Holidays in India can be great fun especially if you are visiting a place like Basunti which is off the beaten track. Surrounded by the Maharana Pratap Sagar or the Pong Dam as its locally known, the property has been built keeping the surroundings in mind.

The accommodation block is set amid beautiful tropical gardens offering spectacular views.  There are ten spacious rooms with en suite facilities and have a verandah or a balcony. During most months of the year the weather is suitable to enjoy outdoors and often guests find themselves dining under the thatch-roofed veranda, enjoying the rich birdlife. The Main House has a small functional library and a wood-burning open fire place that can be enjoyed during the winter months. Dave Butterworth, who set up Basunti, realized that while on holidays in India one is keen to have a superb culinary experience. Dave therefore tries his best to use local ingredients and therefore meals are prepared using fruits and vegetables grown in their own gardens. Dave a founder member of Neal’s Yard Bakery at Covent Garden, produces a mouth-watering dishes, whole wheat breads and pastries, fresh juices from its fruit trees and the option of fish, caught by the local fishermen.

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The retreat is a haven for guests keen to enjoy a peaceful and informal lifestyle while on holidays in India. Several tourists visit Basunti for yoga but it’s a superb location for painting and peaceful walks. I actually believe that it’s a fun place for families as you can go on nature walks, canoeing, and fishing as well swimming in the fresh water lake or their own pool.

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Over the years I have come across guests who don’t want to pack unpack and prefer to have a longer stay at a place thus using it as a base to visit the nearby sights. Basunti is one such gem from where you can visit McLeoadganj to see the Dalai Lama’s temple, Amritsar for the Golden Temple and Pragpur which is one of the very few remaining heritage villages in the Kangra Regionand not to forget the superb walking around Dharamkot for avid walkers.

They really enjoyed exploring this hidden gem and that was partly due to the fact that not many visit Dungarpur. The palace itself was gorgeous and has twenty three tastefully decorated rooms to offer which one would expect if on luxury holidays India Rajasthan. They have exquisite Rajput architecture, fine murals and miniature paintings. The furnishings are mostly from the 20th century art-deco style and marble bathrooms with English fixtures. Meals are served either in the banquet hall which displays crystal chandeliers or in the more intimate family dining room. Menus are predominantly Indian, subtly spiced to suit our western guests. Not very long ago an exquisite table in marble with inlay work was commissioned in the Zenana chowk. My clients sat by the lake later in the afternoon as there is a lot of birdlife to be seen. In the evening they took a dip in the infinity pool that also has a heated Jacuzzi. The drinks are arranged by the pool facing the lake which is an idyllic location and they had a rather interesting conversation with the present royal family which was the icing on the cake.

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On their second day they went on a short walk to explore the Juna Mahal.  Unlike the more recent Udai Bilas, the Old Palace is no longer occupied. This seven-storied structure resembles a fortress has the most colorful frescoes, miniature paintings, glass and mirror inlay work.  As our clients were on luxury holidays India Rajasthan, we specially arranged a visit to the Dungarpur Mews that have been recently restored and are now open to visitors. This probably was the highlight for our clients as they were simply amazed to see the Maharaja’s collection. The Mews is an old heritage building built by the great-grandfather of the present and was used initially as a stable. It was later extended to make it into a huge garage that now accommodates old carriages and old cannons from the pre-independence .The collection has some very interesting things like a steam road roller from 1910 from Marshal and Sons, Austrian Steyr Daimler 220 dating to 1936, a 47- Packard, 51- Chevy pick-up, a couple of motorcycles from the first world.  A scaled down model of the DH- 5 is housed and is the only second model of its type in the whole world.

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While planning luxury vacations to India it’s difficult to resist the temptation to include several popular sights as has something special to offer. Often tourists find themselves in a situation where they have a long list of places on their itinerary. Having said that while on luxury vacations to India, one can always set some time aside and enjoy the superb facilities offered by hotels like The Leela Palace at New Delhi.  Designed by Jeffrey Wilkes it features dark timber flooring, sophisticated long veils of fabric and rich, soft furnishing to give a warming and welcoming ambience. Striking Indian stone is contrasted with amethyst glass walls to create a mysterious spa experience for guests to find a true escape.  Set on two levels: the active Spa featuring the fitness studio, sauna and a Spa café that offers an exciting variety of delicious, healthy cuisine options is on Level One where as the passive Spa is on level two that has treatment rooms, a roof terrace and the finishing Studio.

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Each therapist has undertaken an extensive training programme to ensure that every guest experience and treatment journey is of five-star standard.  They perform Ayurvedic inspired rituals and radiance boosting facials. For the ones on luxury vacations to India the ultimate spa experience is without a doubt the Private Spa Suite for two that offers a personal relaxation space to unwind with a soothing steam shower and a jet bath.

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In a city so full of visual stimulation and chaotic beauty, the spa, by contrast offers a peaceful serenity and allows each guest to simply relax, unwind and harmoniously embrace the traditional warmth.

