Launching in 2024, The Fort Life is an oasis of peaceful contemplation, culinary delights and musical adventures complete with dancing beneath the stars. The eight-week, annual boutique hotel residency calls like-minded souls to Rajasthan, India, where the spectacular Kherjala Fort – an established and opulent 44-room hotel rising majestically from the sun-kissed desert sands – sets the scene for exciting new experiences throughout the months of February and March.
Guests can soak up the incredible architecture and take in the expansive views from within the ancient citadel walls; spend languid days by the pool with a soundtrack courtesy of a rotating roster of international DJs and artists, and revel in the freedom of nights spent dancing in the warm desert air. With creative and nourishing gastronomy, a wellness programme that is both gentle and indulgent, plus a plethora of extraordinary day trips and overnighters, The Fort Life promises to become an annual pilgrimage for discerning travellers seeking an experience that’s out of the ordinary.
Nourishing mind, body and soul is a quintessential part of living The Fort Life. Exquisite vegetarian menus and bespoke cocktails are curated by the most highly regarded experts in the subcontinent, including executive chef Vishal Gautam, and sommelier and mixologist Gagan Sharma. A wellness programme created by Supersoul Yoga founder Dee Koprivc includes transformative yoga and meditation daily – suitable for all levels, from beginners and curious to seasoned pros – plus Ayurvedic treatments and holistic offerings on request. A steam room and Jacuzzi are primed for relaxation, and bicycles are available for guests to explore the grounds of The Fort and the surrounding areas.
Days are centred around the stunning swimming pool, flanked by the dramatic stone walls of The Fort, and complete with a poolside cocktail bar, cabanas and a terrace bar for sundowners and after-dark sessions. A hand-picked roster of DJs and artists from both the live and digital realms provides a soundtrack designed to calm the mind, soothe the soul, and inspire the imagination. From Friday to Sunday, the pace gathers momentum as The Fort opens its gates to a limited number of external guests to up the energy level.
Over the course of nine weekends, a mix of regional and international artists, promoters and musicians come together to present a genre-crossing musical programme unlike anything else in Rajasthan. Highlights include inspiring performers from New Delhi and further afield, such as Sijya – whose star is rapidly rising after supporting The Cinematic Orchestra and receiving the stamp of approval from BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Tom Ravenscroft – and Qilla Records artist Vridian. There’s also Girls Night Out, Maddeof, FILM, DEF, K-Block and resident artist DJ MoCity plus regular performers from the New Delhi-based online radio station Boxoutfm.
International highlights include Midland, Crazy P Soundsystem and Manpower, who curates his Me Me Me weekender featuring Ewan McVicar and new BBC Radio 1 signing La La among many others. Love Fingers and Heidi Lawden bring the ESP Institute to India for the first time, while NTS Radio presenters Ruf Dug, Ellie Stokes and DEBONAIR play poolside and club sets. Also joining The Fort family is James Zabiela and Hotflush label founder Scuba, along with regular Manchester party starters Smokin Jo, Guy Williams and Justin Robertson, plus Faith founder Stuart Patterson. Berlin-based Key Ratio’s main man, Ankur Sood, brings his unique take on breaks ‘n’ beats, and jazz, funk and soul power duo Chris Goss and Dom Servini are on-hand to kickstart the 25th anniversary celebrations of Wah Wah 45s. A host of Pikes Ibiza resident DJs join Cafe Del Mar stalwarts Ken Fan and Andy Wilson round off a truly superb selection of seasoned and cutting-edge new talent.
Beyond the gates of The Fort, the sights and delights of Mother India await. Those seeking adventure will love the thrill of off-road Jeep safaris across the golden desert sand dunes, in addition to street food tours and guided antique hunting in nearby Jodhpur – India’s famous ‘Blue City’. Nearby villages host wood block fabric printing workshops, typical dance and music nights, plus tea ceremonies and the allure of labyrinthine streets filled with fascinating shops and markets. Overnight stays in the eternally romantic desert city of Jaisalmier and the lakeside town of Pushkar can also be arranged, including with visits to alluring ancient temples and forts.
Photography tours focusing on local landscape, architecture and tribes are hosted by the Roots of Indigene crew, timed to coincide with the perfect light. Guests staying at The Fort at the end of March can experience Holi, the incredible festival of colours, and on a more creative tip, renowned Ibiza-based tattoo artist Neil Ahern – who has inked the likes of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell among countless others – has been invited to The Fort as its inaugural artist-in-residence. Guests can book in with him to commemorate their Indian experience in the most meaningful and permanent way.
The Fort Life is the creative new venture helmed by Croatia’s The Garden Festival founders Nick and Charlotte Colgan alongside Ibiza’s We Love… Sundays at Space and Pikes Ibiza programmers Mark and Sarah Broadbent. After spending decades exploring their beloved India during their off-season travels, a string of coincidences led them to discover Kherjarla Fort in Rajasthan last winter and both couples immediately knew they needed to team up to create something special there. By combining their vast expertise in events and hospitality, and calling on legions of friends and family, along with local experts and collaborators, to share their skills and talents in the fields of music, performance, gastronomy, mixology, and wellbeing, they set the stage for a new and completely unique experience in a country they spent many decades in the winters.
Khejarla Fort is the perfect canvas on which to weave our collective vision for creating an oasis of peaceful contemplation, culinary delights and musical adventures. Combining our expertise in hospitality, music, and events with a longstanding passion for the spectacular subcontinent, we aim to add just a little more shimmer to this already shining jewel in the heart of the desert.” – Founders, The Fort Life
The Fort Life is just 80km from Jodhpur which is easily accessible via air from Jaipur, Delhi or Mumbai, with convenient road and rail connections , and all transfers can be arranged. The Fort Life offers something different for 2024. Something exciting. Something new. Led by a trusted collective who have been successfully working within the events industry since the early 1990s in the UK, Croatia and Ibiza, earning both financial and critical success, The Fort Life is a new chapter that is reaching new heights and is ready to share its amazing views.
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