On the highest peak in the Nathdwara region, where the Aravallis spread out in every direction and the nearest city — Udaipur — is less than an hour away and feels entirely elsewhere, Shivambika and her family have built a boutique homestay of remarkable ambition. Eight suites, each one a love letter to a different corner of India. No fixed menu. A chef who cooks from recipes passed down across generations. An infinity pool looking at mountains. Duke the dog. This is The Hill House.
There is an English phrase that fits the Hill House precisely: a world away. The drive from Udaipur takes less than an hour. The distance in every other sense is considerably greater. Nathdwara — the pilgrimage town built around the celebrated Shrinathji Temple, where a seven-year-old incarnation of Lord Krishna has been worshipped since the 14th century — sits in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, surrounded by the Aravalli Hills on all sides. And above Nathdwara, on the highest peak in the area, the Hill House sits exactly where its name promises: on the hill, in a house, looking out over everything.
Shivambika’s family are the hosts, managers, and guiding spirit of the Hill House. Guest after guest returns with the same observation: the hospitality is deeply personal, Shivambika is wonderfully welcoming and helpful, and the property feels less like a hotel than a beautifully made home. That observation is precisely what the Hill House intends — it describes itself as a perfect retreat for discerning guests who like to drown the noises of city life in cool sundowners, gazing at stars twinkling in the sapphire night sky.
The stars, from this hilltop, are extraordinary. The sunsets are better.
The Eight Suites
The defining creative act of the Hill House is its eight suites — each one designed as a study of a different Indian city or region, furnished with the textiles, colours, art, and cultural references of its subject. They are not themed in the decorative, superficial sense. They are researched, layered, and genuinely evocative: rooms that transport you to a different India without leaving the Aravallis.
The Nathdwara Suite overlooks the town’s skyline — serene and calming, designed in the colours and spirit of the pilgrimage town visible below. The Jodhpur Suite celebrates the Blue City with rich colour and vibrant cultural depth, every textile and artwork reflecting Jodhpur’s heritage. The Jaipur Suite is lively and layered — the vibrant colours and cultural tapestry of the Pink City rendered in fabric, art, and detail. The Udaipur Suite channels the regal lakeside city in soft tones and architectural grace: ideal for couples seeking a poetic escape.
The Calcutta Suite converges history, culture, and opulence — classic accents and refined touches celebrating artistic heritage in a room for guests who love narrative spaces. The Assam Suite nods to the northeastern state’s tea gardens and tribal weaving traditions in every corner. The Martingale Suite bridges vintage and contemporary in muted, considered tones. The Gul Rang Suite is pure colour — harmonious, celebratory, the name itself an Urdu tribute to the hues of a garden.
All eight suites are large, well-appointed, and equipped with modern amenities: AC, flat-screen TV, refrigerator, electric kettle, free toiletries, and the particular attention to detail that comes from rooms that have been designed by someone who cares about every object in them. Private balconies offer mountain and skyline views. The ambient lighting that guests consistently describe creates warmth and atmosphere rather than brightness.
Nidhi Singh’s Kitchen
The food at the Hill House has no fixed menu — a deliberate and confident choice that signals the kitchen’s relationship with its ingredients and its guests. Shivambika pens down the specials for the day. The dishes are crafted by Nidhi Singh from recipes passed down through generations of the family — home cooking at the level of genuine excellence, rooted in the culinary traditions of Rajasthan and broader India.
The Rajasthani repertoire is fully represented: lal maas, Rajasthani kadhi pakoda, lasooni palak, spring onion sabzi, gajar halwa — the deeply flavoured, slow-cooked cooking of a cuisine that is one of India’s richest. But the kitchen also reaches further: pumpkin almond soup, quinoa salad, fresh elements that sit alongside tradition without disrupting it. Meals can be taken al fresco on the terrace — with the Aravallis in every direction — or in the intimate indoor dining room. The restaurant is exclusively for in-house guests, which gives meals the quality of private dining rather than restaurant service.
High tea is served every evening with sweet and savoury snacks: one of those quietly civilised rituals that transform the late afternoon from something to get through into something to look forward to. Homemade kachori and tomato murabba are specifically, repeatedly mentioned in reviews.
The Cappa and the Hill
The infinity pool — called The Cappa — offers majestic mountain views from the highest point in the region: the Aravallis spreading in every direction, the town of Nathdwara visible below, the sky enormous above. It is, by any standard, one of the finest pool views available at any boutique property in Rajasthan.
The hilltop position also makes The Hill House a natural destination for those who want physical engagement with the landscape. The surrounding area offers nature walks, forest safaris, trekking on the Aravalli trails, and the particular pleasure of running or walking at altitude with mountain views that make the effort feel less like exercise and more like reward. Stargazing from the hilltop — away from any city light — is among the most genuinely spectacular night experiences available in Rajasthan.
