Acquiring 180-acres of largely neglected scrubland in 1981, Udaijit Singh and family committed to turning this stretch of land to one of untouched natural beauty and painstakingly and lovingly worked on it for over thirty years.

For guests, Dera Amer is glamping done right, spacious tents have all the trimmings for a good night’s rest. Each tent is away from each other for total privacy. Each tent is extremely comfortable and beautifully furnished with vintage furniture and hugely comfortable beds. They also have a verandahs to relax in and state of the art attached bathrooms. The experience centres around special interaction with the rescued elephants, camels and friendly dogs, making it a must for animal lovers. Living a quiet life with their mahouts, the elephants who once walked tourists up and down Amber fort now come out to interact with guests a few times a day in peaceful surroundings. Curated experiences offer immersions into the surrounding countryside by jeep or camel cart.

Six sumptuous safari style  luxury tents are dotted around acres of wild scrubland, providing guests with creature comforts in the most peaceful setting. Fitted with bespoke furniture and furnishings, reflective of the Raj, the tents are a perfect harmony of form and function, and created by local artisans, they offer a luxe camping experience. Each tent is fitted with a double size teak wood bed, deep snoozer mattresses, quality linen, large rugs, a desk and chair, charging points, a safe, heating in winters and air coolers in warmer months as well as an outdoor seating area, with the services of a private butler. Ensuite bathrooms offer round the clock hot and cold water with pressure, heating, Forest Essential toiletries, a hair dryer as well as bath slippers with bath robes.

There are simpler, more rustic tents, which emulate a camping style with common functional bathroom. The tents are already assembled on clean platforms with bed linen, and a seating area – quite comfortable if you are a seasoned camper. Even if you are not, you are around premium amenities and comfort.

Free Wi-Fi is available on request.

Dining

The food at Dera Amer is simple, home style and delicious. Fresh ingredients from the organic garden and nearby village markets are used to create dishes that are mostly a mix of Indian favourites and some Rajasthani delicacies like Dera Mutton. Food is laid out buffet style and on occasion includes some continental dishes as well.

There is no dining tent at Dera Amer. Meals are served al fresco, in the day under a shady tree and in the evenings under a canopy of stars, especially on a clear night and their twinkling combined with the flickering light of lanterns, diyas (oil lamps) and bonfire creates an enlivening atmosphere. Local musicians and sometimes dancers add melody and rhythm to the evening, as drinks served by the butler and hot barbequed meats and paneer (cottage cheese) fresh off the grill is added to the buffet table.

Breakfasts are special; the elephants come around and one can partake in feeding them their favourites, banana and sugarcane while you await your eggs made to order or hot parathas will all the usual accompaniments.

Dera Amer’s activities are centred around its elephants and apart from enjoying their company whilst feeding, bathing or walking with them, there are a number of other activities suited to people of all ages.

This is a haven for local and migratory birds. Take an early morning birding walk with the in-house naturalist and birding guide. Binoculars are available to loan and you’ll be surprised by how many birds you tick off the birding list.

Explore the local countryside in the traditional mode of transport in a camel cart; visit the local dhani’s (settlements) of the Meena tribals who love a chat and will treat you to a cup of chai (tea) made with goat milk.

A jeep safari with Udaijit or his nephew Bharat is an experience to remember. As you tour the rugged landscape in a private 4×4 jeep, see the wilderness, hamlets and the village school. Or head cross country for an unforgettable off the track ride to the magnificent Amer Fort.

For experienced riders, a Horse Safari can be arranged in the surrounding countryside, with at least 24 hours’ notice. A camel safari is also possible, but only with the resident camels, Sonu and Raja (also rescued). The safari is only around the local area to give you a flavour of life in Rajasthan.

Perfect For

Anyone who loves the outdoors and a peaceful getaway in the wilderness. Individuals, groups of family and friends, birding enthusiasts and people who love animals in general and elephants in particular.

Operational status
Open from October to mid-April each year.

Dera Amer was set up to home rescued, sick and over-worked elephants. Standing firmly for responsible tourism, it is a contrast to other ‘royal experiences’ where animals are exploited. The supervised interaction between guests and animals helps travellers understand the hardships that these animals might have gone through. In booking Dera Amer, one inadvertently helps in the cause of rescue.

The untouched natural surrounds of 180 acres is an effort to conserve the natural vegetation of the land, instead of building more luxury camps. The local community is a big part of Dera Amer’s experiences – whether it’s village walks, acclimatisation to the desert and its people, and even the staff working at the retreat.