THE FORTRESS OF RAWALA GOGUNDA

In January 2001 the company “Human Being’s Heritage (P) Ltd.”, which was created only
for that purpose, bought the historical fortress of Gogunda (also named “Rawala
Gogunda”), where it located its registered office.
The Fortress, which was built at the beginning of XVIth century (though basement
structures and other findings date back also to previous times) played a very important role
in the History of the Ancient Kingdom of Mewar (a “temporary” capital city, along with
Kumbhalgarh, of Maharana Udai Singh during the military campaigns led by the Emperor
Akbar in order to conquer also that Kingdom, before the foundation of the new capital city
Udaipur; where his son, Pratap Singh I was crowned – the Indian hero Rana Pratap; a
strategic base during the war against the Moghuls which lasted more than twenty years
and which was led by Rana Pratap himself after the glorious defeat in the battle of
Haldighati and the place chosen to sign the peace treaty between the representatives of
the Emperor moghul Jahangir (guided by his son, and future Emperor, the Prince Shah
Jahan) and the Maharana Amar Singh I.
These, in short, are the most important events. To these, many others could be added in
order to demonstrate the contribution offered in the centuries by the structure itself.
It was used, in the half of ‘800 as a foundation on the tableland of the Aravalli Mountains,
to protect the way leading from North to Udaipur, and it was later on transformed into a
Watch Station, in the first half of ‘900 for politic-historical reasons its decline started as it
happened to most of similar structures.
In 1998, at the time of the first inspections carried out in order to decide whether or not to
purchase it, the Fortress of Gogunda looked completely abandoned. Earlier, schools were
located there and most of the buildings were severely damaged and mostly in ruins.
Except for some fragments of murals which were found and recovered, some inlays of
coloured glass on the walls and other different kinds of objects (among which, some are of
significant historical value) all the rest was ravaged and destroyed in time.
After six and a half years of work, soon (in December 2008) the restoration can be
considered as fully completely; a work which required a huge effort also owing to the
several problems which had to be faced during the restoration itself.
The restoration of the whole structure consists in fact of an intensive philological
restoration, carried out respecting the pre-existing structures and preceded by a deep
study of the building techniques of that time.
The work was given to duly selected Indian and Italian workers, and it was carried out by
following traditional methods and procedures, avoiding any expedient, even if very
sophisticated, which could have spoilt the purity of the building.
The same attention devoted to the preservation of the architectural style was devoted also
to the decoration elements; in fact, every detail, also very little one, was preserved, from
marks of enamel decorations and murals, up to the use, also for the boundary wall and for
the external walls of the buildings, of “lime” treated with the special local technique which
makes it, to the sight and to the touch, similar to marble.
The inspiring idea was to bring the place to its ancient magnificence yet using systems and
equipments of latest technology.
The Fortress rises on a tableland and it is located on the West outskirts of the
homonymous village, at a short distance (35 Km.) from Udaipur (the highway, being built,
and whose end of the works is expected by December 2008, has the “entrance” for
Gogunda at approx. 1 km. from the main entrance of the Fortress and the track of an old
road covering the whole track has already been completely restored, so avoiding to enter
the property through the village).
This highway will connect Udaipur with Jodhpur, with Jaipur and therefore with the capital
New Delhi.
Near the village there are several vestiges of a millenary civilization.
The Fortress of Gogunda expands itself on about 10.000 square metres, closed by
perimeter walls of about 100 metres length for each side and nine metres high under the
foundation of the battlement which runs along the whole perimeter.
The Plant is made up of different buildings: the Stables, the Kotar with the Ajay Niwas, the
Dome Palace, the Mandir Palace and the Anand Niwas, everything is connected with the
internal gardens, for which plants and essences are already being planted, and which are
dominated by wide terraces, at night, an excellent point of observation for the stars.
The time when it was built, as for the part that was preserved better (the Dome Palace and
the Stables), dates back to 1500. Later, works were carried out at the beginning of ‘600 in
the Ajay Niwas and in the internal part of the Anand Niwas. Then, in ‘700, with a portion
added in the Ajay Niwas and in the Mandir Palace. Finally, in ’800 (the “English” period, as
you can see from the structure of the columns), another portion to the Anand Niwas and
the second floor of the Ajay Niwas were added.
Outside the Fortress, in the Southern side, on a ground which was obtained after the
purchase, and which is itself surrounded by identical walls, was located the “Service
Centre”, which includes an electric cabin, two generator sets of 160 KVA each, the
transformers, the satellite dish, a pressurization and water treatment station, and two big
backwater tanks underground.
In the same space, which you enter through a big wooden door, are the lodgings for
possible guards of the structures, of the machines and of the plants.
In this way the external collocation does not spoil the architectural purity of the site, it
avoids all possible noises due to the operating machines, it avoids all interferences with
the life of the Fortress whenever maintenance operations are carried out.
The water, coming from two wells which were dug and supplied with backwater tanks, is
brought to complete pureness and then is conveyed into the different buildings and into the
water collection towers as a water reserve, this is to grant continuous water supply up to
300.000 litres. Here is also produced hot water for sanitary use for the whole Plant.
The “Service Centre” was conceived to grant the maximum self-sufficiency of the structure
in any condition.
All the machinery, including the air conditioning system provided with the Fortress, have
been already delivered and their installation is being carried out.
Also outside the Fortress, on the Northern side, beside a small temple attached to the
walls, the Company purchased a building with two floors and which, now, completely
restored, provided with air conditioning system and whatever else, shall be used, on the
ground floor, as a room where to have meals for the workers working inside the structure
during the day and, on the upper floor (also provided with facilities) as dormitory.
The Fortress is accessed to through the “Main Gate” – an old, huge arch closed with a
door (of which it was possible to recuperate the original wooden structure with bronze
thorns, which allowed the elephants inside) located in the centre of the Western side and,
from here, you enter the first, wide courtyard characterized by terraced levels.

