A Luxury Escape in the Wilderness: The Story Behind Thour Nature Resorts Jawai

Thour means “stay”. In Jawai, where leopards claim the granite at dusk and herders walk home beside them, it is the most honest word a resort could have chosen.

It began in November 2019 with four tents, set in the middle of the landscape rather than at its edge. Since then, the property has grown one deliberate layer at a time: more tents, an organic farm, a rooftop restaurant, cottages and a swimming pool carved into the hillside. Each addition answered the same question. How do you offer real luxury without turning your back on the wild?

This is the story behind Thour Nature Resorts Jawai, and why it has become one of the most talked-about places to stay in Rajasthan’s leopard country.

Quick Answer: What Is Thour Nature Resorts Jawai?

Thour Nature Resorts Jawai is a luxury tent and cottage retreat in Jawai Bandh, Pali district, Rajasthan, set in the heart of leopard country. Since pitching its first four tents near Jawai Dam in November 2019, it has grown into a refined wilderness address: luxury tents, luxury cottages and luxury spacious cottages, a rooftop restaurant serving organic, farm-sourced Rajasthani cuisine, and a swimming pool carved into the hillside. Beyond the property lie leopard safaris, birdwatching at Jawai Dam and respectful visits to Rabari villages, curated for solo travellers, families and groups alike.

Thour at a Glance

The Name That Explains Everything

Names are promises in miniature. Thour simply means “stay”, an invitation to the wanderer to slow down and settle into Jawai rather than pass through it.

The invitation lands differently here. From the resort, guests are only a few steps from one of India’s most unusual wildlife stories: leopards, hyenas, crocodiles and hundreds of bird species sharing a landscape with the Rabari people, with no fences between them. A stay at Thour is a seat in the front row of that coexistence.

From One Idea to Four Tents: The Origin Story

The story starts in early September 2018, when the idea of a retreat in the lap of nature set the founders exploring land in Jawai. After months of searching, they chose a plot near Jawai Dam, in one of Rajasthan’s best-known leopard landscapes.

In November 2019, the first four tents went up. They were designed for comfort and privacy, and built to welcome guests from the very first booking. There was no grand facade and no attempt to out-shout the hills. The wilderness stayed the headline.

A Resort Built Layer by Layer: The Thour Timeline

The pattern is worth noticing. Thour did not arrive fully formed. It grew in response to the landscape and its guests, which is why it still feels like a place rather than a product.

Luxury Tents: Sleeping Inside the Story

For a first-time visitor, the tent is the headline, and for good reason. Thour’s luxury tents are spacious, with modern amenities and views over the hills. They sit close enough to the landscape that you hear it before you see it: a langur’s alarm call, perhaps, or nothing at all, which in leopard country is its own kind of information.

Inside, it is soft linen and comfortable luxury. Outside, it is Jawai doing what it has done for centuries. That contrast is the whole point of staying in a luxury tent in Jawai, rather than in a hotel room miles from the hills.

Luxury Cottages: Where Comfort Takes Root

For guests who want a more home-like stay, with solid walls, added privacy and a calmer rhythm, Thour’s luxury cottages are the natural choice. Each one comfortably hosts two guests and with an attached bavdi-inspired bathroom is fitted with a king-sized bed, an attached bathroom, air conditioning, hot and cold water, a mini-fridge, an almirah and daily housekeeping. Scenic views and a sense of seclusion come standard.

Luxury Spacious Cottages: Room to Breathe, Room to Gather

The luxury spacious cottage is Thour’s answer to the traveller who wants the wilderness with a little extra room. At approximately 400 sq ft, it is larger than the standard cottage with an attached bavdi-inspired bathroom and can host up to three guests, with an additional bed provided for the third. That makes it an ideal base for small families, a couple travelling with a child, or friends who prefer to stay under one roof.

The comforts match the cottage standard: a king-sized bed, attached bathroom, air conditioning, hot and cold water, a mini-fridge, an almirah and daily housekeeping. What changes is the feeling. The extra space turns the stay from a night away into a place to unpack, linger and spend long evenings together, with the Jawai hills just beyond the door.

