Chomu Palace

Chomugarh was founded in 1550 by Rao Gopalji, fourth son of Raja Prithviraj Singh I of Jaipur, as the seat of the Chomu thikana, a collateral branch of the Samode fiefdom. Laid out on vastushastra principles, it was walled five metres thick to house armies and chiefs. Over roughly 350 years it turned from fort into palace, the change complete by the late 18th century, leaving Rajput, Mughal and European work side by side.

The restoration kept the original character rather than fitting out contemporary city hotel interiors, and the palace is run by the Dangayach Group. It holds 100 suites: 56 Historic, 23 Royal, 17 Palace Rooms and two each of the Maharani and Maharaja Suites, with antique furniture and marble bathrooms. Public rooms include Darbar Hall, a 1,500 square foot all day dining room seating up to 120; Sheesh Mahal, known for its mirror work and seating 80; and Chhattis Dari, a hall of 36 carved pillars. There is a swimming pool, a gym and a snooker table. Chomu town sits on National Highway 11, 255 kilometres from Delhi.