Devi Bhawan is a hotel true to its name, a family-owned oasis just outside the old city of Jodhpur, where colonial style bungalows of local sandstone blend into lush, mature gardens, giving a real sense of the divine.

Pulling into Devi Bhawan there’s an instant feeling of peace and a sense you’ve entered a special sanctuary from the outside world.

The 90 year old property – owned by Mr Ratan Singh, who has a lifetime’s experience in tea plantations behind him – was turned into a hotel in 1997, with Mr Singh’s son as main architect, blending new and existing structures to ensure a continuity of tradition and sensitivity to the natural environment.

There’s a wonderful old-world gentility that pervades the grounds here, and alongside birdsong and the laughter from children walking the narrow lanes to the nearby school, makes you feel as if you’re in a bygone age. That’s not to say the service is sleepy though; far from it: the staff are attentive, smart and alert, and very happy to help.

While its location may be a drawback to some, it serves as a great place to return to and relax after a day of shopping and sightseeing. This is helped immeasurably by both the outstanding pool that runs along the rear of the main building, and the lovely restaurant that has a garden veranda to linger on into the night.

Sure, there are more modern, sophisticated hotels in the country, but it’s rare to come across one that exudes such a sense of warmth and well-being as we felt here.