Aramness Gir

Time Out Says

When Jimmy Patel's childhood trips to Sasan Gir ignited a lifelong obsession with India's last Asiatic lions, he probably didn't imagine he'd one day build what is, essentially, a love letter to Gujarat's wilderness. But here we are, and thank god for that, because Aramness, sitting pretty on the edge of Sasan Gir National Park, is the kind of place that makes you wonder why anyone settled for generic safari lodges in the first place.

The name’s a mish-mash of two Gujarati words: aram (peace) and ness (village), which neatly sums up what you're getting. This isn't some cookie-cutter safari operation. It's an 18-kothi luxury lodge where hand-carved sandstone jali screens cast dappled light like fallen sal leaves, where your mango comes from trees you can literally see from your room, and where the design takes its cues from the meandering cobbled streets of nearby Haripur village. Nicholas Plewman Architects and Fox Browne Creative have created something that somehow feels both deeply rooted and impossibly chic.

Why stay at Aramness Gir?

Because nowhere else in Gujarat, or maybe even all of India, offers this particular cocktail of barefoot luxury, conservation-minded travel, and genuine connection to place. This is the ONLY boutique lodge bordering Sasan Gir National Park, home to the world's last remaining Asiatic lions and the semi-nomadic Maldhari tribe. 

The 18-square-kilometre teak forest surrounding the property also means additional wildlife like chital deer, blue bulls, and paradise flycatchers – all of which wander freely between park and lodge. The architecture and interiors, also, feel like real effort’s gone in – most elements have been sourced directly from the nearby villages, including the sun-baked clay roof tiles and reclaimed wood. 

What are the rooms like?

The kothis are essentially revamped double-storey village homes. You’ll find the bedrooms on the ground floor, with luxurious bathrooms fitted with both indoor and outdoor showers. There’s also a sitting room and a private stepwell-inspired plunge pool. Upstairs, the first-floor verandah overlooks waterways and the dense forest. If you’re lucky, you may spot a lion. 

The interiors borrow just enough Gujarati craft techniques without stepping into twee territory. The jalis, featured across the property, are all hand-carved into sandstone and create patterns of light through the day. The cool, shaded courtyards repel heat without taking away outdoor time. 

What to eat at Aramness Gir?

Overseen by Kamini Patel of Kitchen Therapy and Executive Chef Chetan Singh Rana, Gujarat is famous for its vegetarian cuisine, and Aramness delivers an authentic experience with their signature playful twist – but relax, they’ve got dishes for meat-eaters as well. 

Breakfast is served from the haveli kitchen overlooking the formal gardens. The village kitchen prepares fresh rotis and breads. Lunch happens wherever you fancy – in your kothi, by the poolside, in the garden, or on the verandah. The menu features traditional grains like millets, and even the spice blends and pickles, notably, are handmade in-house

Dinner’s the showstopper. The signature jungle barbecue is traditionally served al fresco, though you can opt for the thali in the dining room, too. There’s also an authentic Kathiawadi dinner in the courtyard or orchard, accompanied by live folk music. The ingredients all come from the property’s organic garden, managed by the very resourceful and knowledgeable gardener, Hussain. It’s a magnificent sight – complete with a vegetable terrace, greenhouse, and fruit orchards, bearing mango trees responsible for the lassi you get to drink for breakfast. 

While Gujarat is a dry state, foreign tourists may apply for alcohol permits. The non-alcoholic drinks menu, though, is fairly robust, though of course can never really stand in for spirits. 

What are the facilities like?

The property features an infinity pool with views of the re-wilded meadows, and comes with an all-day dining poolside menu called Nasta, a gola cart with shaved ice, a fresh juice station, and a coffee bar. 

The spa mainly features Ayurvedic treatments, with an array of steam rooms, massage rooms, and a nail bar – all overlooking the pool and meadows. Next door, a gym and yoga pavilion offers sessions twice a day. All the wellness products, same as the food menu, are made in-house using botanicals from the garden, farmed by ethical farmers. 

The hotel’s also got a craft gallery that curates local handicrafts (clothes, jewellery, accessories) rooted in Gujarat tradition. There’s a library too, upstairs in the haveli, which can be booked for private dinners. 

What's the wildlife experience like at Aramness Gir?

Founder Jimmy Patel is a wildlife photographer and conservationist – which ensures that nothing about the safari will feel gimmicky or rushed. Game drives are limited to four adults and one child, led by trained naturalists who genuinely love the work. Their enthusiasm tempers the craze for lion spotting that tourists may bring: stopping to admire a Tickell's Blue Flycatcher is as valued as a lion sighting.

Drives happen twice a day – sunrise and in the afternoon. You head out after dawn with a picnic breakfast, returning for lunch, or depart after breakfast with snacks, and return for high tea by the pool. The 18-square-kilometre connecting area between lodge and park means you’ll be in prime wildlife territory from the moment you leave your kothi. 

Beyond the big cats (Asiatic lions and leopards), there’s extraordinary birdwatching in the teak forest. Their specialist guide, Kamaxi, leads some of the best walks the property has to offer. 

What's the service like?

General Manager Parikshit Singh Rathore brings 12 years of luxury hospitality experience (andBeyond, Taj Safaris), and 60% of the staff belong to the local community. Service is warm, generous, without veering into the obsequious.

Since the entire operation runs on conservation and community empowerment, the hotel also works with the Gujarat Forest Department on lion conservation. They’ve also adopted local schools, teach organic farming in the village, and facilitate medical access.

Getting there: Nearest airports are Keshod (35 km away) and Diu (110 km away); the lodge arranges transfers.