Fort Rajwada in Jaisalmer names two restaurants Sonal and Rupal after legend of twin sisters

Ask anyone how the restaurants at Fort Rajwada in Jaisalmer got their names, and sooner or later you will hear the story of two sisters. Fort Rajwada is a five-star luxury palace hotel in Jaisalmer. Sonal and Rupal are its two main restaurants. Sonal is a fine-dining restaurant serving regional Rajasthani food. Rupal is a multi-cuisine restaurant.

The names come from a local legend about twin sisters from Gujarat. Sonal had golden hair and Rupal had silver hair. As locals tell it, the tale is linked to the royal family of Pugal in the Bikaner region. People in Jaisalmer have passed it from one storyteller to another for years.

Pugal was a seat of the Bhati Rajputs, and its rulers shared an ancestor with the Bhati rulers of Jaisalmer. The two houses were neighbours and sometimes relatives. Sona means gold and rupa means silver. Rajasthani families give these two metals at weddings, wear them at festivals and keep them safe for generations. In Jaisalmer, sandstone turns golden in the evening light, and on a full-moon night the desert looks silver.

Fort Rajwada has also given the two sisters a temperament. Sonal, the golden sister, is unhurried, refined and rooted in tradition. Rupal, the silver sister, is sociable and always ready for a crowd.

Sonal's idea is simple: Rajasthani food is best enjoyed slowly. Its kitchen prepares regional dishes with organic and local ingredients. The menu has dal baati churma, which first-time visitors often look for first. Laal maas is the Rajput mutton curry, once made with game meat. Its deep red colour and aroma come from Mathania chillies, grown in a village near Jodhpur. Ker sangri is a Thar speciality and has received a GI tag. Gatte ki sabzi is cooked in a curd gravy, and bajra rotis are eaten with ghee or garlic chutney.

Rupal's menu is multi-cuisine. Rajasthani favourites sit alongside dishes that guests from India and abroad recognise. Families, groups and wedding guests staying at the hotel often sit here.

Fort Rajwada has five places to eat: Sonal, Rupal, Patu Bar, Sunset Roof Top and Pool Side Barbecue. According to elderly locals, Patu Bar is named after Patu Kalalan, who served at royal gatherings. Sunset Roof Top offers a view of the sun setting behind Jaisalmer Fort. Pool Side Barbecue serves grilled dishes in the evening under the open sky.

The hotel team holds a short daily briefing, weekly role-play sessions and a monthly service audit. Local singers and dancers perform in the evening.

Jaisalmer's season runs from October to March. The Jaisalmer Desert Festival returns in February 2027 and is expected to be held from February 18 to 20. Its events will take place in the city and on the sand dunes at Sam. Rooms fill up quickly at that time, so booking early is advisable. Fort Rajwada is 2.2 km from Jaisalmer railway station and 12 km from Jaisalmer airport.

For reservations, the number is +91 98280 49555 and the email is [email protected]. The address is 1, Hotel Complex, Jodhpur-Barmer Link Road, Indira Colony, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 345001.