MUGHAL FORTS & LAKE PALACES

Your Rajasthan adventure begins in Delhi, India’s capital and the north’s main transport hub. An intense, ancient and mysterious city, it’s the perfect jumping-off point for your adventures in the land of the Maharajahs. It also has much to offer in its own right, with its long and rich cultural history evidenced by no end of mosques, masjids and mandirs, maze-like souks and imposing Mughal forts. Popular attractions include Humayun’s Tomb, the beautiful resting place of the 16^th-century emperor; the Jama Masjid, one of the country’s preeminent Islamic sites; and the Red Fort, a huge sandstone monument to the majesty of the Mughal empire. Equally stunning, but far more modern, is the Askhardham, an opulent Hindu temple opened in 2005. The towering Qutb Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world. A cycle rickshaw tour of Chandni Chowk is an unforgettable way to experience Old Delhi up close. Your home for 2 nights in Delhi is the Imperial, a luxurious hotel dating from the 1930s which mixes colonial grandeur with Art Deco influences.

Departing Delhi, you’ll experience the famous Indian Railways – one of the world’s largest railway networks and largest employers – which is a charmingly chaotic Indian icon, and a remarkably well-oiled operation given its grand scale. What awaits you on arrival at Agra, though, defies adequate description. Memorably described by the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore as “the teardrop on the cheek of time,” it’s one of the world’s greatest masterpieces and draws admirers from far and wide. While the city of Agra does not remotely reflect the beauty of its star attraction, there are other attractions to squeeze in while you’re here – Agra Fort is a whitewashed cousin to Delhi’s red one and a fine example of Mughal architecture. You’ll overnight at the Oberoi Amarvilas, a palatial hotel which promises views of the Taj from each of its opulent suites.

Boarding the train again, you’ll make the 3.5 hour journey to Jaipur, Rajasthan’s Pink City, nicknamed for its proliferation of red sandstone buildings. Jaipur is Rajasthan’s capital and where your exploration of the state begins in earnest, home to famous forts, well-preserved palaces, and relics of India’s Islamic Golden Age. The City Palace still houses the former royal family and is pink even by Jaipur’s standards, while its buildings, spanning the 18^th to 20^th centuries, are a snapshot of Jaipur’s melting pot history and exhibit a fusion of architectural styles. Similarly eye-catching is the Palace of the Winds, its towering façade built for royals to observe the city without being seen themselves. The Amber Fort rises impressively from the crown of the Hill of Eagles on the outskirts of the city, dates back hundreds of years, and is covered in ornate carvings and decorated marble. The Jantar Mantar, meanwhile, is a curiosity: resembling a collection of modernist sculptures, it’s actually a huge observatory dating back to 1728. You’ll spend the next 2 nights at Oberoi Rajvilas, an opulent desert palace built around an 18^th-century Shiva temple.

The next stop on your adventure is Jodhpur, which you’ll reach by private transfer from Jaipur – a journey of around 5.5 hours. Like Jaipur, Jodhpur is visually striking – you’ll immediately see how it got its nickname of the Blue City, with the winding streets and unevenly stacked, flat-roofed houses of the old town a shock of Brahminical blue. Towering above the city is Mehrangarh Fort, a huge, red sandstone fortress which seems to emerge by degrees from the very cliff it is built on. Dating back to the mid-1400s, and home to incredible collections of military memorabilia and other artefacts in its museums and galleries, Mehrangarh should be the top of any traveller’s list when visiting Jodhpur. Near the fort lies the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, where hundreds of native plant and animal species are protected and maintained, including Indian cormorants, crested porcupines, and butterflies. Your home during your time in Jodhpur is Raas Jodhpur, an elegant design hotel shared between 18^th-century and contemporary buildings.

After 2 nights in Jodhpur, you’ll be privately transferred (4.5hrs) to your next and final stop, Udaipur. Known as the City of Lakes for its numerous serene bodies of water, it’s equally characterised by its beautiful white marble palaces, and is famous for being the most romantic destination in all of India. The City Palace is the most iconic of the lot, and the largest in all of Rajasthan, which is saying something; it has a museum which tells the city’s long history as a playground and battleground for Rajputs and Mughals over several centuries. Also included in your time in Udaipur is a visit to the towering Jagdish Temple, dating back to the 1600s, and the Garden of Maidens, a lovely garden of fountains, lotus ponds and marble elephants. The beauty of Lake Pichola, artificially created in the 14^th century, is apparently what inspired Udai Singh to found the city of Udaipur on its banks, and a boat trip along the water, stopping at its various islands, is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. You’ll spend 2 nights at the luxurious boutique hotel Raas Devigarh, after which your journey comes to an end and you’ll fly home.