Nathdwara and Its Surroundings
Nathdwara’s Shrinathji Temple is the region’s sacred centrepiece: one of the most important Vaishnava pilgrimage sites in India, its walls hung with the extraordinary pichwai paintings — large-format textile works depicting the life of Krishna — that Nathdwara has been producing for over three centuries. The town’s artisan quarter, where pichwai painters still practise a tradition that has been alive since the Mughal era, is a cultural experience of the highest order.
Aviraj — the local guide arranged by Shivambika — is specifically and consistently described by guests as the best person to experience the history and culture of Nathdwara: knowledgeable, warm, and possessed of the insider’s understanding of a town that visitors from outside often only skim.
Eklingji temple complex — a collection of 108 temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, dating from the 8th century — is nearby and historically significant beyond its immediate appearance. Haldighati — the battlefield of the famous 1576 battle between Maharana Pratap and the Mughal forces, a site of deep significance in Rajput history — is within easy reach. The Terracotta Village and Nandsamand Dam offer additional perspectives on the region’s craft traditions and landscape. Udaipur — with its palaces, lakes, and the most romantic city skyline in Rajasthan — is less than an hour away for those who want a day in the city.
The drive between Udaipur and the Hill House, through the Aravalli foothills and the Nathdwara countryside, is itself a pleasure. The road is well-maintained, the scenery consistently beautiful, and the final stretch up the hill — direct to the property’s front steps by private vehicle — manages its arrival correctly: you understand, as you climb, that you are going somewhere genuinely elevated.
Why It Stays With You
A guest from the UK described the Hill House as surpassing five-star hotels in and around Udaipur. Another described it as luxury at its best. A third said the rooms are customised as per your needs, the food superb, and the hosts look after all your needs with a service so personalised it makes you feel at home.
Duke the dog — the Hill House’s resident ambassador, who wants to be with you wherever you go — is mentioned in reviews with the specific, disproportionate affection that only genuinely beloved animals generate. He has, apparently, closed the deal for more than one uncertain guest.
The Hill House works because Shivambika built something that reflects a genuine aesthetic intelligence: eight suites that celebrate India from a hilltop in Rajasthan, a kitchen that cooks from family memory, an infinity pool looking at mountains, and a hospitality that is personal because the people providing it actually live there and care about every guest’s experience. The stars at night are extraordinary. The food is extraordinary. Duke is extraordinary.
Plan Your Visit
Address: Kotharia Road (Kothariya Chak-A), Nathdwara, Rajsamand District, Rajasthan — 313323 Phone: +91 92567 66009 · +91 81078 41773 · +91 77278 06009 Email: info@thehillhouse.in Website: thehillhouse.in Instagram: @thehillhousenathdwara Booking: Direct via website · Also listed on Raahghar and TripAdvisor
Host: Shivambika (and family — family-run property) Chef: Nidhi Singh (generational family recipes) Local Guide: Aviraj (for Nathdwara cultural experiences) Resident dog: Duke
Location: Highest peak in the Nathdwara region · Aravalli Hills · 30 minutes from Udaipur Airport · 5.6 km from Shrinathji Temple
Suites: 8 — each themed to a different Indian city/region: Nathdwara · Jodhpur · Jaipur · Udaipur · Calcutta · Assam · Martingale · Gul Rang
All suites: large, elegantly designed, AC, flat-screen TV, refrigerator, electric kettle, private balcony, mountain/skyline views, free WiFi
The Cappa: Infinity pool with majestic Aravalli mountain views Dining: No fixed menu · Daily specials by Shivambika · Generational family recipes by Nidhi Singh · Al fresco terrace dining or intimate indoor restaurant · In-house guests only · 3 meals + daily high tea included Experiences: Stargazing · Nature walks · Birdwatching · Village tours · Nathdwara city tour (with Aviraj) · Sunrise/sunset tours · Udaipur day trip · Forest safaris · Trekking on Aravalli trails
Getting There — Udaipur Airport (Maharana Pratap Airport): approximately 30 km — around 30–40 minutes by road. Taxis and pre-arranged airport transfers available. — Udaipur city centre: approximately 45 km — around 45–55 minutes. — From Nathdwara town: approximately 5–6 km — around 10–15 minutes uphill via Kotharia Road. Private vehicles can reach up to the first step of the property. — From Jaipur: approximately 310 km — around 5 hours. — From Delhi: approximately 680 km — around 10–11 hours via Jaipur or Ajmer. — Public transport is available to Nagwara, after which private vehicle or taxi required. Coordinate arrival with Shivambika for smooth check-in.
Nearby — Shrinathji Temple: 5.6 km · Eklingji Temple Complex: 20 km · Haldighati: 25 km · Nandsamand Dam: 15 km · Terracotta Village: nearby · Udaipur: 45 km · Statue of Belief: 60 km · Udaipur Airport: 30 km
Best Time to Visit: October to March for the most pleasant weather and clear Aravalli views · December to February for cool, crisp nights ideal for stargazing and bonfire evenings · March for Holi celebrations (the property offers special Holi programmes) · April to June is warmer but the hilltop catches breezes that make it more comfortable than the plains · Avoid peak monsoon (July–August) when Rajasthan roads can be challenging
