Devi Ratn is a countryside resort located in India's Rajasthan state, 10 kilometres from Jaipur and years into the future.
Devi Ratn offers a contemporary alternative to Jaipur's historic havelis and palaces. Futuristic it may be, but the resort's design still manages to pay homage to the Unesco World Heritage open-air astronomical observatory, Jantar Mantar, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 1728.
From a distance, in daylight, the sprawling collection of buildings could be mistaken for an industrial complex. Upon closer examination, its rose-coloured domes and arches, curved walls, skylights and latticework reveal themselves to be a contemporary interpretation of the geometric instruments used at Jantar Mantar to measure constellations, stars and planets. At night, dazzling neon columns, runway lights, illuminated curves and endless shimmering corridors bring to mind some kind of space port.
Ultra-modern, although the reception is dark and moody, with glittering coral pink walls and a domed ceiling. A 120-metre corridor of polished black granite, with light bouncing off domed ceiling can't fail to catch the eye. The space-age Chakra Bar has a glittering mirrored ceiling and neon tables. Strobe lights whirl around the room to create a sensation of spinning in space, so it's probably best not to throw back too many cocktails here.
Think Bollywood bling. If you like brightly coloured walls and things that sparkle, you'll love the 60 suites and three private villas. You could describe the suites as flamboyant, although, compared with the muted tones preferred by many luxury establishments, some might call them gaudy. Either way, they are not going to help you much with that Chakra Bar headspin.
The "cheap" suite is a modern red and black boudoir with red walls and black and white zigzag terrazzo flooring. A central feature is a contempor-ary interpretation of a traditional Hindu temple box, painted red with doors and panels that pivot and slide to reveal hotel stationery, a mini bar and tea and coffee-making facilities. Bathrooms are massive, with white marble walls, shiny black floor-ing and sunken marble tubs. The next category up are suites with rooftop gardens that come in a choice of blindingly bright blue, green or yellow themes - the colours of the gemstones Jaipur is famous for. Top-of-the-range villas each have a private courtyard with a plunge pool and jacuzzi. They are decorated in either copper, brass or silver, with intricate inlay, hammered metal sur-faces and mirror work.