Parque Nacional de Ranthambore
Khem Vilas
A family-run wildlife lodge on the edge of Ranthambore National Park
Khem Vilas begins with the man known as the Tiger Man. Fateh Singh Rathore came to Ranthambore as game warden in 1971, was part of the first Project Tiger team and later founded Tiger Watch, an anti-poaching organisation, and in 2006 his son Goverdhan and Goverdhan's wife Usha built the lodge on once-barren land on the boundary of Ranthambore National Park. The grounds are now restored grassland, gardens, lakes and forest where jackals, jungle cats, hyenas and crocodiles pass through. Lush gardens of frangipani, lavender and roses wrap around a white colonial-style main house that holds the lounge and dining room, and the guest accommodation is spread across the property as thatched cottages, canvas tents, villas and rooms in the main building. The cottages sit down a gentle slope facing a waterhole and a lake, each with a private courtyard, a veranda, a king-size bed and an open-air bathroom with a vintage bathtub and an outdoor shower, while the tents are furnished in a traditional style with teak and rattan, an en suite bathroom and a private terrace. Meals are entirely vegetarian, with Indian, Western and Oriental dishes prepared from produce grown in the lodge's gardens or sourced from local organic farms and villages, and they are served at individual tables in the dining room. Evenings are spent around the campfire, where the family and resident naturalists share stories of Ranthambore's tigers, and days can include yoga, Ayurvedic massages in the spa, a swim in the plunge pool, boat trips, walks with a naturalist and visits to the hilltop Ranthambore Fort. Income from the lodge supports community programmes around the park.
What we love about Khem Vilas
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Thatched cottages facing the water
The cottages have private courtyards and verandas that look over a waterhole and a lake, with open-air bathrooms and vintage bathtubs.
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A vegetarian kitchen from the garden
Every meal is vegetarian and prepared mostly from produce grown on the property or bought from local organic farms and villages.
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The legacy of the Tiger Man
The lodge was built by the family of Fateh Singh Rathore, known as the Tiger Man, and is closely associated with Tiger Watch, the anti-poaching organisation he founded.
At a glance
- Location: boundary of Ranthambore National Park, near Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan
- Accommodation: thatched cottages, tents, villas and rooms in the main house
- Dining: all-vegetarian menu; produce from the lodge's gardens and local organic farms
- Facilities: plunge pool, spa, bar, lounge and library, evening campfire
- Activities: yoga, Ayurvedic spa treatments, boat trips, naturalist-led walks, visits to Ranthambore Fort
- Ownership: family-run by the family of Fateh Singh Rathore, the Tiger Man of Ranthambore
Getting here
Khem Vilas is reached by road. The nearest rail station is Sawai Madhopur, a short drive away, and Jaipur is the nearest airport, roughly a three to four hour drive. Foreign guests should carry a passport and a valid Indian visa. We arrange everything else for you, including transfers, safari permits and all travel logistics.
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