Destination: Jaipur
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Jai Mahal Palace Hotel
A former residence of the prime minister, the Jai Mahal Palace Hotel offers a quiet retreat on eighteen acres, which include gardens and an elephant polo field. (Yes, elephants play polo. Very slowly.) At the end of a day of shopping for gems, the hotel’s calm interior, with white marble floors and colonial-style furniture, provides a place to unwind in style. Note: request one of the handsome traditional suites; the “modern” rooms are rather ordinary. And for delicious cuisine, try the new Cinnamon restaurant. Rooms from $275.
Samode Haveli
Just minutes from the clamor of Jaipur’s streets and bazaars, the Samode Haveli offers travelers a haven with its ethereal Rajasthani-style suites. It lacks some of the international polish of the Rajvilas, but the original decor and architecture appeal to those in search of Indian authenticity, such as English designer Allegra Hicks. (Click here to read an Indagare interview in which she discusses India.) Rooms feature antique draped four-posters and elaborately painted Moghul-style walls. Original colorful marble floors, stained-glass windows and the noble family’s antiques add to the genuine atmosphere. It’s a great escape, with a glamorous pool; candlelit dining in the leafy courtyard, with a puppet show in one corner; and the plaintive sounds of a costumed tribal group playing tabla and sitar. Rooms from $232.
Tip: Hire an air-conditioned car and an English-speaking driver/guide either from your hotel or one of the travel specialists recommended in Indagare Intelligence.
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