Chhatra Sagar, Pali Rajasthan

Overlooking a one hundred-year-old reservoir, Chhatra Sagar allows guests to tune out of modern-day mayhem and reconnect with nature Each of the eleven tents faces the east, meaning that sunset is well worth getting up for. Witness the reservoir teeming with birdlife, as the hot Indian sun begins its daily ascent. Tents have always been an important part of the Rajasthani culture, integral to this desert state, and the lounge and dining tents at Chhatra Sagar are filled with traditional furnishings: planters chairs, dhurries, and colourful tiled benches. Incredibly each of them is hand-stitched by local craftsmen, in beautiful blue and white palettes. Every one has its own private terrace with deck chairs, providing unspoiled reservoir views. A strong hint if ever there were one that guests are encouraged to simply relax. Run by the brotherly duo Harsh and Nandi Singh, both passionate conservationists rather than hoteliers, the service at Chhatra Sagar is consistently excellent. As is the food: hearty rural Rajasthani meals with lighter continental offerings and proper coffee in the mornings. Be sure to take a guided nature walk, preferably in the early hours for the best sightings, with resident naturalist, Raj. The perfect country escape between Jodhpur and Udaipur.