A
deep soak in your own personal bathtub is definitely a highlight of
any stay in a five-star hotel. And even more so when the bathtub
is fashioned from glorious green marble. Discover unparalleled
luxury at Amanbagh, a resort in Ajabgarh, Rajasthan, set against the
rolling Aravalli hills, where the local stone, quarried near Udaipur,
adds to the divine bathing experience offered here. The enormous Udaipur green
marble tubs in the lavish bathrooms of the 37 Pavilions and Haveli Suites with
their terraces and courtyards, have been carved, each one of them, out of single
blocks of the lustrous stone. It’s worth noting that a lot of research went into the
use of this material and the capabilities of the local craftsmen before these unique
expressions of design, scale and artistry took shape.
The use of this local stone is in keeping with the philosophy of Amanbagh’s
architect, the American-born, Paris-based Ed Tuttle, who is considered an expert in
amalgamating local ethos, designs, materials and techniques with a modern design
flair. Tuttle believes in maintaining respect for the cultural context of the location,
which in this case is where Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar’s 19th-century pleasure
garden and hunting lodge were situated. He has adequately reimagined a modern
Mughal palace in sandstone and local pink marble...and while the scalloped edges,
Mughal-inspired domes and cupolas hark back to a golden age, the masterpiece
is undeniably the main pool, which interestingly, has also been created using the
distinctive green marble.
Surrounded by lush gardens, the pool takes centre stage, magnificently reflecting
the structure of the hotel and forming a stunning contrast of dazzling emerald green
against the façade of palest pink. Tuttle stays true to his architectural philosophy
that wherever one looks, an interesting perspective always unfolds. The pool is
33 metres long and the water, cool and inviting. Smaller wading pools and private
swimming pools also in brilliant green as well as the ubiquitous monolithic tubs dot
the property, making for beautiful verdant oases.
Amanbagh, which translates to ‘peaceful garden’, celebrates water as the source
of life, giving it pride of place and cladding it in none other than gleaming marble.