The Judge’s Court

The fabulous Judge’s Court is a Victorian-style manor house set amongst a 12-acre fruit orchard and was originally the private residence of Sir Jai Lal, who served as an honourable Judge during the British Raj. Perched on the edge of the Himalayan foothills in the medieval village of Pragpur, the sympathetically restored and converted hotel comprises the manor house with a relaxed ambience that evokes the period of the Raj as well as the 300-year-old ancestral cottage in the courtyard.

Accommodation is in 13 simple, individually designed rooms and suites, including the three rooms and suites in the ancestral brick cottage. The rooms are tastefully furnished using period-style furniture and feature expansive bay windows overlooking the beautifully landscaped gardens and fully functional fireplaces that make the rooms warm and cosy on chilly December nights.

Delicious home-cooked meals prepared using family recipes and home-grown herbs and vegetables are served in the main dining room, which has the air of an Indian gentlemen’s club or in the gardens (subject to weather). The food is predominantly Indian, but continental dishes are also usually available. The main lounge is adorned with crystal chandeliers, honours and invitations received by Sir Jai Lal from the Viceroy, family photographs and trophies that create a wonderful atmosphere and an ideal location for pre-dinner drinks.

Judge’s Court is a perfect base from which to explore the quaint Pragpur village with its cobbled streets dotted with silversmiths, weavers, and local vendors; enjoy soft treks and nature walks that offer superb bird-watching opportunities as well as soak up the spectacular mountain scenery. It is also possible to arrange excursions to the majestic Kangra Fort, the largest fort in the Himalaya and the unique Masroor rock-cut temple with striking architecture similar to the Elephanta Cave temples in Mumbai.