Taragarh Palace review- A feel of heritage and royal living!

1. Have you ever looked at a fort or a palace and imagined what life used to look like within the confines of its walls, long back when it actually housed a royal family? And then imagined yourself as a part of that life while walking through the sombre corridors that once glistened with the aura of regality? Well, I for one sure do. I even imagine myself dressed in all fineries, wandering the palatial gardens with a brigade of handmaids following me around, a soft music playing in the backdrop and a whiff of romance in the air….before I stumble mindlessly over a piece of furniture and am back in the present, realising the punity of my existence and the fact that I almost broke my newly purchased camera lens. I focus on the history being recited out by a staff member entailing the heritage of the magnificent structure I stand in -The Taragarh Palace at Palampur(Himachal Pradesh)!

I visited the coveted heritage hotel along with my husband, daughter and some very dear friends. We were there for a weekend of relaxation and spending quality time with each other away from the bustle of our lives. When we first arrived, we were greeted at the entrance by ethnically dressed staff who applied tikka on our foreheads and offered us refreshments. It is a standard procedure in many resorts now so I was not overly impressed but as soon as we were led towards the rooms, my mouth almost dropped in awe. It is not as if the building is an architectural wonder of any kind, rather, it might seem quite ordinary to the most of you but the warmth it exudes, the aura of the ambience, it all has the uncanny ability to make you travel back through time.  The heritage hotel boasts of both the original family suites and also the modern day rooms but I believe in going the entire length so Rajmata suite it was for us while our friends settled in for Maharaja and Princess suites. The size of the room, unsurprisingly, was majestic!

The corridors of the Taragarh Palace hotel are literally a walk through history for the walls are adorned with the pictures of the members of the royal family that acquired the palace and give you a peep into stately living. Also gracing the walls are lifelike paintings of tigers, reminding us of the sport of hunting that was once so famous in royal families.

No vacation can be relaxing with bored children constantly pestering you to engage them. The gardens all around the main building are a boon if you are travelling with children. They are a superb place to relax and just bathe in the warm sun in winter months. We adults had a great time chatting while the children ran around, falling short of games to come up with but not space to play them in. The staff was so co-operative and helpful that they not only amused the children but also helped retrieve balls gone astray. In the parenting language, it is called ‘pure bliss’. If that was not enough, the complex also includes a polo ground(great for playing cricket too), tennis court, basketball court and swimming pool. Take your pic….rather let your kids decide!

I am a huge fan of sightseeing but you do need vacations where you do not venture out from the hotel complex and just rejuvenate and recuperate. This is just the place! If you are a group of friends visiting, like us, this is the place to enjoy a bonfire together and sing or chat to glory! In the chilling wind of the night, we stuck close to the bonfire, enjoying the company of European tourists who were on a trip to India. The warmth of the fire and the amazing company made us lose track of time and we had to be nudged back in like reluctant kids by the staff to have dinner.

The dining hall is again reflective of the grandeur of the Taragarh palace. While a large painting of the present prince and his wife in their traditional costumes meets your eye as soon as you enter, the aroma of delectably prepared dishes laid out as buffet welcomes you for a culinary delight. The food may not be Michelin star type but is freshly prepared and lovingly served. The wide range of choices is appreciable and once again, you will be pleased as your children will definitely find something they like, no matter how picky they are as eaters. Win-win again, I would say!

As you lay down on the bed at night, you gaze out the partly opened curtains at the few twinkling stars, ready to fall sleep, only one thought crops to your mind,” I may not be a royal but life is good!”