Sleep in a real palace
Several of India’s royal families turned their palaces into hotels. A few are famous for good reason:
- Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur. A white marble palace that seems to float on Lake Pichola. You arrive by boat. See our Udaipur guide.
- Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur. One of the world’s largest private residences. Part of it is still home to the royal family, part is a hotel and part a museum. See Jodhpur.
- Rambagh Palace, Jaipur. Once the Maharaja of Jaipur’s residence, set in big formal gardens. See Jaipur.
- Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad. The Nizam’s hilltop palace, with a famous long dining table. See Hyderabad.
Smaller heritage havelis and forts give you a similar feel for much less. Many are family-run and the owners often still live there.
Take a royal train
India has a handful of luxury trains that run multi-night routes with off-train excursions:
- Maharajas’ Express, run by IRCTC, mostly across Rajasthan, Agra and Varanasi.
- Palace on Wheels, the original Rajasthan luxury train.
- Deccan Odyssey through Maharashtra and beyond.
- Golden Chariot through Karnataka and the south.
Routes and schedules change from season to season, and most run only from about October to March. Book directly on the operator’s website and read the cancellation terms carefully.
Go on a private safari
Luxury safari lodges near Ranthambore, Jim Corbett and the central Indian tiger reserves pair good rooms with expert naturalists. Ask whether the lodge books your park permits (they are limited) and how many guests share a jeep.
Spa and Ayurveda retreats
The Himalayan foothills near Rishikesh and the coast and hills of Kerala have destination spas offering Ayurveda, yoga and detox programmes. Proper Ayurvedic treatment usually runs for one to three weeks and involves a doctor’s consultation first. If you’re going for treatment rather than a massage, see our medical tourism guide.
Luxury in the mountains and on the water
- Ladakh luxury camps. A few operators set up seasonal tented camps with proper beds and heating in Leh and Nubra in summer. See Ladakh.
- Premium houseboats in Kerala. Ask for air-conditioned bedrooms and a quieter route away from the busiest Alleppey canals. See Alleppey.
- Island villas in the Andamans. Private beachfront stays on Swaraj Dweep (Havelock). See Andaman.
Booking tips
- Book palace hotels and trains directly. Third-party sites rarely include the extras (airport transfers, breakfast, a heritage walk).
- Peak season (December to February) costs much more. October, early November and March are almost as nice.
- Ask for a lake-view or fort-view room in writing. Views are the point at most palace hotels.
- Tip staff in cash at the end of your stay.
