Shri Joraver Vilas, Samtrampur

Gujarat, India

Heritage & History

A palatial homestay by the idyllic lake

Set on the edge of a private lake in the little-known princely town of Santrampur, Shri Joraver Vilas is an intimate royal homestay where heritage, nature, and warm family hospitality come together effortlessly. Once the private residence of the Santrampur royal family and still their home today, the Art Deco villa offers just five suites, creating an atmosphere that feels more like a house party than a hotel stay. Days unfold at an unhurried pace with boat rides on the tranquil lake, birdwatching, visits to nearby palaces and tribal villages, and conversations with the hosts, whose stories bring the region’s history to life. Complemented by exceptional home-style cuisine inspired by royal family recipes and local traditions, Shri Joraver Vilas is ideal for travellers seeking a deeply personal, authentic, and beautifully slow experience of Gujarat.

Operational Period

Open throughout the Year

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Transfers

Yoga

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Pool

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What you would love

Travellers who are less interested in grand sightseeing and more drawn to mood, memory, and the pleasure of finding somewhere quietly singular. Shri Joraver Vilas suits aesthetes, old-soul couples, multigenerational families, writers, readers, and culture-led travellers who like their luxury intimate, unbranded, and deeply hosted.

The Gallery

Your Stay at Shri Joraver Vilas, Samtrampur, Gujarat

You won't find endless corridors or identical rooms here. The villa keeps things incredibly intimate with just five spacious suites, and each feels like a private sanctuary. The coveted Lake Suite and Maharana Suite look directly out over the water, while the Garden and Art Deco Suites open onto a sprawling veranda overlooking the lush grounds. If you prefer to be steps from the water’s edge, the Courtyard Suite connects you right to the lakeside patio

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ROOMS & GUESTS

Courtyard Suite

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Maharana Suite

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Lake Suite

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Garden Suite

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Art Deco Suite

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Perfectly RARE

Shri Joraver Vilas is a royal palace turned heritage hotel, admired for its stunning interior architecture and intimate hospitality. The Santrampur royals personally welcome the guests, and the Maharani lends special attention to the cuisine. Other experiences such as boat trips on the tranquil lake, hikes to nearby villages and temples, and forest drives help slow you down and offer different glimpses of Santrampur’s culture, nature, and royal past.

Destination

While mainstream tourism in Gujarat naturally anchors around well-trodden destinations like Ahmedabad’s UNESCO-listed old quarters, the white sands of the Rann of Kutch, or the coastal heritage of Saurashtra, Santrampur is a small princely town that remains one of the state's best-kept secrets. It sits quietly off the beaten track in the Mahisagar district, tucked into the foothills of the Aravalli range.

And here is where Shri Joraver Vilas sits - a boutique homestay built on the edge of a private lake by Maharana Saheb Shri Joraver Singhji, after whom it is named. The royal family of Santrampur belongs to the Parmar clan of Rajputs, a lineage connected to Vikramaditya of Ujjain. The villa has been their private residence ever since.

Ahmedabad is roughly 150 kilometers away - a smooth three-hour drive that trades urban sprawl for rural quietude. While the nearby Kadana Dam and the vibrant tribal regions of Panchmahal offer compelling day excursions, Shri Joraver Vilas doesn't need neighboring attractions to justify the journey. The lake does that entirely on its own, dictating a slower, peaceful rhythm where the water's edge is reason enough to visit.

Design & Concept

Architecturally, Shri Joraver Vilas is an intimate 1926 villa that trades the heavy stone fortresses of older eras for the airy elegance of the Art Deco movement. Its structure embraces clean geometric lines, large windows, and sprawling verandahs that invite the outdoors in. Inside, the property functions as a living museum of the Interwar period - featuring original terrazzo flooring, sleek vintage teakwood furniture, and cherished family heirlooms. With just five exclusive suites, including a coveted Lake Suite that frames panoramic views, the design is intentionally scaled down to keep the focus entirely on light, space, and the water.

