There are times when travel is not about adventure, but about stepping away for a while. After weeks of work, traffic, notifications and days that seemed to run into one another, I realised I did not need a packed itinerary or a long holiday. What I truly needed was some distance from noise, a change of air, and a place where the day could move more slowly than it had in recent months.
As summer had only just begun and Rajasthan was yet to slip into its harsher heat, it felt like the right moment to take a short break before the season fully arrived. I was sure that I wanted a journey that would feel unusual. Instead of returning towards Rajasthan’s familiar palace cities, I chose a different route. I wanted somewhere less obvious, a side of the state that many travellers had still not fully explored. Eventually, that search led me to WelcomHeritage Akashganga Heritage Hills Resort & Spa in Ratanpur, in the Dungarpur district.
Located close to the Gujarat border, the resort had been conveniently positioned for travellers arriving from multiple directions. It was approximately two hours and fifteen minutes from Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur and around two hours and forty-five minutes from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. For guests travelling by road from Gujarat cities such as Ahmedabad and Vadodara, it made for a practical getaway without the fatigue of an excessively long journey.
What I appreciated most was that the break had begun before I had even reached the resort. The drive gradually moved away from loud city scenes and into a landscape of open roads, hill stretches and cleaner horizons. By the time I entered the property gates, I already felt as though I had left my usual pace of life behind.
Surrounded by scenic heritage Aravalli hills, the resort opened into wide landscaped spaces, designed pathways and an environment that immediately felt spacious and composed. Some hotels depended on lavish interiors alone to create impact. WelcomHeritage Akashganga had done something far more effective. It had allowed the setting, scale and atmosphere to create that first impression naturally.
There was a sense of arrival, but it was never loud or overstated. Instead, the property felt elegant, polished and welcoming. It became clear very quickly that this had not been designed as a transit stay or a place to spend only one night. It had been created as a complete destination where guests could settle in for several days and experience different moods of the property from morning to night.
The openness of the grounds gave the resort a premium feel, while the calm surroundings made it especially attractive for those seeking a genuine break from urban life.
Waking up to the Aravallis
The resort offered 41 beautifully appointed accommodations, including 16 Forest Studios and 25 Ellwood Cottages. This balance had allowed WelcomHeritage Akashganga to cater to couples, families, leisure travellers, small groups and even wedding guests looking for a refined stay experience.
I stayed in one of the Forest Studios – a spacious, elegant and wonderfully comfortable room. The interiors were beautifully planned, combining contemporary design with warmth and charm. Comfortable bed, inviting seating spaces, elegant washroom areas and large windows that welcomed natural light all contributed to a stay that felt restful from the first hour. What truly elevated the experience, however, was the balcony at the back of the room. It opened out to beautiful views of the Aravalli hills, and that single feature changed the rhythm of my stay. Each evening, I found myself sitting there longer than planned, watching the light soften over the ranges as sunset slowly painted the landscape in changing colours.
Most of my mornings began on a slow note. Sometimes I walked through the open spaces, pausing near the landscaped corners and at others, I simply sat with a cup of tea and allowed the day to arrive in its own time. No urgent plans were waiting, no traffic sounds disturbed, no rush to get dressed and leave for work. That feeling of ease remained with me throughout the trip.
Meals that shaped the stay
One of the strongest advantages of WelcomHeritage Akashganga is that it gives guests reasons to remain on the property through the day. Its F&B offering are planned with a genuine range and appeal. Thikree, the all-day coffee shop, became my regular stop each morning. It offered a broad menu with multicuisine dishes spanning Asian favourites, European classics and familiar comfort foods. Breakfasts were leisurely and satisfying, while lunch equally convenient after a morning spent relaxing around the resort. The atmosphere at Thikree was casual yet polished, making it a space where one meal could easily stretch into an hour or two.
DEE-LISH, the patisserie, added another layer to the stay. I found it ideal for afternoon coffee breaks, sweet cravings and those moments when a holiday demanded a little indulgence. Fresh pastries and desserts made it an enjoyable pause between activities.
For dinner, Nirvana was the culinary highlight. This speciality restaurant celebrated Indian flavours through Rajasthani dishes, North Indian favourites and South Indian coastal cuisine. What I liked the most was that the local cuisine had not been treated as an afterthought. The property had clearly invested in giving guests a genuine sense of place through food. Meals at Nirvana were rich in flavour, thoughtfully prepared and memorable enough to look forward to each evening.
The property also featured MIRAGE, a stylish discotheque that transformed evenings into a more social and energetic experience. With cocktails, music, fine wines and panoramic views, it added a lively dimension rarely expected in a destination like this.
Upcoming additions such as Tarang, the poolside bar, and Verandah, an open-air dining venue, suggested that the property’s culinary journey was only taking off.
Leisure in its many forms
WelcomHeritage Akashganga surely is not a resort where guests were limited to their rooms and meal times. It offered multiple ways to spend a full day enjoyably. The swimming pool is one of the most attractive areas of the property. The property also offers cycling opportunities to soak in the surroundings at a relaxed pace. Families and groups prefer indoor and outdoor games, which makes the resort suitable across age groups and helps create a lively holiday atmosphere.
I personally spent a great deal of time at the gazebo lounge, one of the most peaceful corners of the resort. It was the space where conversations extended naturally, books remained open longer, and hours passed without being noticed.
A dedicated Spa and Wellness Centre is set to launch soon. Given the calm setting and restorative pace already present, it seemed likely to become one of the resort’s most valued additions.
Where celebrations met the hills
While my visit was purely for leisure, it was impossible to ignore how strongly the resort had positioned itself for celebrations and corporate gatherings. The Bandhej Banquet Lawn, spread across 25,000 sq ft, seemed ideal for destination weddings, receptions and large private events. The scale of the venue, combined with the scenic backdrop, created a strong appeal for families seeking memorable celebrations. The Ratna Vatika Convention Lawn added another outdoor events option, while the Sammelan Conference Hall, measuring 1,500 sq ft, supported meetings, conferences, retreats and intimate functions.
What impressed me was that these event facilities did not overwhelm the leisure experience. The resort remained balanced enough to host grand occasions while still offering privacy and comfort to regular guests.
Stepping beyond the resort
Although the property itself could easily occupy an entire stay, its location also allowed guests to explore interesting nearby sites. Shree Shamlaji Vishnu Mandir stood out as a spiritually significant and architecturally impressive temple that attracted visitors from across the region. Juna Mahal offered a deeper look into local heritage and old-world Rajasthan through its historic character. Wildlife enthusiasts could head to the Jaisamand Leopard Safari, where the natural landscape added adventure and variety to the trip.
As the resort sits near the Gujarat border, it works wonderfully as a weekend break for travellers from neighbouring states seeking a fresh Rajasthan experience without travelling deep into the state.
What I carried back
 Today, many travellers seek places where they can rest without boredom, celebrate without chaos, and enjoy comfort without feeling disconnected from the destination. WelcomHeritage Akashganga Heritage Hills Resort & Spa had achieved that balance beautifully. It offered the comfort of a premium resort, the scale of an events venue, the appeal of a leisure retreat and the atmosphere of a hillside escape.
My stay at WelcomHeritage Akashganga Heritage Hills Resort & Spa felt like discovering a new travel address at exactly the right time. From scenic arrival and elegant rooms to varied dining, leisure amenities, event spaces and nearby excursions, it had offered a complete holiday experience in one of Rajasthan’s rising destinations.
Shared inputs by Abhishek Bhattacharya Head - Sales, WelcomHeritage |
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