If you are thinking about going on tiger safaris, consider a less known park in India as the more popular ones are extremely crowded these days. Tadoba is a fairly quiet park located just 2 hrs from Nagpur which is well connected to Mumbai and Delhi by air. Though not as scenic as the other wildlife reserves mainly due to a sort of a grid system in place, Tadoba does offer some excellent tiger viewing opportunities.  I went to Tadoba in 2009 and was blown away with the wildlife it offered. The park isn’t on the tourist map yet and very few tour operators are aware of it. There are few lodges around the Moharli Gate and only one at the Khutwanda Gate. It’s a fairly similar set up as Mukki and Kisli at Kanha.  I stayed at the Tiger Trails lodge which has been set up by the Dhanvatey family who has always shared a keen interest in wildlife conservation.

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Having been to the other parks in Central India, I expected to see several lodges and a touristy atmosphere but I was shocked. Tourism at Tadoba was just still in the initial stages and even lodges like Tiger Trails which if you ask has the best location and expertise didn’t have too many visitors.  I wasn’t sure how the tiger safaris experience was going to be and therefore I spent just two nights out of my month long research trip.  After an hour and a half on the national highway, we took an exit at a village called Karanji and drove on rough roads through tiny villages to reach Khutwanda.  A cheerful person who turned out to be one of their most experienced driver met me and took me to my room. The lodge offers comfortable air conditioned rooms with en suite facilities. Home cooked food is on the menu and tiger safaris experiences shared by the Dhanvatey’s make it even more delicious.  Do try and book the terrace room as the views are spectacular.  The next day we embarked on our first safari. We drove to the park gate which was not even five minutes away from the lodge. We were the only people entering from Khutwanda which meant no ques. This was a superb start for someone who had seen long ques at other parks.  Once upon a time, dynasties of Gond Kings ruled this part of the Deccan plateau. In the 17th century the tribal king ruled from the fortress of Chanda, which still exists today. When he would travel to his outlying districts, through the forest of Tadoba, the message of his arrival would be transmitted by an engineering marvel. There were rock pantheons erected every hundred yards, which had perfectly aligned tops. Over these were drawn inter-connected ropes which rung a bell at the end. The soldier had just to tug the rope at one end and the bell would ring 50 kms away, signaling the approach of his majesty. Many of these rock pillars can still be seen along the Tadoba to Chanda road. We were driving on the Tadoba – Chanda road when all of a sudden Lahu our driver stopped abruptly and reversed. He obviously had seem something.  He knew that there was a mother with four cubs in that area and he was right. Though we didn’t see the mother, we got a glimpse of the four cubs playing in one of the bylanes. What a sight! They were gorgeous.  It was one of the most fascinating experiences I have had.  We tried to follow them keeping a safe distance but they were so tiny that we eventually lost them.  As the safari continued we saw a male tiger and a sloth bear as well.  I had never seen sloth bears before. I am told Satpura National Park offers great sloth bear sightings. That was my first glimpse of the tigers of Tadoba.

On day two Lahu took us to the Andhari range which is one of the forested triangles out of the 623sq.km park. We drove past the Tadoba Lake which is southwest of the park. I am told several years ago it was possible to stay at the forest rest house which is by the lake. Its abandoned now. While driving through the Andhari range we had an excellent leopard sighting. No one on the jeep anticipated such a sighting and therefore no one could even take pictures of it. Instead of seeing it through the lense we decided that it was best to forget about the cameras for a while and just admired him. I had once seen a leopard at a distance when I visited Gir forest but this was close. We were again lucky to see a sloth bear walk up to our jeep but the icing on the cake was the afternoon safari when we experienced a tiger making a kill.  Just two nights and three tiger safaris at Tadoba and I saw three tigers, four cubs, two sloth bears and two leopards. What more would one expect? Thanks Tadoba.

Rajasthan usually is one of the most visited states while on luxury holidays in India. I had an unforgettable experience at Udaipur. I had stayed in the city on my previous visits and hence I decided to spend a few days at Devigarh, a beautiful fort converted into a luxury hotel.  Set in the sleepy village of Delwara, a short 45 minute drive from the Udaipur airport, its majestic and imposing. The palace fortress has been transformed into a beautiful hotel with airy suites.  The palace oozes with character yet has rooms that have white terrazzo floors with contemporary accents.  As most old buildings there are several levels of accommodation but don’t be disheartened if you have walking disabilities as there are suites on the ground floor that open out to beautifully landscaped gardens. If you are after the views, don’t forget to book yourself into their Aravali Suite which as the name suggests offers stunning views of the Aravali Hills.

