8th Mon - Chanoud Garh our arrival, rooms and first impressions

On arrival at Chanoud Garh we got a traditional greeting at the entrance to the palace. Ceremonial sprinkling of water in gate entrance before we passed through and a garland of fragrant flowers each and the red mark on our foreheads. 

Although we'd missed lunch they'd organised a meal for us and it was absolutely delicious. I don't eat sweet things normally but I tried a spoonful of dessert and instantly fell in love. Mango and frozen yoghurt … but not yoghurt as we know it – this was thicker and creamier than anything I've had before. Wow!!

These are pictures (and a description) of Chanoud Garh taken from their website

There are seven meticulously renovated spacious deluxe suites for you to choose from. Each suite is unique in its décor and its stories. But all are furnished with the most modern of amenities that are masterfully hidden into its authentic interiors.

We've seen this bathroom and bedroom 'in the flesh' as a couple from Sussex are currently staying here and showed us their room.   This used to belong to the current owner's father who was so fond of his race-horses that his favourites were kept in a room below his bedroom

 Some of the other rooms (which we haven't seen as they're occupied)

and this is our room ...... it is amazing … here's a few pictures but its difficult to convey the scale of the place. The bed is large enough to sleep 4 or 5 people comfortably. The bathroom is a succession of rooms with separate washing areas, corridor leading to the modern loo, a large shower room with alcove/window seat – loads of toiletries and luxury bits and bobs - everything you can think of really.

After dropping our bags in the room (and snapping some photos) we had half an hour to spare till 4pm when we'd been told the patriach of the family would give us a guided tour of the palace so we had a quick walk around the grounds and then look briefly at the area outside. As we left the gate we bumped into a group of schoolchildren heading back to their homes and they insisted we join them. They spoke very basic English but were great fun and very keen to have their photos taken. We'll meet them again over the next couple of days when we spend time visiting the village and its school

A few pictures taken in the beautiful grounds of the palace and the nearby streets with the schoolkids.

David with two of 'mine hosts'  The patriach (75 years of age) on the left and youngest son on the right

The building and grounds are pretty amazing – I don't really know how many rooms there are in total – they have created 7 luxurious guest suites but these take up just a small area of the whole place and they are all very spacious. I just kept snapping!

Breakfast room

corridor with punkahs (but no punkah wallah)

There are flower displays like this in all the rooms, walkways etc., and loose marigold flowers on all the steps (and there are very many steps in this place)!

There are 3 wonderful dogs in residence … a lovely German Shepherd (elderly but very affectionate/sloppy), a 'naughty' golden retriever and a great dane. We also met the 3 resident tortoises which David reckons are Spiders Web tortoises (because of their markings) but we were told are called Hadrian's tortoises. As soon as I can connect to the internet I'll check online. There is a lovely male peacock living here but 3 times he eluded my camera … I got a partial shot of him and one of the female … maybe I'll catch him/them out tomorrow.

Its very peaceful here ... except for the constant cooing of pigeons and the shrieking of parakeets - there are lots of both around the place.   The parakeets all seem to have paired up but the pigeons are all over the place and are pretty ra*dy and doing naughties - I really don't like pigeons!

One of the parakeets drinking from a fountain in the courtyard outside our room