THE BUILDINGS.
THE STABLES
Adjacent to the perimeter walls, the ancient shelters for elephants and horses, made up of
two floors out of ground, and a wide panoramic terrace, are now used as lodges.
So, nine big rooms (besides three “suites”) with toilets were obtained, all with their own
independent access.
It is also provided the possibility of additionally increasing the receptivity of the Fortress by
building other 15 big rooms with bath as an extension of the “ stables”, with the similar
style and materials, without steeling the original “purity”.
Next to the “Main Gate” are the offices of the guards, the telephone station and other
technical rooms.
THE KOTHAR
Located in the North-West side; on the ground floor, it houses the “Reception” and four
wide rooms to be used to welcome visitors and as a file, and on the first floor are two very
big residential units (“suites”) completely independent.
The Kothar creates a single ( “L”-shaped) building along with the Ajay Niwas.
THE AJAY NIWAS
It is located behind the “Reception” and it includes on the ground floor a “relax” area made
up of a bar with patio, a wide garden with a square-shaped bath for ablutions, with
dimensions of thirteen metres on the sides and one metre and seventy centimetres deep,
completely made of green stone, flanked by two rooms for massage, and a wide “Chatry”
to enjoy the shade.
On the upper floors there are four wide residential units (“suites”).
THE PLANT OF DOME PALACE
If you pass in front of a big “Chatry” made of green stones and then through another
entrance, you access the building characterized by the Dome Palace with its internal
courtyard looking like a garden and refined by a fountain in the middle. The building itself
is an atypical monument, the result of the synthesis between the architecture Moghul and
the architecture Rajput, late connotations of 600 and, later, “English” connotations; the
arch-shaped windows, the decorations on the walls, and two antique “Jarokha” made of
green stone finely finished distinguish the Anad Niwas from the simple structure of the
Mewar style. The same building is articulated into areas with different uses:
• THE DOME PALACE: characterized by a suggestive dome, it includes a show room
on the ground floor and first floor, all the walls of which are frescoed, and rooms used
as a library and as a reading room (also those walls are completely frescoed); on the
second floor, a space to be used for living rooms, and tea-room. In these rooms
Maharana Pratap was crowned – in XVIth century - and here the peace treaty was
signed with the representatives of the moghul Emperor Jahangir.
• THE MANDIR PALACE: includes a temple, on the ground floor, dedicated to Shiva, a
museum and two lodges (“suites”) on the first floor, and a further lodge on the second
floor (“suite”). Next to it there is the so called “Dance School”, a wide room to be used
 as an Indian ballet school and also as a theatre or for parties. Annexed to the “Dance
School” there are some rooms to be used as changing rooms, toilets and offices (or
flats).
• THE ANAND NIWAS: with the lodges and the structures of the owning Company (living
rooms and dining rooms, kitchens, laundries, toilets and rooms for guards on the
ground floor; lodges and toilets on the first floor; lodge and toilets on the second floor)
• Among the plant of Mandir Palace, the Ajay Niwas and the Northern walls, on the same
level of the first floor, there is an age-long temple dedicated to the Goddess Durga, with
a small garden which was itself restored in order to offer space for meditation and
concentration.
The whole structure and the single lodges are supplied with technologic plants (air
conditioning, TV, telephone, etc.) with European “standards”, discretely hidden in order not
to interfere with the harmony of the architecture.
The lodges consist either of “suites” each with two or three rooms, besides the toilets, or of
big bedrooms. They are planned in order to be adapted to different uses with maximum
flexibility. The residential units available at the moment are twenty-six.
The planimetries Scale 1:100, which can be seen, and the pictures along with them,
in order to highlight the building details of absolute high level, can give an approximate
idea of the entire Plant, the several “Buildings” it is made of and the different floors on
which it develops.

