Samode Palace

As Indian royal fantasies go, it doesn’t get much more classic than this. The Samode Palace, in the rocky hills an hour or so from Jaipur, appears more or less unchanged over the course of its four-hundred-year life — in its new life as a luxury hotel, even the modern additions, such as they are, stick to the extravagant style of the original.

As always in historic palace hotels, the smart money is on the oldest and grandest — the Royal Suites are as opulent as they come, each one practically a palace in its own right, with plenty of space and Jacuzzis and fireplaces added for good measure. But even the humbler non-Royal suites are worth a look, many with balconies and some with rather extraordinary views of the Palace’s photogenic surroundings.

It’s certainly not the sort of palace that’s shy about its opulence, or understated in any way, but you can’t argue with success — it’s a perennial award winner, and a very popular escape. It does a brisk meeting trade as well, but there’s still much to tempt the leisure customer: an Ayurvedic spa, a splendid outdoor pool, fine dining, even camel-back tours of the nearby Samode village. But do plan ahead. Samode Palace is nothing if not remote — get your banking done ahead of time, and take this as an opportunity to unplug.