We left the wondrous wilderness of Bandhavgarh and Kanha behind and continued our trip back to the city opulence of the Delhi hotels and onwards to the beautiful Udaipur, the City of Lakes.
Getting to know Delhi
Bigger than its sister hotel, the Taj Palace, Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi is filled with expansive grandeur and elegance. With a water feature, huge intricate domes on the ceiling, tapestries on the walls and a suave ambience, it is no wonder it holds the prestigious title of one the world’s leading hotels. The Taj Mahal Hotel is one of those rare properties that you are utterly impressed by today, as I imagine you would have been decades ago. We were lucky enough to enjoy a complimentary upgrade due to availability, and stayed in a Club Room which enabled us exclusive access to the Club Lounge - so we never had to wait for our meals, and indulged in free cocktails and canapés!
Humayan Tomb in Delhi
One of the strongest draws, I think, of staying at the Taj Mahal Hotel is the location itself. Delhi, India’s political capital, does not have a disinteresting corner; it has three out of the twenty-five Indian world heritage sites, as well as being titled the greenest city in India after making movements to reduce the city’s former pollution problem. Comprising two identities, New Delhi and Old Delhi, the city is an amalgam of the old, new, stately, humble, traditional and modern, and has a feast of sights to gawp at. Our knowledgeable Banyan tour guide took us around the most culturally rich attractions including the Gate of India, opposite the Presidents House and the headquarters for agriculture, textiles and the Indian army. We also visited The Humayan Tomb (pictured above), built with the same precision, shapes and artistry as the Taj Mahal, and the ancient Qutub Minar temple.
The tour was educational and mind-opening to say the least. Our tour guide explained the evolution of some of the Indian fashions within a religious context, and even organised a ride through the skinny back-streets of the old town on a rickshaw driven by a hard-working local man. All of this was subject to our preferences; alternative recreations could also have easily been arranged.
The Taj Lake Palace
The Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, surrounded in mountainous scenery, and the Jiva Spa boat
If truth be told, early morning domestic flights between the top cities in India is becoming something of a doddle. Especially when you know the flight will take you ever closer to a world-renowned Indian hotel, known as one of the most romantic hotels in the world, with one of the world’s best restaurants, Hollywood film credentials, charming heritage and magical architecture. This hotel, if you haven’t already guessed, is the floating castle of the ancient young prince: Taj Lake Palace.
As soon as we exited the airport and entered Udaipur, we felt a breath of fresh air wash over us. The City of Lakes has three interconnecting man-made lakes, which are detectable in the very air of the city. In the largest of the lakes, Lake Pichola, lies the Lake Palace - a 266 year old structure with the same original features and detailing as when it was first built. We drove down the speedy roads of Udaipur, with James Bond theme music providing an internal soundtrack to our imaginations as we gazed out of the windows upon stunning views of the mountains in the distance. Each visit to the palace demands a short boat ride from the jetty and over the water. We donned our life-jackets and sunglasses, and glided towards the palace with our hair billowing in the breeze and our cool excitement rising, like two Bond Girls about to investigate.
The Jetty at Lake Pichola in Udaipur
On arrival, we were led towards the main entrance under an embroidered parasol, our shoes clicking on the shiny white marble floors beneath us. As we approached the entrance we were washed with tumbling rose petals that were thrown over us from above, filling the air with floral sweetness. What a wonderful reception. Our room was just as delightful, with a view overlooking the lake, a day bed beneath the windows decorated with silk cushions, hand-painted flowers on the walls, and an intricately ornate silver-plated desk and chair. My favourite feature of the room, though, was our close proximity to the large terrace where ‘Octopussy’ was filmed… it just felt so special to be there, especially as it was candle-lit at night, with the shadow of an Indian dancer gracefully moving in the background.
The pool area at Taj Lake Palace
Taj Lake Palace hosts all sorts of entertainment, including an Indian singer, whose voice resonates throughout the grounds in strong and fluid melodies, with dancers who perform interesting stunts and beautiful traditional dancing. We also had a session with the resident astrologer, who has been working full-time in the role for around twenty years, and indulged in an hour long Deep Tissue Massage in the Jiva Spa! There is a lot to do here, including a sunset cruise, or heritage walk of the grounds… although simply being there is romantic and relaxing enough.
I’ll be sad to leave the Lake Palace, although if the reputation of Taj’s palaces is anything to go by, we will not be disappointed as we visit Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur and Rambagh Palace in Jaipur in the last leg of our tour of India.
To read about what happened next in our Luxury India Trip, read Part 3!
For further information about visiting any of these parts of India, or the stunning properties mentioned, call us on 0161 233 0110 - we'd be glad to have a chat with you!