Page 103 - April-May 2023

Our camel ride to the sand dunes was an adventure in falling evening temperatures.
itself, as the slothful swaying of these ‘ships of the desert,’ Suddenly in the distance appeared a clearing,
allowed us the opportunity of taking in the vast beauty of surrounded by a few date palms, thousands of dancing tea
our golden, parched and sandy surroundings. lights and a brightly lit camp-fire.
When we finally arrived at the earmarked dune for our A table for two was set up underneath a white canvas
evening sundowner, we saw that a bar had been set up in tent while a group of Rajasthani folk-singers belonging to
the sand for us. the Manganiyar tribe were seated on a rug behind a line of
Two foldable camping chairs were neatly placed on a lanterns set down on the cold and soft sand.
rug, facing the bright sun, which was steadily setting, They sang in their throaty mellifluous voices, songs to
signalling to us that it was time to pop the champagne and welcome us to our private celebration underneath the
prepare to make a wish. crescent moonlight.
The evening and the experience were both magnificent Fateh Singh, our butler, walked up to a fully stocked bar
and memorable and we spent our time appreciating the to pour us a drink and before long our night turned out to
miracles of travel and what our blessed world had to offer. be the most memorable, the most special and the most
On my birthday eve, Laveena and I were asked by heart-warming personalised experience we had ever had.
Pradyut Chaterjee, the camp manager, to climb onto an We have only just discovered the magic of Sujan, and
open Jeep which drove us to a mystery location in the would like to describe this luxury hospitality brand as
midst of the Thar. A sour desert vehicle manoeuvred India’s pride and gift to the world of hospitality.
through shrubs and cacti, in the dark and cold night, we This is life, this is nature at its absolute best, this is
were given blankets to protect ourselves from the fast- ‘The Serai’!

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www.hospitality-horizon.com APRIL-MAY 2023 hospitality horizon