Yet, it was the unexpected extra touches, usually not found in hotels, that really impressed me. I found freshly ground plunger coffee in the fridge, a tray of incense cones in the living room, and twigs from a Neem tree in the bathroom (this is how teeth are traditionally cleaned in India). The rain water shower was absolutely divine, although the curious wild peacock that peeked through one of the windows while I was bathing brought me back to reality!

For what you get, the room rates at Lakshman Sagar are reasonable. A double cottage costs 13,500 rupees ($250) a night, including all meals and in-house activities such as cooking classes and nature walks. Alcohol is extra, but the hotel doesn't try to make money from this. The bottle of wine in the mini bar in my room was priced less than at restaurants where I live in Mumbai.
 
Lakshman Sagar: Food and Dining
Lakshman Sagar aims to give guests a taste of Rajasthan. There's no fixed menu but rather guests are served a range of dishes from the region according to their preferences. The friend I was traveling with is a big foodie, and she was delighted to be able to get the recipes off the chef and see a cooking demonstration. On the other hand, I was particularly pleased with the organic vegetable garden at the front of the property, which provides much of the ingredients for the meals.

The splendor of the hotel really reveals itself at sunset, and it's best enjoyed on the rooftop of the Zanana tower with a cocktail. To get up there, we climbed three flights of stairs past a bubbling water fountain, dining room, and writers alcove all in eye catching hues of white, blue and pink.

Although Lakshman Sagar is a luxury hotel that's worth staying in by itself, admirably the hotel also focuses on providing guests with an "experience" centered around rural Rajasthan and village life. One of the best ways to have this experience is by going on the field breakfast. We were driven by jeep to a nearby village home where pristine day beds and a table were laid out for us, overlooking a carpet of green crops. A village woman was preparing the breakfast, cooking whole grain parathas over a fire. As we ate, we watched bright green parrots playing amongst the stalks of wheat. 

Lakshman Sagar: Activities
The variety of activities offered by Lakshman Sagar is extensive. After breakfast, we went for a walk through the fields and visited some more village homes. We drove past a henna plantation, marveled over thousands of bricks being made by hand, saw huge piles of chillies drying, and walked through Raipur town to the old Raipur Fort (built by the rulers in 1606 and which still remains inhabited today).

Other activities that are possible include nature walks and bird watching, a trip to a wildlife sanctuary, picnics, horse safaris, fishing, yoga and meditation, and massages.

If you're interested in rural tourism in India and exploring rural Rajasthan, but don't want to sacrifice comfort, Lakshman Sagar is a highly recommended destination. Alternatively, it's a rejuvenating place to pamper yourself in the desert, while talking a break from city sightseeing. 

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January Newsletter

Dear Patrons

Winters are in full swing and we hope to bring some warmth through some thrilling offerings! Happy reading!

Lodi - The Garden Restaurant –

Winter Grills : With the winters in full swing, Lodi has curated a special menu featuring lip smacking grills and warm winter cocktails.
Lodi At Home – Your favourite alfresco dining restaurant is all set to launch food deliveries at your doorstep. The menu will include the best of Lodi specials.. Now enjoy your favourite meal anytime…  

Unplugged Wednesday – Every Wednesday swing to the tunes of acoustic live music by popular artists at 8:30pm. For ore updates, follow us on facebook.

Lakshman Sagar – 

Weekend Escape - Indulge in the romantic surroundings of the magnificent aravallis, sun kissed dawns and lazy afternoons with our bespoke experience for 2 nights & 3 days.

Featured – Lakshman Sagar has been featured by Robb Report has 7 epic journeys in India. Click to read more or grab your latest issue on the stands today!

Pushkar Resorts

Weekend Escape – From enjoying a kafila ride during the dusk with the family or going biking in the early mornings, Pushkar resorts ensure that the memories created through the tailored itineraries reflecting group activities, last a long while.

Destination Wedding – It is truly said marriages are made in heaven. Imagine sweeping views, a gentle breeze and the slowly setting sun, Pushkar Resorts is the epitome of an elegant and private setting for a special celebration with family and friends. 

Sewara Organics – Try the complete range of gourmet and organic products available at Deli, Lodi – The Garden Restaurant. Products include seasonal jams, a variety of pulses, dips, a variety of oils and many more…

 



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

For reservations at Lodi

gm.lodi@sewara.com

9818743232

To book your holiday:

reservations@sewara.com

9910029109

For more information:

marketing@sewara.com

011 – 26494531

www.sewara.com

Sindhi Sarangi maestro Lakha Khan live @ Lodi – The Garden Restaurant

We welcome back Sindhi Sarangi maestro Lakha Khan, accompanied by his son Dane Khan on dholak for a special pre-tour concert in Delhi as they embark on their second US Tour this October. The tour supports the launch of his new album "Lakha Khan: Live in Nashville". The album features a live recording from his debut US tour in 2013, with renditions of popular folk classics such as Kesariya Balam and Mast Qalandar, Sufi kalaams by Ghulam Farid and Bulleh Shah, Kabir bhajans and classical ragas.

Lakha Khan

Described as a "a real treasure" in Songlines Magazine by Simon Broughton (editor, Rough Guide to World Music, Songlines Magazine), Lakha Khan is the last of the great masters from the Manganiar community (also known as the Merasi) to represent a centuries old musical tradition through his repertoire of songs, sung in several languages and dialects, and his command of the sarangi - the instrument of a hundred (sa or sau) colours (rangi).
 
Venue - Lodi - The Garden Restaurant
Date – September 27, 2014
Time – 07.30pm on wards
Address - Lodhi Road, Opposite Mausam Bhawan, New Delhi - 110003.
Tickets – Rs.500 Per person
For Reservation Call - 9818743232

Friends Of Music Live at Lodi - The Garden Restaurant This September

Friends Of Music, a Teamwork initiative, brings together musicians and audiences to explore, create and enjoy new sounds. Friends Of Music is not only a joint for music lovers but also a forum for young talent and a spot for musicians to let their hair down and freestyle together.

This September at Friends of Music, the evening will be kick-started by Aditi Veena, followed by The Grand Old Dog and headlined by Avi and The Uprising! A melodic vibe of acoustic sounds and cheerful tunes along with one of Delhi's best Blue's and Rock 'n' Roll outfit culminating in a brilliant Urban Folk Collaborative, Friends of Music this September will be an exciting and exhilarating experience for all music lovers!

Venue - Lodi - The Garden Restaurant
Date – September 19, 2014
Time – 07.30pm on wards
Address - Lodi – The Garden Restaurant, Lodhi Road, Opposite Mausam Bhawan, New Delhi - 110003.
For Reservation Call: 9818743232