THE FACTS ABOUT RAWLA NARLAI

India

Built beneath a vast 350ft rock in a small village in the Aravalli hills in Southern Rajasthan, this 17th-century fortress retreat is now an exclusive Heritage Hotel. It's a good-looking place, the courtyard heavy with bougainvillea; rooms resplendent with stained-glass windows, murals, carved pillars and covered verandas. To get there means negotiating a terrible potholed road through the roughest part of the village, but once you arrive, peace and quiet is guaranteed - huge walls keep the noise out. The hotel is conveniently placed for visits to the historic fort of Kumbhalgarh and the Ranakpur temples. ROOMS Doubles cost between £38-£55 a night CONTACT 00 91 291 510 410; fax: 510 674; email: abhawan@del3.vsnl.net.in; www.heritagehotels.com WHO TO BOOK WITH It is often difficult to book rooms direct. A more reliable (and generally cheaper) solution is to book through a reputable agent. The following arrange tailor-made itineraries: Western & Oriental (020 7313 6600); Worldwide Journeys (020 7381 8638); Cox & Kings (020 7873 5000); Greaves Tours (020 7487 9111); Steppes East (01285 651 010)