Breakfast runs from 7am until 10am and dinner from 7.30pm until 10pm. With guests usually sightseeing or shopping in the day there is no lunch service, although snacks can be ordered, eaten in the restaurant or delivered to the room.

Devi Bhawan’s restaurant is housed in a small building as charming as the rest, to the side of the main building, with a verandah overlooking the garden and ornamental pond.

There are plenty of tables inside the restaurant, but the verandah dining option is the real draw. In fact, for the entire time we were there, the verandah was full at all mealtimes, and it really does make for a delightful experience, turning a simple meal into something worth lingering over.

Breakfast is a choice of three sets: continental, regular or Indian, comprised of toast, butter and preserves; cornflakes, eggs, toast and preserves; or aloo parantha, curd and pickle respectively, although it’s quite acceptable to mix and match your dishes too, and order extras such as French toast or fruit.

The dinner menu is small but the food excellent, with an emphasis on chicken – butter, tandoori or tikka – dals, rotis and naans. The traditional Lal Maas is also on offer, as are a couple of vegetarian options. Dinner should ideally be ordered well in advance to give the chefs time to properly prepare.

The service is exceptional; very friendly, attentive and accommodating. Dinner choices were discussed with the waiters and the next morning’s early coffee order came bang on time with no reminder needed.