Luxury

This lavish lakefront hotel is a visual feast of opulent traditional Rajput design and stylish contemporary interiors. The epitome of luxury, it boasts extensive manicured grounds, a wildlife sanctuary, spa, two pools, and fabulous views. Many rooms have direct private access to a giant lap pool that wraps around the property like a modern moat. The muffled sounds of temple bells, devotional chanting and city hullabaloo drift over the water from the opposite shore. The view of Udaipur’s famous Lake Palace seems to float like an illuminated fantasy in the middle of the lake.

WHEN TO GO: This sprawling resort full of spas, pools, and wildlife sanctuaries is best visited in the warm months of April to July, allowing you to take advantage of all the resort’s grounds have to offer.

The undisputed grande dame of Mumbai, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is one of the city’s most iconic and photographed landmarks. Built at the turn of the 20th century, in a fairytale blend of Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles, it is enviably positioned overlooking the Gateway of India and the Arabian Sea. Mumbaikars and visitors alike are drawn to the property’s stately arched terraces and grand staircases, as well as its legendary pool and innovative restaurants. An oasis of calm in the city, the hotel has hosted historic figures and earned its glistening reputation over the course of decades.

WHEN TO GO: Just off the coast of the Arabian Sea sits this historic landmark. Book your trip in the summer so you can take in all the city has to offer, from its stunning architecture to its restaurants with plentiful outdoor seating options.

Venues offering yoga, Ayurveda, and wellness retreats are far from austere these days. Just a short drive from the New Delhi airport, for example, the Kaya Kalp Spa located at the ITC Grand Bharat Hotel is an excellent place for a holistic and rejuvenating escape from the world. The opulent and elaborate Mughal Dynasty palace-inspired facility of over 99,000 square feet is set against the bucolic Aravalli mountains and offers a comprehensive selection of Ayurvedic treatments, new age and Western-style treatments, and meditation and yoga classes. These are often available for overnight guests of the hotel and as longer-term high-end residential retreats.

WHEN TO GO: With a backdrop of the Aravalli mountain ranges, this is the perfect place to spend a snowy afternoon, or overnight. Book your trip during the months of October to March, and relax indoors or in heated spas and pools.

Cruising on a converted rice barge-houseboat through the Kerala backwaters offers an authentic glimpse of everyday life in remote villages. As you glide through palm-fringed canals and lagoons, fishermen call out from paddleboats to sell their catch, and longboats filled with coir (coconut fiber) and cashews pass by. Wildlife watchers can spy egrets wading in the shallows as iridescent kingfishers swoop overhead and turtles emerge from the depths. Forays onto shore are a chance to walk through rarely visited villages, and discover hidden temples and shrines.

WHEN TO GO: To see the villages abrim with flowers and see wildlife in its most active state, book your cruise in the spring or early summer months—March to May.

The houseboats moored along the shores of the Dal and Nagin Lakes date back to the Raj days, when the British flocked to Kashmir every summer to escape India’s heat and monsoon rains. Built as floating palaces, many of the boats have been sensitively restored in recent years to seamlessly blend old-world colonial charm with modern comforts for tourists. The setting amid floating gardens of flowering lotus, with views of the misty Pir Panjal Mountains, leaves little to be desired. But there’s more to see ashore, such as Mughal gardens and the bazaars and mosques of Srinagar’s old town.

WHEN TO GO: The houseboats are the perfect summer getaway. While the weather is sultry, the house will rock lightly on the lake, and you can experience beautiful views while dipping your toes in the water that is the perfect swimming temperature.

Traveling by train along the extensive Indian Railways network is one of the most popular and interesting ways to experience the country. And now, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation offers weeklong stays aboard the luxury Maharajas’ Express. This dedicated train travels seven carefully selected routes, so tourists avoid having to book hotels and make special arrangements to visit places like Hampi on the Southern Sojourn route, Bikaner and Ajanta on the Heritage of India tour and Gwalior and Khajuraho on the Indian Panorama. Some of the major luxury train lines to choose from are The Deccan Odyssey, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Golden Chariot, Palace on Wheels, Royal Orient Train and the Maharajas’ Express.

