Hidden Rajasthan and the Holi Festival

,Radisson Blu Airport Hotel: Day 1 (1 night), Delhi, India This stylish business hotel is just a few miles from Delhi’s international airport, with comfortable rooms and all the services you’d expect from a 5-star property. You can visit the hotel’s fitness center and keep up with your workout routine, take a dip in the outdoor pool, or relax at its welcoming spa. Neemrana Fort-Palace: Day 2 (1 night), Rajasthan, India The Neemrana Fort-Palace is a heritage resort built out of the restored ruins of a 15th century fort palace. Sprawling over 25 acres, including 14 layers of tiered land, the resort has nine palace wings encompassing six acres of gardens, two swimming pools, an Ayurvedic spa, and India’s first zip-line. Special care has been given to these structures to preserve the authenticity of medieval times, but this also means there are areas of steep ramps and steps that require some physical exertion. Two state-of-the-art elevators allow for easier access to some areas of the palace. The resort has three restaurants which serve a variety of Northern Indian cuisine as well as some international dishes. Guest rooms are brightened with Indian fabrics and they all have air-conditioning, minibars, and en suite bathrooms with showers. Vivaana Culture Hotel: Days 3 to 4 (2 nights), Mandawa, India You'll get a real sense of Old Rajasthan at the Vivaana, a beautiful 19th century haveli restored into a Heritage Hotel. It's almost like a museum, with its wonderful paintings and antiques. There are 24 uniquely decorated guestrooms, along with an Ayurvedic spa and pool. You may just feel like a king (or queen) by the end of your visit! Lallgarh Palace: Days 5 to 6 (2 nights), Bikaner, India Built in the 19th century, this former red sandstone palace of the Maharaja Ganga Singhji of Bikaner now offers superb lodgings in two of its wings. As a luxury Heritage Hotel, it combines modern amenities with vintage furnishings (check out the hallways with their sepia photographs and old hunting trophies). Sprawling green lawns are roamed by brilliant peacocks and a courtyard offers open-air dining. Ranvas Nagaur: Days 7 to 8 (2 nights), Nagaur, India Ranvas (“Abode of Queens”) is a stunning new heritage hotel built in the heart of an ancient fort on the edge of the Thar Desert. The massive fortress has been restored to its former glory through the efforts of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, and the hotel is set within the ramparts. This atmospheric accommodation offers a step back in time—but with tasteful modern rooms that blend beautifully with the stunning architecture of the fort. Dining outside in the pavilion under billowing awnings is a delightful experience. Manvar Desert Camp: Day 9 (1 night), Dechu, India The location of this camp is simply stunning—set in the middle of the Thar Desert and surrounded by shrub-covered sand dunes. This is “glamping” at its best—30 safari-style tents set in a circle are lavishly decorated with teak furniture, colorful rugs, and beautiful block print tent linings. Tiled bathrooms are attached, with running hot and cold water and flush toilets. It can get cold in the desert at night, but electric heaters keep you warm and cozy. The sunrises, sunsets, and stargazing are incredible! Suryagarh Jaisalmer: Days 10 to 11 (2 nights), Jaisalmer, India Enjoy hospitality at its best at the fort-like Suryagarh Jaisalmer, set outside of Jaisalmer's city center. Guestrooms are spacious, and there is an indoor pool with spa. The grounds include a man-made lake and you'll find all sorts of wandering pets, from rabbits to peacocks enjoying a morning stroll. Raas Haveli: Days 12 to 13 (2 nights), Jodhpur, India The Raas Haveli occupies a stunning position beneath Jodhpur's imposing Mehrangarh Fort and is the only boutique hotel in India located right within an ancient walled city. Combining contemporary comfort and the charm of a 300–year-old mansion, it offers charming, spacious rooms and an inviting swimming pool. The view of the Mehrangarh Fort is especially dramatic at night from here. Siana Garden: Days 14 to 15 (2 nights), Jalore District, Rajasthan, India The rustic but charming Siana Garden features 15 cottages, set in a lovely rural setting. It's an ideal place from which to take part in the Holi celebrations, as the owner is a headman and personally involved with the local villagers. Maharani Bagh Orchard Hotel: Day 16 (1 night), Ranakpur, India The well-furnished bungalows at the Maharani Bagh are set within the walled 19th century orchard of the Jodhpur royal family. The bungalows are spacious and surrounded by big shady trees and lush gardens hung with bird feeders (a birdwatcher’s delight!). Meals are served in an open-air restaurant. This lovely lodge has a peaceful, rural atmosphere and walking paths through acres of mango trees. Taj Lake Palace: Days 17 to 18 (2 nights), Udaipur, India It’s not a stretch to say that the Lake Palace, the 250-year-old former summer palace of the Maharaja of Udaipur, is one of the world’s most breathtaking heritage hotels, and to spend a night here is truly a fairytale experience that begins the moment you first see it. Floating in tranquil Lake Pichola with the Aravalli Hills as its backdrop, this palace hotel has been called “a dream of white marble.” Inside, you can live the royal life and enjoy its many courtyards, restaurants, elegant terraces, and gardens abloom.