Dream Destination: Taj Rambagh Palace

You assume the former royal residence of a maharaja is going to be fancy, but Taj Rambagh Palace redefines the word. Comprising 78 elegant rooms and an assortment of lavish public spaces, it’s an architectural paradise of glistening marble floors, shaded cloisters, intricate masonry and exquisite furnishings. The luxuriant gardens are a delight to stroll through, with peacock sightings probable. The afternoon heat a little too intense? A vintage car, or horse and sulky, will whisk you off to tour the grounds. A musician plays a bamboo flute, an astrologer is available for consultations, and folk dancers perform in the evenings on the lawns. Enjoy fine Indian cuisine while watching the ravishing recital, then retreat to your opulent abode to wake early for a sunrise yoga session.