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Luxury holidays in India are incomplete without a fine dining experience and there couldn’t be a better place than Devi Garh. Questions like “where would you care to dine?” aren’t uncommon at the palace and for the ones that are looking for healthy eating a low calorie Spa menu is also available.  The main restaurant offers magnificent view of the Aravali along with innovative Asian and continental cuisine served in traditional Indian metal bowls. Fruits and vegetables are organically grown and picked fresh from orchards.  If you are celebrating your birthday or anniversary a romantic candle lit dinner can be set up in the private meditation room once used by the princess overlooking the courtyard. If you want something even more special the Sheesh Mahal is the most magical venue. Traces of History in the form of faded frescoes, mirror work and broken Chinese ceramic decoration lend charm to it. Traditional low Indian seating and rows of candles transform this into a perfect venue for a very special occasion.

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Apart from enjoying the comforts offered by the palace, there are a bunch of short exploratory trips that one can make from Devigarh. The intricate stone carvings at Nagda or the sandstone and marble temples of Eklingji are just 5-6 kms away. I thoroughly enjoyed Devigarh as it was away from the hustle and bustle yet was a conveniently located just 40 minutes from the romantic city of Udaipur famous for its City Palace, lakes and gardens.

Located in South Eastern Rajasthan, Ranthambore is one of the most romantic reserves famous for its tigers. One of the best locations in India to see the majestic predators in their natural habitat, it likes just 130 kms from the pink city of Jaipur and therefore fits in very well with a holiday to North India.   The park was once the hunting grounds of the Maharaja of Jaipur and is extremely picturesque with cenotaphs and old fortifications dotted around. The landscape is of rugged terrain and valleys containing lakes and rivers.  Travelers on a Bengal tiger safari  find it very easy to include a stay at one of the rustic lodges at Ranthambore due to its proximity to Agra and Jaipur.   Certainly, a visit to Ranthambore National Park is a treat for every nature lover.  It’s worth spending time watching tigers roaming around, the outstanding scenery and the species of chirpy birds .The forest is the typically dry deciduous type, with Dhok, being the most obvious tree found throughout the region.

The best time to visit the park is March and April.  As it’s easily accessible the park can get crowded and therefore the authorities offer two options. You can either go in a canter or opt for a jeep safari. While on a Bengal tiger safari one can also visit Malik Talao, the Ranthambore Fort, Rajbagh Talao, and Padam Talao that are some of the prominent landmarks in Ranthambore. Ranthambore is also rich in bird life with around 300 species of birds; including vultures, serpent eagles, cormorant, painted spur fowl, sarus crane, bronzed winged jacana, sandpiper, kingfisher, nightjar, and many other migrants who come from the north of Himalayas.

Wildlife tourism in India has become extremely popular mainly in the state of Madhya Pradesh.  Several lodges have sprung up in the last few years but few have been set up by Taj hotels in collaboration with leading eco-tourism company &BEYOND based on their approach to conservation, which cares for the land, people and wildlife.

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Mahua Kothi in Bandhavgarh National Park is the first of their four Taj resort tiger safaris in India. The lodge comprises of beautifully decorated accommodations using local materials built in Central-Indian style, with minimal interference in the natural habitat, so there is an immediate sense of place.  The main lounge has a generous verandah and a rooftop for outdoor meals and subtle colours have been used to gel with the forest beyond.

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Several minor details have been taken into consideration to offer an unforgettable experience. Unlike parks in other parts of India, the safaris vehicles at Bandhavgarh are provided by the lodges themselves. To offer unrestricted view to each guest, the vehicles have been custom designed and are very spacious.  At Taj resort tiger safaris in India, guests usually get two safaris each day, the morning one beginning at 6:30 and the afternoon drive starting at 3 pm. Though Bandhavgarh gets a lot of bad publicity due to the number of tourists visiting the park, it still offers superb wildlife viewing chances. Though many won’t agree, the park authorities have tried their best to cater to the ever increasing tourist traffic by introducing a route system which means you are given a specific route when you enter the park and it’s the trackers responsibility that such rules are obeyed.

I was fortunate to experience the Taj resort tiger safaris in India hospitality and I must confess that it was a fantastic experience. Right from the time I checked in to assigning a naturalist for my safaris to resort facilities, it was just super.  Their naturalists have to complete a 6 months training program by CC Africa and only the few who that show real passion and enthusiasm are finally selected to work as naturalists in these exclusive lodges. They not only talk about the wildlife spotted during your safari but share some hidden secrets that make it a whole new experience. They are all rounders! One morning we followed the call of the dominant male tiger as he padded through the undergrowth. He was well camouflaged due to his orange and black markings in the stripes made by the thin trunks of bamboo and the spaces between them. I saw four tigers in all, lots of spotted deer, sambar and plenty of deer. Failing that, there is always the food. Mahua Kothi’s kitchen serves some of the most fresh, nourishing and delicious food.  The ingredients are grown on site, and there are so many places to enjoy them too.  It could on the rooftop, in the garden, beneath the Mahua tree, up at the temple or in your private courtyard.

Travellers usually have a lot on their plate when they visit India and it can be quite hectic. Mahua Kothi can indulge you in-room Ayurvedic massages to cooling off in their swimming pool.  The elegant accommodation, stunning safaris and authentic cuisine make for an unforgettable experience while at a Taj resort tiger safaris in India.