WHEN TO GO: Take these luxury trains cross country and explore the changing landscapes of India. Book based on what season you want to explore, but be sure to book well in advance as they will fill up.

Numerous former palaces, forts and havelis of the Royal Rajput clans of Rajasthan have been restored and converted into luxurious heritage hotels. Options range from a hotel inside the sandcastle-like Jaisalmer Fort in the Thar Desert, to properties in the Rajput palaces of the Aravalli Hills. Along with their unique combination of modern comforts and vintage style, these elegant properties offer a rare experience of traditional country life. Travelers can go on village and farm walks and rural rambles, escaping the frenetic pace of city life for a while.

WHEN TO GO: Visit the hotels from March to May so you can spend days and evenings exploring the open structures of the hotels and its many gardens and outdoor art.

The new breed of luxury lodges on the edges of India’s safari parks (they are available, for example, in Ranthambore National Park in North India and Bandhavgarh National Park in Central India) make it easier for guests to see rare species in their natural habitats. These hotels employ experienced naturalists who act as guides for travelers by interpreting the sounds of the forest. For example, the alarm calls of langur monkeys and chital (spotted deer) indicate that a tiger might soon emerge from the forest —an unforgettable sight.

WHEN TO GO: To experience wildlife in a never-before-seen state, book your stay at a wildlife lodge in March to June, before the monsoon season picks up.

Udaipur is among the grandest and most elegant cities of Rajasthan. A treasure trove of ornate palaces and havelis, lively bazars, beautiful temples and romantic old streets, it is the perfect place to slow down and savor the good life. The City Palace Museum showcases the Mewar Dynasty’s opulent lifestyle, and local hotels offer a contemporary version—whether inside the old palace or along the shore of Lake Pichola.

WHEN TO GO: Take your trip to Rajasthan in the spring months of March to May. Exploring everything the city has to offer is a must, so bypass the snow and monsoon seasons.

A luxury cruise along the Brahmaputra River in India’s northeastern state of Assam is a journey to a land that time forgot. These comfortable trips typically last for seven days and allow time for exploring villages along the riverbanks that are home to Assamese tribes who’ve have had little contact with the outside world. The great joy of a river cruise is the slowly unfolding journey to destinations inaccessible by road and that few tourists ever see.

WHEN TO GO: Let this cruise take you to rarely-seen parts of India — from culture to wildlife. Book your trip early and travel in the idyllic months of March-May where you can comfortably sit outside and enjoy the views of the water and the wildlife.

Chic, contemporary versions of vintage colonial-style tented camps can be found all over the country, from the deserts of Rajasthan to the tropical forests of Kerala and the safari parks of Central India. They offer an extremely luxurious version of camping inside huge tents with en suite bathrooms, lavish décor, and large beds with mosquito nets. Many of India’s annual festivals, such as the Pushkar and the Jodhpur Rajasthan International Folk Festival, now offer luxury camping options.

WHEN TO GO: Book your glamping adventure in the months of October and November, when a number of India’s esteemed festivals take place, with these luxurious tents located close by.

Ananda is a wonderful blend of spiritual retreat and a luxury destination spa. Clinging to the steep Himalayan foothills and overlooking the meandering Ganges River, the spa manages to combine the ancient philosophies of Ayurveda, yoga and Vedanta in a modern setting. Individually designed spa programs incorporate therapeutic massage with nourishing meals to match every dosha (ayurvedic body type), and guests can relax poolside in between treatments. Treats include warm ginger milk before bedtime and soaked almonds in the morning.

WHEN TO GO: This spa and wellness resort with a beautiful view of the Ganges River is a perfect travel destination from September to November. Be sure to avoid the rainiest months of monsoon season.