Oh the places you’ll stay: pure luxury in India
Plenty of hotels make the claim that they’re fit for a king, but on an Abercrombie & Kent’s small group tour of India, you’ll stay in places where it’s literally true.
Among the luxury stays on its 14-day Taj Mahal and the Treasures of India itinerary are former royal palaces, with all the opulence and grandeur you’d expect from such residences. The palaces sit alongside wilderness lodges and landmark destination hotels which mean this itinerary is as much about the places you’ll stay as the places you’ll go.
The showstopper
Built between 1743 and 1746, the Taj Lake Palace appears to float on Udaipur’s Lake Pichola, its gleaming white marble façade topped by domes and arches rising from the water, befitting its origins as a summer haven for the ruling House of Mewar. Every one of the 65 rooms and 18 grand suites offer water views impossible to tear yourself from. The rooms themselves are draped in silk and velvet, with priceless rugs underfoot and objets d’art on display.
Outside the room: In Udaipur you’ll enjoy a scenic cruise on the lake, a visit to the marble City Palace and Fateh Prakash Palace with its Crystal Gallery, a stroll through the Garden of the Maids of Honour and a Chef’s Table cooking demonstration of Royal Mewar cuisine in a local family’s home.
The fairy tale
The 1835 Rambagh Palace in Jaipur was once a royal guesthouse and hunting lodge for the region’s Maharaja. Today its elaborate carved marble latticework and lush gardens along with its opulent rooms of vibrant drapery and impossibly plush fittings create a storybook atmosphere for visitors to this city of palaces, temples and gardens.
Outside the room: You’ll visit the Palace of the Winds, built so the women of the royal household could observe street life without themselves being observed, then head to the UNESCO-listed Amber Fort, a red sandstone and marble palace. Next you might enjoy a private yoga class, visit the rambling Bazaars of Jaipur to find a unique memento or meet local craftswomen supported by the philanthropic endeavours of Abercrombie & Kent.
The view
Inspired by Moorish and Mughal architecture, the leading luxury hotel in Agra is straight from the pages of Arabian Nights, but even with its exotic exterior, terraced lawns, fountains, cobalt blue swimming pool and impossibly rich interiors, it’s the view you’ll most remember from the Oberoi Amarvilas. Every room has an uninterrupted sightline to that grand symbol of India, the Taj Mahal, located just 600m from the hotel.
Outside the room: Naturally, you’ll visit the Taj Mahal, but your visit will be in the late afternoon, when the setting sun bathes it in a soft orange glow, and the next day at dawn, when the rising sun provides a whole new experience. Later, you’ll visit the Agra Fort, once the prison of Taj Mahal builder and Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
The wild
Luxury safaris are not just for Africa. At Pashan Garh in Panna National Park you’ll stay in one of 12 stone cottages deep in a 200-acre private jungle, each with its own private veranda and gazebo. The intimate guest area features a shaded deck and sitting room overlooking the wilderness and a library.
Outside the room: This is the base for tiger spotting. You’ll have two opportunities to explore the area in a 4WD game vehicle in search of the elusive beast as well as crocodiles. You’ll meet a member of the local Pardhi community and learn about their role in restoring Benghal tiger numbers in the park and break your day with a cooking demonstration by the Pashan Garh chef.
The icon
Perhaps India’s most famous hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace — named in honour of and not proximity to, the famous Indian landmark — opened in 1903 in what is now Mumbai. Located on the waterfront, directly opposite the Gateway of India, every one of the hotel’s 600 rooms offers superb views, with the choice of the old-world elegance of the Heritage Wing or the modernity of the Tower Wing. From Barack and Michelle Obama to the Prince and Princess of Wales to the Dalai Lama, you’ll be in good company spending a night at this historic property.
Outside the room: While in Mumbai you’ll visit Dhobi Ghat, the world’s biggest open air laundry, Mani Bhawan, a museum dedicated to Ghandi housed in a modest-two storey building where he often stayed, and of course, the Gateway to India monument.
The Taj Mahal and Treasures of India itinerary has guaranteed departures with as little as two guests, and no more than 18. The tariff includes internal flights, resident tour director, airport meet and greet and transfers, travelling bell boy luggage handling, laundry service, wifi, and 24-hour on-call support. Departures on October 27 and 30 next year includes two days enjoying the vibrant spectacle of the Pushkar Fair.
Abercrombie & Kent offers luxury small group tours, tailor-made journeys and luxury expedition cruises. Visit abercrombiekent.com.au or call 1800 161 352.