If you dream of fountained courtyards, arched balconies and perhaps kissing Prince Charming like Kate Middleton did on her wedding day, then you best set off to these palace hotels for a slice of the royal life.
While we don’t promise a seat in the throne room, a blast from the past at palace hotels across the country should make you feel regal enough.
Now under the Taj banner, this one was originally owned by the Mewar of Udaipur. A vision in white marble, with the Aravalli Mountains looming behind, the interiors are as grand as the guilded roof tops. We suggest you check into The Shambhu Prakash suite, kitted in European splendour with high arches and pillars. You can also sail on an antique gangaur, or the royal barge, while the sunset makes for a romantic setting. Or lounge by the magnificent pool with a butler at your service.
Skip the city life for this lavish treat which blends royal and relaxed, just an hour from Jaipur. Steeped in the hills, and in about 500 years of heritage, here is where you go for solitude and splendour. Four-poster beds, florals walls, intricate carpets and a royal kitchen await, and if that isn’t enough, perhaps their mosaic swimming pool, will do the trick.
If there is one thing the Nizams got right, among various others, was their opulent lifestyle. Named for Mirror of the Sky, its cascading gardens, Venetian décor, and Europeans interiors transport you to the Renaissance ages. Fitted with marble flooring and facing the courtyard as the tradition demanded ages ago, the well-preserved luxury rooms here will make your squeal with delight.
One of the lesser-known palaces, this one at Orchcha is set in the hills and smack in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary {Orchha Wildlife Park}, you’ll be in the lap of luxury throughout. Without burning a hole in your pocket (comparatively), the Amar Mahal palace offers rooms built according to the Bundela kings’ ways of life. Think open courtyards, large windows to take in fresh air (and why not as it’s a zero-pollution zone) and a large swimming pool, reminiscent of a Roman bath.
Known for its lavish lifestyle and hospitality, the hotel exudes true Gwalior tradition from the welcome, the food and suites. The regal, though smaller palace is set amidst nine acres of rolling lawns with stone carvings and intricate filigree work. Divans, silk drapes, mirrors lamps and mosaic walls mark the luxury rooms, while the suites take it up a notch or two with Chanderi curtains, canopied beds and historic artefacts decorating the shelves. Opt for the villa for sheer luxury and lounge in your private pool, just like King George VI, perhaps did when he visited the palace.
Set off on a magical ride to the 15th century heritage hotel on the Delhi-Jaipur highway. With seven palace wings, it really is one of the most interesting hotels to be created from what was a warrior’s fort. Built on several levels, the architecture means you can swim out of your room to join the larger pool or just wade in the cove around your private space. Hanging garden walks, historical and mysterious hikes take you nine floors underground, while upwards treks see you conquering sand dunes that have stood the tests of time. For the adventurous ones, they have the first zip line tour in the world, and you can have an aerial view of the town below.