A SHORT ACCOUNT ON THE LOCATION OF GOGUNDA (DISTRICT OF UDAIPUR)

THE RAJASTHAN

No doubt it is the most exotic Indian State as well as the second for its extension. Land of
fortresses castled on the mountains, of fortresses in the desert and of ancient palaces of
the Maharaja which rise either from the lakes or from the dust of the plains, it is a Land
characterized by original geographic, social and cultural peculiarities.
The Rajasthan is the most visited State by international tourism – lately, it has been
increasingly visited also by national tourism – from the whole Indian Continent. The street
which leads from Udaipur to Gogunda is beaten at incessant rhythm by tourists who follow
the classic itinerary of the Rajasthan: Udaipur-Ranakpur-Jodhpur-Ajmer-Jaipur and Agra
and finally get back to New Delhi.
Hills and cultivated fields alternate with the sand of the Thar desert, forests with a very rich
fauna and rare wells located in the dry area, around which there are crowds of men and
camels; Hinduism lives together with the Muslim Religion and the moghul architectures
mix up with the Jainist and Hinduist temples.
The Rajasthan fascinates for its accentuated contrasts. Leaving from the capital city,
Jaipur, called the “pink city” because of its walls painted with water and “garoo”, a coloured
clay, you discover the fortified fortress of Jaisalmer, in the middle of the desert, with its
ninety-nine battlemented bastions, then Jodhpur, built on the shores of three lakes, the
peculiar group of the Mount Abu temples, the fortress of Chittaurgarh and Udaipur, the
most important city Mewar, located in the Southern part of the State, in a hilly and green
region, completely different from the dry deserts you meet in the North-West.
 UDAIPUR

The town Udaipur is one of the most renowned tourist destinations in India and in
Rajasthan in particular, for the beauty of its lake and of its palaces, a lots of which were
transformed into Hotels, among the most exclusive hotels in India, such as the “Lake
Palace”, with several temples, pilgrimage sites, and religious traditions still very present
and the fine handicraft. Its airport (which is now being enlarged and modernized) is linked
to the capital city New Delhi and to the city of Bombay (Mumbai) through daily flights
supplied both from the national airline and private airlines (Jet Airwais and Sahara and,
soon, Kingfisher).
Udaipur is considered one of the most romantic places in the Rajasthan, thanks to its
lakes, its hills and the wonderful palaces. The old core, once surrounded by fortified walls
as all medieval Rajput settlements, still has five big doors which in the past were barred
every night, while today they play the role of ordinary points of reference. The streets of
Udaipur, narrow and tortuous, are overlooked by old typical houses, painted with lime and
decorated with colourful murals which usually represent elephants, knights and peacocks.
In the city you can find fascinating bazaars; in the small shops you can buy knotted and
painted fabrics for which the city is famous, especially the fabrics with laharia (stylized
waves). Among the other things to buy: the pichhvai with bright colours and the enamelled
jewels coming from the near Nathdwara, copies of miniatures from the famous school of
Mewar, the earthenware of Molela, silver jewels, the unusual enamelled works, the
embroideries, antique objects.
Udaipur is also popular, but not so much among tourists, for the “Ayurveda Centre”, the
traditional Indian medicine dating back to three thousand years ago and based on the
relation between the human being and the universe which is probably the one at the origin
of the ancient Greek medicine. In Udaipur, in fact, there is a clinic, a research centre and
an ayurveda school.
The best view of Udaipur and its palaces can be enjoyed from a boat on the lake Pichola,
preferably when the sun sets. If you sail towards the Northern part of the lake, you pass
through several interesting places: the old shooting lodge of the maharana on the hill and
the ruins of the old fortified walls; the City Palace with its high towers and turrets; the
haveli of the old town, with balconies and domes which reflect into the water and the
powerful Gangaur Gath, with triple arch, where women have a bath and wash their
clothes.
GOGUNDA

