JAWAI
Contemporary safari-luxe with a Rajasthani soul. Canvas, stainless steel, and leather throughout, with a muted grey, black, and white palette — sharp pops of scarlet red pay tribute to the turbans of the local Rabari herdsmen. Industrial edges, handcrafted Indian artefacts by artisan Michael Aram, and an open-to-the-wilderness design philosophy. Think design-forward safari camp, not faux-colonial retreat.
Rooms include in-room binoculars and reportedly a Nikon camera with zoom lens — ask the team if this still applies at booking
Why It Matters
The only Indian hotel in the World's 50 Best Hotels 2024 (ranked #43). SUJÁN JAWAI sits in one of the world's highest-density leopard territories outside of a formal national park, meaning there are no entry restrictions or park fees, no fixed safari schedules, and total access to the wilderness around the clock. A mandatory conservation contribution of INR 2,500 + taxes per person per night directly funds community and wildlife projects.
SUJÁN JAWAI is a 10-tent luxury safari camp set among billion-year-old granite rock formations in Rajasthan's Jawai region, opened in December 2013. Owned and designed by Jaisal and Anjali Singh, it's the most ambitious property in the SUJÁN family, built around the principle that conservation and supreme comfort aren't mutually exclusive. Ranked #43 on The World's 50 Best Hotels 2024, it was the only Indian property on the list that year.
Where You'll Stay
4 room types available
Eden at JAWAI
A completely separate encampment within the JAWAI property, accessed through its own private entrance. Three double-bedroom tented suites (sleeps 6), a private heated pool, private boma, dedicated lounge and dining tent, private chef on request, dedicated butler, private jeep, and a dedicated tracker and guide team. Views face JAWAI's highest granite peaks. The third bedroom is technically optional but worth having for groups. Best for families or close friend groups who want SUJÁN-level luxury with zero overlap with other camp guests.
Three doublesTented Rock Suite
Eight of these make up the main body of the camp. Each sleeps two and sits directly among the granite rock formations, with a private deck furnished with a writing desk and lounge chairs. Contemporary canvas-and-steel design with a muted palette — black, white, and grey with that signature scarlet-red accent. The en-suite bathroom is full-scale luxury, with a bathtub. No skimping on space or comfort despite the canvas walls.
Double
The 'Felidae' Suite
Two interconnected tents sharing a single plinth and verandah, sleeping up to four guests. Set further from the cluster of Rock Suites, it gets some of the best wilderness views in the camp. Solid option for families or two couples travelling together who want shared space but still want privacy from other guests.
Two doublesThe Royal 'Panthera' Suite
The camp's most private single accommodation. Positioned apart from all other tents in its own area, this suite comes with a private heated swimming pool, dedicated butler, private jeep for wilderness drives, and a separate canvas lounge and dining tent. Decked in canvas, stainless steel, and leather. The honeymoon default at JAWAI. The Royal Suite also comes with a long-range camera per World's 50 Best reporting.
DoubleThe Property
Eat & Drink
1 venue on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Over 245 species of resident and migratory birds across the Jawai landscape, from reservoir wetlands to granite hills. Guided sessions with field naturalists. Notable species include Indian Rock Eagle Owl, Green Bee-eater, Kingfisher, flamingos, demoiselle cranes, bar-headed geese, Sarus cranes, and painted storks.
With no major light pollution and a true wilderness location, the night sky at JAWAI is exceptional. Informal stargazing is built into the camp experience.
Cycling trails through nearby villages and across the wilderness landscape. A gentler way to take in the terrain and engage with local communities.
Guided rides on the camp's stable of Marwari and Kathiawari horses — Rajasthan's legendary breeds, known for their stamina. Routes cross fields, rocky outcrops, and riverbeds. Time at the stables is also part of the offer, with multiple experiences designed around connecting with the horses themselves.
Led by members of the Rabari nomadic community who've walked these hills for generations. Options range from gentle walks through open grasslands to more demanding hikes up the granite formations with wide-open views. Not just a nature walk — a genuine insight into how this community has coexisted with leopards and wildlife for centuries.
Dedicated programme for younger guests to engage with wildlife, conservation, and the natural environment in an age-appropriate way.
Breakfast in the bush, lunches at the lake's edge, picnics in the wild, sundowners on granite hills — private dining set-ups in the wilderness are a signature of the SUJÁN experience. The team will set a table anywhere you choose.
The Jawai hills are dotted with nearly 300 temples, shrines, and memorials. Guided visits include attending a daily aarti ceremony and learning how the local leopards are considered semi-divine guardians of these sacred sites. A genuinely distinctive cultural layer that most guests overlook in favour of game drives.
Excursions into the small villages surrounding the camp, guided by team members who are often from those same communities. Guests can meet villagers, visit traditional homes, observe local crafts, and learn about the camp's ongoing community development projects including the free mobile medical clinic.
Morning and evening game drives in customized open 4x4 jeeps, led by a team of 16 expert guides and trackers. The primary target is leopard — this area holds one of the world's highest leopard densities — but antelope, boar, hyena, crocodile, and over 245 bird species also feature. Drives venture across rugged granite hills, dry riverbeds, and grasslands.
Sessions led by a resident wellness expert. Often held in scenic locations beside the Jawai lake. Can be arranged in private or secluded spots around the camp.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Mandatory fee of INR 2,500 + taxes per person per night. Directly funds leopard research, community health, and wildlife conservation programs in the surrounding villages.
Basic gym facilities within the camp.
Camp bar for sundowners, cocktails, and after-dinner drinks. Campfire evenings are standard.
On-site organic garden, farm, and dairy providing fresh ingredients for camp meals. Guests can walk through it on request.
Butler service available. Private dedicated butlers included in Panthera Suite and Eden at JAWAI.
A dedicated camp library for guests — useful on slower afternoon hours between game drives.
A communal swimming pool with views over the wilderness. The Panthera Suite and Eden at JAWAI also have their own private heated pools.
BUILD YOUR SUJÁN JAWAI PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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