Where to remain in India? These 8 former palaces at the moment are hotels

The Maharajas of India’s past built magnificent palaces as a logo of their power.

But in 1971, India abolished “privy purses,” or governmental payments made to those rulers. Several of them transformed their vast estates into heritage hotels, or leased them to renowned hotel chains which rigorously restored them to their former glory.

From the eastern state of Odisha to Rajasthan within the north, listed here are eight regal retreats where travelers can live like kings and queens.

Visitors can step back in time at Jehan Numa Palace in Bhopal, which has a neoclassical style and a Nineteenth-century exterior.

This pristine white constructing was built by General Obaidullah Khan, son of the last ruling Begum of Bhopal, and transformed right into a 100-room hotel by his grandsons within the Nineteen Eighties. The hotel accommodates salvaged original artifacts and Raj-era photos in addition to modern luxuries, resembling a palm-lined pool and Chakra spa services.

Its palatial charm lingers among the many racehorses that gallop across the track encircling the hotel. Travelers can dine on Italian and Mediterranean cuisine here, but Indophiles go for the hotel’s legendary Bhopali fare prepared from secret palace recipes in a restaurant named Under the Mango Tree. 

Once a nobleman’s home, the Nineteenth-century Haveli Dharampura was meticulously restored over six years under the leadership of the distinguished political figure Vijay Goel.

It’s now a 14-room boutique hotel, which received an honorable mention in 2017’s UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The atmospheric Mughal-era hotel has red sandstone-arched colonnades, a marble courtyard, Arabesque tile-work and complex stone and wood details that echo the opulence of yesteryears. 

The in-house Lakhori restaurant prepares historic Mughal recipes, while the breezy rooftop provides a pleasant setting for drink-in-hand lounging while listening to the muezzin’s call from the nearby Jama Masjid — a soul-stirring reminder that you simply are in the guts of Old Delhi.

The hotel has guided heritage walks, kite-flying and high tea on the roof terrace, and kathak performances on Saturday and Sunday, where guests can enjoy a night of Indian classical dance.

Straight out of a fairy tale, the Taj Lake Palace boasts domed pavilions, ornamental turrets, crystal chandeliers, and 83 antique-filled rooms and suites, some which overlook a gleaming courtyard that hosts nightly folk dances.

It has 4 dining options serving globe-trotting menus, a spa boat and butler service.

Perched nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, this hilltop hotel has 60 rooms and suites, which increase in lavishness as you progress up its room classes.

By the point you reach the Nizam Suite — graced with high-quality tapestry, a non-public pool and private butler — it is easy to check the approach to life of the Nizam of Hyderabad, who lived within the palace within the Nineteenth century.

The rooms aren’t the one lure. The 130-year-old edifice is understood for its state banquets of yore-style food, grand gardens, billiard room with monogrammed cues and ivory balls, and a library modeled on the one at Windsor Castle. Staterooms are decked out with Venetian chandeliers, royal portraits and heirlooms from the Nizams’ era.

Today, it is a lavish Taj hotel that balances old-world vibes with contemporary style. Its interiors contain ancient stone carvings, filigree work and wealthy tapestries. For a regal experience, travelers can take a heritage tour through the sprawling estate and stay in certainly one of the Royal Suites, that are kitted out with four-poster beds, Venetian mirrors and mother-of-pearl mosaics.

The hotel also offers loads of facilities to assist guests unwind, including a spa, outdoor pool, and an Art Deco-style bar.

Many other features make Rambagh Palace an unforgettable retreat: heritage walks across the premises conducted by the palace butler, golf putting green, original palace dining room with chandeliers and gilded mirror, a Polo bar festooned with trophies and memorabilia of the Jaipur polo team, and a spa with Indian healing services.

The palace has hosted the likes of King Charles, Louis Mountbatten and Jacqueline Kennedy.

Nestled within the charming town of Baripada, The Belgadia Palace has been with the descendants of the identical royal family because it was inbuilt 1804, giving it an authenticity that is tough to copy.

A portion of this historic palace has been converted into an 11-room hotel by Mrinalika and Akshita Bhanj Deo, royal descendants of the family. It boasts lofty ceilings, marble corridors and artifacts.

There’s also a lavish dining hall that serves Odisha-style meals, and stylish verandas on which to drink tea. The palace arranges activities resembling traditional Chhau dance performances on the pristine lawns, handicraft village tours and other excursions. 

The peak of exclusivity, the Chittoor Kottaram — which once belonged to the king of Cochin — hosts just one group of not more than six people at anybody time.

Nestled amid coconut groves by the sting of the lagoon backwaters of Kerala, the three-room abode boasts beautiful Athangudi floor tiles and picket ceilings.

Precious artworks by Lady Hamlyn of The Helen Hamlyn Trust, the restorer of this 300-year-old palace, lend the property something of a museum feel. A private chef prepares traditional Keralan dishes that may be eaten at a waterside gazebo or in the luxurious garden.

Ayurvedic massages and personal cultural shows may be arranged, as can a non-public sunset cruise on the serene waterways.