The village of Gogunda is located in the North-Western Region of Mewar, 35 Km from the
city Udaipur. It is located at an altitude of about 900 metres on the sea level, in the centre
of a wide tableland surrounded by the Aravalli hills, its mountain formation dates back to
the dawn of Earth. The village has about 10.000 inhabitants, it has got a Police Station, the
necessary Public Offices and a small Hospital. It offers little as for accommodations, as it
is a typical agricultural village, where most of the population is devoted to sheep farming.
The seasons are mild, except for rare peaks which in the cold season reach 6/7 C° and, in
the hot season 35/38 C°. During the summers, that is, the dry season, the temperature can
change from a minimum of 23 C° to a maximum of 38 C°, while during the monsoon
season, and for the two or three months to follow, the temperature can change from a
minimum of 6 C° to a maximum of 20 C°. The climate is dry, the atmosphere clear and
absolutely without pollution.
The village can be reached from the city of Udaipur either by car or by bus through the
national street which links Udaipur itself with the city of Jodhpur (the “Mont Abu Road”).
The road surface, made of asphalt, is in good state and the lane is sufficiently wide.
The journey can be covered, with an average speed of 60 km per hour, in thirty minutes or
even less, depending on the traffic. A highway is being built, the same which will link
Ahmedabad (capital city of the State el Gujarat bordering on the South) with the capital city
New Delhi, and which, on the way Udaipur/Jaipur, goes through the outskirts of the village
of Gogunda.
The trip from Udaipur to Gogunda is really pleasant. For the several findings reminding the
glorious past of the Region, spread along the whole journey (old fortifications, guard
towers, walls, temples) or for the short detours allowing the visitor to see (Eklingi,
Kumbhalgarh, Haldighati, ect). For the variedness of the landscape. For the presence of
human beings you can meet, who are always different from each other: from shepherds of
herds of buffalos or of camels in transhumance, to pilgrims, to crowds in the markets
selling fruits and vegetables located along the street; a show that always goes on in a
continuous whirling of shapes and colours which go beyond imagination.
The vegetation, which during the dry season acquires discreet colours, after the heavy
rains changes completely and both the hills and the gorges which cross each other get a
luxuriant look, rich in the colours of the numerous essences (ranging from saffron,
curcuma, mustard, etc.).
The fauna is different: ranging from eagles to hawks circling in the sky, to the numerous
storks perched on banana trees, to groups of monkeys owning the woods which flank the
street. In particular you can meet many of them just beyond the village of Gogunda, owing
to the National Park with Game Reserve, populated by deers, bears and leopards.
This is the best area for a photographic safari, for excursions on a jeep or on a horse, for
hunting in the Reserve (in the period when you are allowed to and with all necessary
authorizations) and as a starting point for excursions aimed at visiting the several
historical, archaeological, and architecturally important sites very close and listed below.

