Lebua Lodge Resort, Amer

The drive was so smooth that five hours on the road didn't nearly feel as exhaustive as a commute from Dwarka to CP. I've said it once and I'll say it again, highways in Rajasthan are a dream to drive, we paid Rs 480 worth of toll tax (round trip) and it was worth every single paisa and more.

Now, our road trips these days are still about the drive but in the end, more about resort relaxation and the whole package within the resort than the city or town of our destination. With a boisterous 2-yr-old this is the most fun and safe bet, not to mention the fact that it is easier to just laze around than having to run off sightseeing. As much as we love exploring forts and monuments, with a toddler constantly tugging at your patience, it's not a good idea. So, we settled for heritage resorts. Clever, clever, us!

Oh and let me mention, M has only one condition no matter where we take a trip—swimming pool! The one at Lebua Lodge had was so good, clean, and totally doable for a 2-yr-old and her non-swimming father that we were sold.

We started out with reading copious amounts of reviews before deciding on Lebua Lodge. Among the most common pet peeves travellers had, was the access road of approx. 2 km to the resort from the main road. It is at best a path well-trodden and not a road under the strictest definition. But it takes common sense to know and understand that a brand like Lebua would take only a couple of days at best to lay down a tar road and if it isn't so then it means it was not allowed to. The protected grassland/forest area inside which the property is situated cannot be tarred to construct a road vide Govt. rules. So, there you have it.

In my opinion, the road in all its wild, overgrown, and uneven glory leads your expectations and you won't be disappointed, because there is an oasis of sprawling tranquility waiting at the end of it. Cross a teeny tiny, non-descript temple to be welcomed by an ancient, huge and imposing gateway. This gate of crumbling wood and rusting iron is a part of the original ramparts of Amer Fort. The resort is nestled within these walls and rolling hills, spartan yet clean.

On entering the property grounds, we were taken up by the minimalistic architecture and landscaping. It was so calming, we knew we had 'relaxing' served to us on a plate. Forty identical cottages with cleverly covered sitting areas. These were so cleverly and geometrically placed that not one guest could peep at the other.

Amazing views of the Aravalli hills all around, exceptionally quiet but for the sounds of nature. It was July but so pleasant with breeze from the hills and dark clouds that showered at intervals.

The room was super comfortable but with us the scoring point is always the bathroom. Boy! were we impressed or what. That sunken bathtub by the glass wall, it made me tear up....

The pool is the highlight of any trip with my little one and we made the most of it. M is a water baby and frolicked without a care but a lone frog skirting the edges severely tested her courage.

And this brings me to another bout of ranting, bear with me. All those reviewers who say dead ants in the bathtub, frogs near the pool, bugs in the lawn, chameleons on the grass; please slap yourself for me (preferably twice). You are in a freaking semi-wilderness setting, nature is alive and kicking here so deal with it! Or just take your snobby arse back to the concrete jungle you came from.

The property was very clean, period. Ask me, I'm a germaphobic mother of a toddler. I know the kind of people who give this lame ass reviews, I saw them. They get drunk and want to loll by the pool way past the closing time or in front of families with kids, they damage hotel property by flinging bicycles away, tearing up plants or general drunken nuisance. And the moment they are chastised by the staff, out come their smartphones and bad reviews in horrible English.

The staff are a professional lot, super amiable and respecting. The food is a bit expensive but the flavours are mind boggling good. Cold cuts in breakfast are heaven!

So laze around, cycle the tracks or hitch yourself a camel ride because the stay here is going to be very good. And lest I forget, the camel is a very, very handsome fellow.