The concept pivots completely away from rigid luxury hotels, operating instead as an authentic royal homestay centered on slow travel. Because it remains the private residence of the Santrampur royal family, guests are welcomed as personal friends with an unhurried, deeply conversational style of hospitality. The entire rhythm of the stay is dictated by the private lake - a sanctuary where the primary itinerary is watching migratory birds or taking a boat ride at dusk.

Know Your Host

HH Maharana Paranjayaditya Sinhji Parmar and HH Maharani Mandakini Kumari personally bring warmth and grace to the guest experience. If you love history, you will love chatting with the Maharaja. He is incredibly warm and loves sharing stories about his family's royal lineage and how this beautiful villa was built. The Maharani’s personal touch is reflected throughout the property, especially in the food, which draws on regional influences, local produce, and family recipes.

Cuisine

The cuisine at Shri Joraver Vilas is a highly curated journey through closely guarded ancestral recipes, personally supervised by Maharani Mandakini Kumari. As the estate sits near the borders of three states, the menus beautifully blend rich Central Indian (Malwa) flavors, royal Rajasthani traditions, and classic Gujarati elements - headlined by house specialties like Meethi Murghi, a royal chicken dish cooked with saffron, milk, and dried fruits. Embracing a strict "forest-to-table" ethos, every meal relies on fresh, organic produce grown on the estate and nearby farms. The kitchens also make imaginative use of indigenous ingredients, turning Mahua flowers into relishes and marmalades, while Roselle is simmered into jewel-toned jams. Whether you are dining inside the stunning, vintage mirror-paneled Kapchi Room or enjoying a candlelit dinner under the stars at the lakeside Neem Chowk, the food here feels entirely like a private family celebration.

Experiences

The infinity pool overlooking the lake and the forested hills beyond is easily the property’s most serene vantage point. The staff coordinates leisurely boat rides, which are an absolute dream for birdwatching as migratory birds settle on the water.

Once you're ready to leave the lakeside, you can head out into the broader estate. The family takes you out in their vintage 1970s open-top jeep through the private Matoran Forest Reserve, passing local fields and quiet tribal hamlets. From there, you venture further out to explore the history of the area - specifically the massive Raj Mahal and the 1875 Shri Pratap Niwas, which gives you a striking 360-degree view of the entire valley. The villa also organizes visits to local farms and nearby Tribal Haats (weekly village markets) situated within a 10 to 20 km radius, showcasing the ethnic history of the local communities.

CYCLING

BOATING

INDOOR GAMES

SWIMMING POOL

YOGA

Explore Around

Kadana Dam

You can take a scenic drive up here - the family can even arrange it in one of their vintage vehicles. The view from the hill viewpoint over the massive reservoir and the Mahisagar River is incredible, making it an awesome spot for photos, especially around sunset.

Jehangir ka Hazira

Located just about 10 km from the town, this is a fascinating historical structure. It's an old monument/mausoleum that gives you a great look at the traditional Indo-Islamic architectural style of the region, completely different from the Rajputana and Art Deco styles you see at the villa.

Kaleshwari Temple Parisar

Roughly an hour from the homestay, this is an ancient archaeological site hidden in the greenery. It's a complex of beautifully carved, ruined temples, stepwells (vavs), and structures dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries - perfect if you want to stretch your legs and explore some local history off the beaten path.

You Shouldn’t Miss

You shouldn’t miss trekking or driving up the hill to Hawa Mahal (Pratap Niwas), an 1875 palace owned by the same royal family. It sits strategically at the very top of the hill and acts as a dividing line between the two local townships (Rampur on the east and Sant on the west). Standing on the roof gives you an unbelievable, uninterrupted 360-degree view of the entire Santrampur valley, the winding Chibota River, and the distant backwaters of the Kadana Dam. Timing it just as the sun sets over the valley is spectacular!