| When I started on a five month long tour to India, I had | | | | destroy their essence. It almost looks as if time stood |
| no idea what was in store for me. I was not even sure | | | | still in the palace since it was built way back in 1744. |
| why I planned on a tour to India. May be I was just too | | | | Lake Palace in Udaipur |
| fascinated by the lifestyles of the Indian Maharaja's | | | | My next destination was Udaipur in Rajasthan situated |
| and wanted to see and experience for myself their | | | | in the western part of India. The Lake Palace in |
| lives and their palaces. My interest in Indian palaces and | | | | Udaipur is one of the most exotic hotels that I ever |
| forts developed by reading books like 'India Style' by | | | | stayed. The hotel is located in the middle of the blue |
| 'Monisha Bharadwaj', 'The Indian Princes and their | | | | waters of lake Pichola and practically looks floating in |
| States' by 'Barbara N. Ramusack', 'The Indian | | | | water from a near by fort. |
| Subcontinent' by 'Alison Arnold' and 'Indian temples and | | | | Built way back in 1754 by Maharana Jagat singh, the |
| palaces' by Michael Edwardes. | | | | palace is today maintained by the Taj group of hotels |
| The palaces of the Indian Maharajas | | | | and offers the prefect ambiance for a romantic stay. |
| India is a mystic land and has so many things that a | | | | The palace has 85 beautiful rooms along with special |
| traveler can discover. Almost every western traveler | | | | suites and fascinates everyone with its lustrous marble |
| is sure to get a culture shock on visiting India; so it is | | | | pillars, ancient paintings and unbelievable works of arts |
| recommended to do some travel reading before | | | | including glasswork. I almost felt like staying in a |
| embarking on the tour. | | | | fantasy island with my room overlooking a refreshing |
| History of India is rich and tells us of many brave kings | | | | lily pond. |
| and queens who lived and died for their kingdoms. | | | | Udaipur also has many other palace hotels but none |
| These kings used to rule over vast kingdoms and lived | | | | can be compared to the Lake Palace. I was also |
| extraordinarily lavish lives in their exotic and divine forts | | | | fascinated by the 'Laxmi Vilas Palace' which was once |
| and palaces. With the passage of time most of these | | | | a guest house to serve British guests. |
| palaces were destroyed by invading troops; the | | | | Bikaner house (Bharatpur House) In Mount Abu |
| remnants are today converted into hotels by the | | | | Mount Abu in Rajasthan is another hill station that |
| government of India and some others by private | | | | fascinated me. Mount Abu has a host of palace hotels |
| organizations. | | | | as this was a favorite hill station for the Maharajas. I |
| Exotic Indian palaces that are converted to hotels | | | | decided to stay in the Bikaner House palace which is |
| One of my major objectives of visiting India was to | | | | located in one of the most scenic locations in Mount |
| stay in one of the many palace hotels and experience | | | | Abu. This palace built in 1893 was used as a summer |
| the life of the maharajas (kings). I have discussed | | | | residence for the ancient kings. |
| below some hotels in which I stayed and those that I | | | | The palace is well maintained and has spacious rooms |
| cherish the most. | | | | that have ancient paintings and art work. The rooms |
| The Lalitha Mahal Palace in Mysore | | | | overlook mystic hills that look so much in peace with |
| My trip to Mysore was to reflect on my travel itinerary | | | | them-selves. It almost gave me a heaven on earth |
| that needed that I visit those places that had a rich | | | | kind of an experience. |
| heritage and culture. The most famous palace hotel in | | | | One more palace hotel which fascinated me in Mount |
| Mysore is the 'Lalitha Mahal Palace'. This palace was | | | | Abu was the Sunrise palace which is situated in one its |
| built way back in 1921 by a king named 'Wodeyar | | | | highest points. This palace hotel was built somewhere |
| Krishna' and was designed by 'E W Fritchley' who was | | | | in the year 1920, and is quite popular with couples |
| a famous English architect. | | | | looking for a romantic getaway. |
| Today this palace is maintained by the India Tourism | | | | Nilambagh Palace in Bhavnagar |
| Development Corporation and they have done a good | | | | My objective of visiting Bhavnagar, a relatively lesser |
| job with it. The outside looks show white where as the | | | | known tourist destination in western India was to stay |
| interiors are almost as good as new. All rooms of this | | | | in the famous Nilambagh Palace. Built by Maharaja |
| palace over look the beautiful Chamundi hills and give | | | | Bhavsinghji in the year 1723 this palace looks like a |
| the visitor a breathtaking view of Mysore city. | | | | piece of architecture in itself. The palace is surrounded |
| The palace offers all facilities that one can expect | | | | by lush gardens and has 18 AC rooms and 5 cottages. |
| from a five star hotel that include swimming pools, golf | | | | The rooms are spacious and offer an extremely |
| grounds, health club, lounges and a shopping arcade. | | | | luxurious stay. |
| Fern Hill Palace in Ooty | | | | Other attractions in the palace include belgain mirrors, |
| Ooty located in southern India is India's well known | | | | antique furniture, ancient chandeliers and a swimming |
| tourist destination. When in Ooty I decided to stay in | | | | pool that is designed like a Roman bath with marble |
| the Fern Hill palace hotel that has a history dating back | | | | steps and white walkways. |
| to 1840. Back then it was used by the British as their | | | | The palace on Wheels |
| summer resort. This palace hotel has more than 50 | | | | The palace on Wheels is not a hotel or palace but a |
| rooms that also include hotel rooms and cottages. | | | | maharaja style train that is run by the government of |
| Although the palace is quite old, it is well maintained and | | | | India for tourism purposes. . I was recommended to |
| has everything that can make anyone feel like a | | | | make this train journey by a fellow traveler and was I |
| maharaja. | | | | glad I took his advice. |
| This exotic palace coupled with the chilly atmosphere | | | | This train was designed for the purpose of giving its |
| of the hill station gave me something that I could | | | | voyagers a taste of ancient India. The train covers all |
| cherish for life. | | | | major destinations and heritage spots in Agra and |
| Bolghatty Palace in Cochin | | | | Uttar Pradesh in a seven day journey. The interiors of |
| Cochin in southern India is considered the pearl of the | | | | the train look no less than a five star palace hotel. The |
| Indian Ocean and lives very much to its reputation. | | | | rooms are comfy, include attached bath and takes |
| When in Cochin I decided to stay in Bolghatty Palace | | | | you to a completely different world. The food is exotic |
| which was used as a British governor's residence | | | | and is served by waiters dressed in ancient Indian |
| when India was colonized by the British. The kerala | | | | clothing. |
| tourism development corporation has renovated this | | | | When boarding my plane back home, there was a |
| magnificent piece of architecture bringing it back to all | | | | strange nostalgic feeling that had crept over me. But I |
| its glory. | | | | was glad of one thing; I had lived out my dream of |
| The palace has five spacious rooms and six cottages. | | | | living like an Indian Maharaja. |
| The rooms have been renovated beautifully, not to | | | | |