Sudipta Dev – Mumbai
The expansive Fort Rampura in Chambal ravines is a unique homestay for those who are keen to explore an interesting new destination in India’s hinterlands. The six hundred year old ravine retreat has been the home of Rampura family for 14 generations. A part of the fort has been converted into a homestay. “We have tried to keep the whole experience offbeat, intimate, and homely. Most of our guests are international tourists who want to know so much about India. For long weekends we have also hosted Indian guests from Delhi and Lucknow,” said Padmini Singh, who owns the fort with her husband Keshavendra Singh. They offer rooms with names that have remained the same for many centuries – Atiya, Manik Chowk, Kamal Burj and Daftar.
The homestay is normally operational from October to March every year, and has been attracting many inbound guests, primarily through word of mouth recommendations and excellent TripAdvisor ratings. “We take them around the property, make them experience the rural life – weekly bazaars, mela, farms. Guests are also escorted to a small village in the evening where they enjoy folk performances,” mentioned Singh. The ravines are just behind the fort, guests are taken for a walk into the ravines, in the mornings or evenings. A drive through the ravines is also an exciting experience for the guests, who are also told interesting local tales. One of the highlights is a boat ride on the Yamuna. The property being on the border of MP, the Singhs also arrange for trips to nearby forts of Madhya Pradesh.
Approach is not a problem, pointed out Singh. From Agra via NH2, the fort is a four hours drive. “Guests have come down from Delhi in six hours. Some people take the Shatabdi to Etawah, and we send a car to pick them up. It is a one hour drive from Etawah, two hours from Gwalior, three hours from Jhansi, and five hours from Lucknow,” she informed.