New Delhi: Seclude Hotels has announced the launch of Seclude Fort Unchagaon, a 300-year-old heritage fort in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. Spread across 19 acres of mango orchards, the 22-room property is around two hours from Delhi NCR and marks Seclude’s largest heritage redesign to date.
Fort Unchagaon is a natural progression for Seclude, which has built its portfolio around distinctive properties with character and a strong connection to their surroundings. From heritage villas in Shimla and Kerala to its royal properties in Hampi and Nahan, the brand has consistently chosen spaces that already have a story to tell. A 300-year-old family fort takes that philosophy to its most ambitious setting yet.
“One of the things that sealed it for me was realizing that I was staying in a room where Jawaharlal Nehru had once stayed. I could see how the old kings lived through the photographs on the walls, and everywhere I looked, the spaces were bursting with potential, waiting to be explored. Taking on a property like this is our biggest challenge and our greatest joy — figuring out how to bring all of that history, character and possibility to life. How could I say no?” says Ramit Sethi, Co-Founder, Seclude Hotels.
The restoration has been guided by a simple principle: preserve the character that cannot be recreated. The fort’s original architecture, royal courts, family collections and heirlooms remain an integral part of the property. The Tiger Room retains hunting artefacts from the estate’s royal past, while an old Air India lounge houses vintage travel memorabilia. Family photographs, books, cameras and other objects collected over generations can be found throughout the fort.
“As we entered the fort on our first visit, I knew I wanted it. The massive gates, the grand scale, the feeling of the place — I knew immediately that this was something we could never create anywhere else. And then we got to work, redesigning the spaces and bringing out the details that nod to its 300 years of history. Because that is something we could never build in our lifetimes, and that is what makes Unchagaon so special,” says Rohit Sethi, Founder, Seclude Hotels.
Seclude has divided the property into three distinct wings, each drawing on a different facet of its royal past: The Royal Wing, The King’s Court and The Queen’s Courtyard.
As with every Seclude property, the experience is built around Design, Food and Experience. Design works with the fort’s existing architecture and character, modernising the spaces while adding a little oomph through contemporary details and thoughtful interventions. Food brings local flavours into the stay, while Experience takes guests deeper into the property through an audio trail, Seclude Fort Unchagaon, available on Spotify. Guests can follow a map, scan QR codes and discover the stories behind the rooms, people and collections as they explore.
Beyond the fort, guests can try pottery with local artisans, archery, badminton and croquet, explore the neighbouring village or head to the Ganga for dolphin watching.
At just two hours from Delhi, it’s also an easy and comfortable weekend option for families travelling with elder parents or grandparents, who are looking for a change of scenery, without asking them to spend half the trip on the road. The fort also has plenty of places to sit and spend time together, so everyone can enjoy the property without having to be on the move all day.
It is pet-friendly too, with 19 acres of orchards and open grounds where pets can walk, run around and stay with the family through the day rather than being left behind in the room.
The property also offers a distinctive setting for destination weddings, celebrations, family gatherings and corporate offsites. Its royal courts, lawns, poolside spaces and former Diwan Khana provide multiple settings, allowing celebrations to unfold across the fort rather than within a conventional banquet space.
Fort Unchagaon has also featured in popular culture, most recently as Alia Bhatt’s family home in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. It will next appear in the upcoming Prime Video series Ek Khoya Mahal.