THE SURROUNDINGS OF GOGUNDA

Leela Mandir. Adjacent the walls of the palace, is the temple of Leela Mandir, dominated
by two domes of different dimensions and by a third and higher, finely finished, pyramidal-
shaped structure; everything is made of green stone, typical of the area. Inside there are
finely finished statues made of stone and dating back to the year 1000 A.D. Next to it is a
deep well made of stone too and rich in decorations.
Mayra Ki Gufa. Among the hills surrounding the Palace Gogunda, is a big cave called
Mayra Ki Gufa, which can be easily reached on foot. This place was used as an arsenal
during the battle of Haldighati in the year 1576. A huge number of warriors could find a
shelter inside it during the battle fought against the Moghul army. It has got a peculiar
characteristic: it can be seen at a distance of about 10 miles from the nearby hills but it is
not visible at a short distance.
Machin. It is considered a historic place, characterized by white spotted rocks spread all
around it. The population believes this is the place where Maharana Amar Singh was
born. Hindu rites were celebrated here. The rocks are still coloured as they used to be at
the time when the rite of the birth was celebrated.
The Cenotaphs. They are about one kilometre far from the Place, in the centre of a very
wide plain. They are either in groups or isolated, they reflect into a small lake, witnessing
the royal past of the place. They are the cenotaphs of the Maharana Udai Singh (1572
d.C.), of Rana Rao and of other nobles and warriors Rajput. The awesomeness of the
place is really remarkable: it really seems time was turned back, as such is the quietness
and peace of the place. There are neither houses nor streets, the silence is just sometimes
interrupted by some herds of sheep passing by and by women getting some water supply
in the lake.
Maha Deo or Temple of God Shiva. Located in a small wood, the temple, very ancient and
in an excellent state, is itself surrounded by Cenotaphs which further ennoble the place.
Also here the Maharana Pratap is remembered with a statue made of bronze. Next to the
temple is a huge well, some ten metres deep, with huge stairs, damaged by time which
anyway allow to access inside. This is considered a sacred place, too.
Eklingi. The small village, 12 km South from Gogunda, offers a plant of 108 very little
temples, located in an isolated gorge. The main temple is dedicated to Eklingi, an
incarnation of Shiva, the God protecting the Maharana of Mewar. Closed by walls, it is
completely made of marble, it has got a bended tower and a room decorated with
miniature motifs. Inside, carved in black marble, is the four-face image of Eklingi,. Outside
the sanctuary, a big statue of Bappa Rawal is near Nandi, the bull of Shiva.
Nagada. The temples of Sas (Temple of the mother-in-law) and Bahu (Temple of the
sister-in-law) of Xth century, lie on the shore of a lake, 4 km distance from Eklingi;
dedicated to Vishnu, those temples are famous for the beautiful sculptures, among which
are also erotic images. The temple of Sas is the biggest one and it has got a carved
porch. The walls are decorated with elaborate ornaments representing scenes taken from
the Rāmāyana, descriptions of meetings between lovers and images of the Hinduist triad
Brama, Shiva and Vishnu; also the dome preserved its wonderful sculptures. In front of the
temple rises a splendidly carved arch.
Nathdwara. It is an important destination for pilgrims and, along with the temple of Krishna,
it is located 23 Km North of Gogunda. According to the legend, the black stone
representing Krishna was originally in Mathura; in 1691, fearing an attack to the temple by
the moghul Emperor Aurangzēb, it was decided to move the image to a safer and farther
place. As the cart transporting the precious sacred image reached Nathdwara, its wheels
got stuck in the sand and it was impossible to move it from that place. Interpreting this
episode as a message of Krishna, the guards of the image decided to build there a new
temple with a very simple architecture. The image of Krishna looks like a mysterious and
powerful monolith, with wide hypnotic eyes and a raised hand, as if it had to support a
mountain.
Rajsamand, the lake, and Kankrol, the Village, are 30 km North of Gogunda. The
Nauchowki (nine pavilions) overlooks the big artificial lake, created in 1660, a quay leading
to the shore, with elegant stairs, spotted with arches with nice sculptures and marble
pavilions. The whole plant was built in the half of 1600 to remember a challenge against
the Emperor Aurangzēb.
Nearby are two interesting temples: the Temple of Dwarakadhish or of Krishna of ‘500,
and a big Jainist Temple with two remarkable, sophisticated and delicate marble
sculptures which remind those of the temples of Dilwara in Mount Abu.
Ambika Mata Temple. 40 km South-East of Gogunda rises the village of Jagat, with a
temple of Xth century dedicated to Ambika Mata. The little sanctuary has kept wonderful
sculptures; the external porch is decorated with ornaments and a carved panel with
Ganesh dancing; inside you can admire the images of Durga, who is looked after by six
sensual, young women depicted in seductive poses. On the walls stand out other
decorations: musicians, wise men, and couples of lovers which remind of the erotic
sculptures of Khajuraho.
Rishabde. Temple of XVth century, it is located 70 km South of Gogunda and it is an
important pilgrim destination both for the Jainists and the Hinduists. The Jainists consider
God as one of the twenty-four prophets of their religion, while the Hinduists see God as
one of the ten incarnations of Vishnu. It is a fascinating sanctuary, with an image of
Rishabdeo made of black marble which the believers cover with saffron; the image is
dressed with a cloth studded with diamonds, offered to the temple by the Maharana of
Mewar.
Kumbhalgarh. Of the thirty-two fortresses erected in the region of Mewar by Rana
Kumbha, great King and warrior (1433-1468), the most spectacular one is the one in
Kumbhalgarh. From many different points of view, it is even more impressive than the
fortress of Chittaurgarh. Built in the half of XVth century, on top of the hills on the West
side of Chittaurgarh, the fortress of Kumbhalgarh was called “the eye of Mewar” for its
strategic location with respect to the aggressive neighbours Gujarat and Marwar.
Impregnable, it withstood numerous attacks by the Gujarat, Malwa and Moghul Army.
Even if he conquered Chittaurgarh, the Emperor Akbar himself could not pass through the
second powerful door of Kumbhalgarh. In this place existed an ancient fortress already in
IIIrd century; Rana Kumbha, after defeating the local governor, built new fortresses: thick
walls, circular bastions, high watch-towers and secret ways planned by following the
ancient Hindu treaty “Vastu Shatra”. The external walls surround an area of almost 83
square Kilometres and, it is said, that inside the fortress there were 252 palaces.
Ranakpur is the huge temple dating back to XVth century and dedicated to Adinath; it is
plunged into the forest, 40 km North of Gogunda. It is the biggest and most complex
Jainist temple in India, with twenty-nine rooms covering a surface of more than 3600
square metres and 420 pillars, rich in sculptures, supporting the domes and pinnacles. The
temple was built by a Jainist minister of Rana of Mewar. According to the legend, one night
the trader dreamt of a celestial vehicle: bewitched by the vision, he vowed to make it come
true and he invited architects from the whole Indian territory to prepare projects. At last, a
sculptor came with a drawing which perfectly represented the vision.
Mount Abu. This is the place where the mountain landscape, studded with waterfalls and
bamboo and eucalyptus woods, has remained untouched; a set stop are the temples of
Dilwara and some interesting buildings, such as the Bikaner Palace, visited once a year by
the Maharaja Ganga Singh and his retinue counting four-hundred people and the gothic
palace with towers of the extravagant Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar.
3 Km North of Mount Abu is the main attraction offered by the town: the Jainist temples
dating back to XIth and XIIIth centuries. They are considered among the most beautiful
temples of the Indian territory, they boast a complex and delicate decoration and they
seem to be carved on ivory. People who visit India cannot absolutely miss them; many
scholars consider them stylistically better than the Taj Mahal.
Chittaurgarh. The powerful fortress rises on a massive rock 50 Km East of Gogunda,
access key to the Rajputana: any conqueror who wished to obtain the region had first to
take control over it. Many consider it the most remarkable example among the medieval
Hindu fortresses still existing. Apart from this, it possesses a unique charm owing to the
legends speaking about courage, loyalty and glorious deaths. Chittaurgarh was built in
VIIIth century by Bappa Rawal (734-753), the first of the great Kings Sisodia, even if some
legends make it date back to Bhim, the powerful warrior of the epopee Mahābhārata.
Between its foundation and the year 1567 it was sacked and besieged three times, and in
every occasion the attacks finished, as custom in the rajput tradition, with the “jauhar”, the
mass sacrifice of women in a sacred fire.

