Taj Vivanta Aurangabad

In a whitewashed palace surrounding a verdant garden, Taj Vivanta is a grand, peaceful hotel, which feels like a world of its own but is within easy reach of Aurangabad and nearby sites like the Ajanta Caves.

Rooms and suites are luxurious and contemporary in their design, with views over the hotel’s lush gardens and beautiful pool. The rooms’ modern designs are complemented with traditional touches, like embroidered Indian fabrics and bedspreads, and many suites feature balconies from which you can take in the view over the gardens or the pool.

At the hotel’s flagship restaurant, Latitude, a range of international cuisine is served in a refined setting, with high ceilings, pillars and beautiful dark wood furnishings. Cuisines from around the world are represented, with dishes ranging from traditional Indian dosas, bhajis and curries to pizzas and pastas. At the garden café, succulent kebabs and Indian grills area on offer in a serene al fresco setting, and the Tea House serves teas from along the ancient Silk Road.

Taj Vivanta Aurangabad is home to a fully-equipped gym and fitness centre, so you can stay on top your fitness regime while you’re away, and the luxurious Taj Garden Spa, where a range of treatments are available drawing on the ancient tradition of Ayurveda.

The nearby Ajanta Caves are magnificent rock-hewn monuments, dating as far back as the 2^nd century BC, which have been crucial in telling the early story of Buddhism. They are home to paintings and sculptures considered masterpieces of Indian art, as are the younger Ellora Caves – both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ellora is also home to the magnificent Kailash temple, one of the largest rock-cut Hindu temples carved from a single, enormous piece of stone. Aurangabad has its share of historical sites, too, including the beautiful Bibi Ka Maqbara, a 17^th-century mausoleum which recalls the Taj Mahal in style.