Jai Mahal Palace

If you want eighteen acres of gardens in the middle of a city as bustling as Jaipur, it’s going to take a palace. Back in the 18th century it would have helped mightily to be a member of Rajasthan’s royal family, but in the 21st century all it takes is a passing familiarity with the portfolio of the Taj hotel group, and specifically the hundred-room Jai Mahal Palace.

Of course you don’t choose a luxury hotel for its gardens any more than you choose a car for the leather on the steering wheel. Jai Mahal’s gardens add to the atmosphere, to be sure, but it’s the palace itself that’s the star of this show. The look is traditional Rajasthani with a colonial-era accent, fittingly enough, and modern comforts effortlessly inhabit these traditional spaces.

Guests face a wide array of dining options, including the pan-Indian Cinnamon, the Italian Giardino and the all-day Marble Arch. Leisure activities include a gym, a spa and yoga classes, as well as some more locally tailored offerings, from nature walks and sightseeing tours to camel-buggy rides. All this and top-notch business services as well — hotels like the Taj palaces are one of the underrated aspects of doing business in India.

How to get there: Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur is located downtown, close to the main shopping center and historical monuments.