This is just a succinct list of the places, rich in history and charm, which surround
Gogunda. Every village, also the smallest and the most modest, such as the one of Ogna,
for example, located in the middle of the forest, 20 km far from Gogunda, which for sure
was never visited by a tourist, is the seat of a wonderful, little Fortress decorated inside
with refined murals and it can offer to the duly guided and duly advised visitor rare
emotions.
FACILITIES

Completely isolated by the high walls which surround it, plunged into the silence and into
the nature, the Rawala Palace is a “good retreat” where to relax, to get toxins out, to find a
new equilibrium between body and mind far from the daily “stress”, a starting point to study
and find out one’s own needs in complete freedom, a rest suitable both for Indian tourists
who wish to spend a different kind of holiday and for foreign tourists who will be able to
experience deep emotions and authentically approach the ancient heart of India, its
spirituality, its arts, participate in its music, in its dances in a peculiar reality.
The following can be organized:
- SPA - ayurvedic massages under the direction of personnel qualified by the
“Ayurvedic Centre” in Udaipur;
- restoring retreats (especially for executives of big Companies) under the direction of
Indian and European experts;yoga and meditation courses under the direction of
Indian teachers;
- “boutique” Hotel;
- music courses under the direction of Indian teachers;
- excursions to archaeological sites in the area and to sites of historic-artistic interest
by means of “shuttle buses” supplied with all “comforts”;
- photographic safari;
- walks and excursions on a horse;
- museum activities;
- dance and music shows;
- congresses and conferences;
- various demonstrations.

In short, the Fortress of Gogunda, more than a “Hotel”, in the classic meaning of the word,
is a “peculiar place” to search for and to choose in order to live in complete self-sufficiency
and freedom, without worries and hurried courses (never satisfying), with the assistance
and support of highly qualified people in every sector or facility supplied, so to meet the
specific requirements of all those who consider the word “travel” in a very special way and
want to remember and repeat the experience they had.