Hotel Palace Retreat is a heritage property in the small village of Arki. It is built into the fort and palace complex that is perched on a hillock. Part of it belongs to the original palace, while parts have been added on. It’s not really a luxurious property but is simple and laid-back with a distinct feel of the yester-years’ royal life.
Our double-room suite, called Chandra Niwas (opposite the Surya Niwas room), had a small 
sitting room furnished with a coffee table, sofa and arm chairs. An arched doorway led to a large bedroom. It had a double-bed, armoire, writing table with chairs, center table, a diwan and a TV. Most of the furniture looked old but were in good condition. The bathroom was large too. The only problem, though, was, there wasn’t enough ventilation in the room. There were windows in the sitting room but these were not enough to circulate the air in the bedroom.
Since the bazaar wasn’t very accessible from the palace, we ate all our meals on-site. The manager would ask us what we want for each meal and at what time, so it was quite customized. However, the food was a little bland and not the best.
Overall, our stay at the Palace Retreat was comfortable because of the friendly staff and laid-back atmosphere. But I’m sure this place would be far more comfortable in winters, when the weather is better.
Rating: 7 out of 10
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