The Table: Farm-to-Dine, Rajasthani to the Core

Our kitchen grows first and sources second. Whatever Jawai’s terrain allows, we cultivate on our own organic farm and bring to the table at its freshest. Where the land cannot oblige, we turn to local farmers and trusted vendors, so every plate stays honest, seasonal and as close to home as possible.

The setting matters as much as the menu. The rooftop restaurant, added in 2023, offers an open-air, intimate space for dinner under a wide Jawai sky. For many guests, that table, the stars and the cool evening air become the most remembered hour of the stay. Also a separate dining hall is part of multi cuisine and flavours.

The Pool in the Mountain

Mountain-Built Swimming Pool, carved directly into the rock face itself, a feature few resorts in Jawai can claim.

Guests swim against a backdrop of Jawai’s hills, with the views of the surrounding landscape doing the work of an infinity edge.

It is also an apt symbol for the resort: a design that works with the terrain instead of flattening it.

Thour Hill: The resort’s own vantage point over Jawai.

Rise above the camp to a ridge where the whole landscape opens at once: granite folds, wide horizons and a sky with nothing in its way. You don’t need a jeep to meet Jawai here. You only need to arrive, sit down and look.

Beyond the Camp: Leopards, Water and Villages

A stay at Thour opens onto three of Jawai’s defining experiences.

Leopard safaris. Jawai is known for an unusually high density of leopards living close to human settlements. Safaris are jeep-based and run at dawn and dusk, when activity is highest. Thour offers Jawai Jungle Safari and a Full Day Jawai Safari. Sightings are common but never guaranteed, because these are wild animals.

Jawai Dam. One of the largest dams in western Rajasthan sits close to the resort and draws migratory birds in winter, with marsh crocodiles along its banks. It is a haven for bird watchers and photographers.

The Rabari and their villages. The Rabari are a semi-nomadic pastoral community whose reverence for the leopard underpins the region’s peaceful coexistence. Village visits offer a respectful way to meet them, arranged through the resort in partnership with the community. The Rabari are hosts of this landscape and never a photo stop.

A Stay for Every Kind of Traveller

Thour has built its hospitality around the different ways people travel:

• Solo travellers: comfortable, safe accommodation for those who come for the safari and the silence
• Families: a setting where children and parents share wildlife encounters and uninterrupted time together and a wide play area complements the stay.
• Groups of friends: accommodation and safaris arranged for the whole party
• Couples: unhurried evenings, open skies and a rooftop table for two

Location and How to Reach Thour

Thour Nature Resorts Jawai sits on the Varaval to Kothar Road, near Varaval, Post Bera, Jawai Bandh, Pali, Rajasthan 306126, close to the Toll Plaza. The resort’s position near two national highways, NH 27 and NH 62, links Jawai to major cities across India.

• By rail: Mori Bera, Jawai Sumerpur and Falna are the nearest railway stations.
• By air: Udaipur (approx. 150 km) and Jodhpur (approx. 170 km) are the nearest airports.
• By road: Jawai is well connected by road to nearby major cities.

When to Visit

October to March is the ideal window, with cooler safari mornings, comfortable evenings and migratory birds at the dam. Summers in this part of Rajasthan are extremely hot. Safari vehicles are limited, so book early, especially for weekends and festival dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Thour” mean?
Thour means “stay”. The name is an invitation to travellers to settle into Jawai and experience its wilderness.

What types of accommodation does Thour offer?
Thour offers luxury tents, luxury cottages, and luxury spacious cottages, all with modern amenities and views of the Jawai hills.

Does Thour serve organic or farm-fresh food?
Yes. The resort introduced organic farming in 2022 and follows a farm-to-dine approach, with Rajasthani flavours at the centre of its menu.

Can I see leopards from the resort?
The resort sits in leopard country, and safaris run at dawn and dusk. Chances are excellent, but sightings are never guaranteed because leopards are wild animals.

Is Thour suitable for families, solo travellers and groups?
Yes. Thour offers accommodation and safari arrangements for solo travellers, families and groups of friends.

Where is Thour Nature Resorts located?
It is on the Varaval to Kothar Road, near Varaval, Post Bera, Jawai Bandh, Pali, Rajasthan 306126, near NH 27 and NH 62.

What is the best time to visit Jawai?
October to March is generally best. Winter offers comfortable safaris and migratory birdlife at the dam, while summers are extremely hot.