Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Fort & Dunes, Khimsar

We were visiting Salasar Balaji, and for my wife’s birthday I decided to take a small detour on the way back to Chandigarh and booked Salasar Fort. Honestly, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made. It’s about a 3-hour drive from Salasar, but the moment we arrived, the journey didn’t matter at all. The entrance is stunning, and the welcome felt genuinely warm — not the usual rehearsed hotel greeting. The vintage cars near the reception were a great touch, and walking through the courtyard to reach our room felt like stepping into another era. Pure heritage, pure magic. The rooms were beautiful and spotless — a perfect blend of old-world charm and modern comfort. The food, both at lunch and dinner, was excellent, with rich traditional flavours done just right. A special mention to their sand dunes activities and the High Tea experience — easily one of the highlights and something truly unique to the property. And breakfast? The variety and quality were outstanding. Spending those 22 hours there celebrating my wife’s birthday felt nothing short of royal. Every detail — the architecture, the hospitality, the food — made the stay memorable. If you’re looking for a heritage getaway near Chandigarh, Khimsar Fort is absolutely worth it. I’ll definitely be going back.

My stay at the Welcomhotel Kimsar Fort and Dunes was amazing! From the moment I arrived I felt welcomed and very much at home. The staff are the best! From the front office to the restaurants to the grounds keepers, every single person made sure that my needs was met above and beyond my wildest dreams. I am not exaggerating when I say these things. The town around the Fort is small and doesn't have any "tourist" spots, but I walked around and everyone was friendly. I even got to feed cows at a roadside stand. When booking, you have the option to stay at the Fort or in the Dune Huts, which are about 10Km away. This is a personal choice but I chose to stay at the Fort and visit the Dunes. The Dunes are spotless and the same impeccable service was shown at the Dunes a well. They had an overland jeep that can take you up to the sunset viewing spot but i choose to walk. The huts are deluxe with a/c and thick plaster walls so they'd be comfortable even when it's hot. Lastly, the cultural shows are outstanding! Singing, music, dancing, puppet show and magic. All were excellent, and as I told them at the end of the evening, it touched my heart. I swayed to the music, got goose bumps from the beautiful dancing, smiled at the puppetry and laughed with the magician. If you're looking for an oasis in the desert, look no further. You will not be disappointed.

I felt like a queen staying here. Nothing was too much trouble for any of the wonderful team working there. The room was incredible. Huge, with 3 arch ways "separating" the bed from the large living area. Lovely bathroom and dressing room. The food was out of this world! So good AND it was the first hotel I've been to in multiple trips to India that has SOY milk ( any plant based non dairy milk). So soy coffee for me. Yay!!! I've been dying for a coffee. The pool was enormous and along with the extravagant gardens made a most picturesque setting. Totally recommend this hidden gem 💎💎💎 no photos as the website won't upload them.