Opulence in Rajasthan

Jai Mahal Palace in Jaipur, India. Photo: Eugenia Lazaris

Located in the desert region of Rajasthan, the Taj Jai Mahal Palace in Jaipur is truly a diamond in the rough. This 4-star luxury resort offers a glimpse of the romantic India of years gone by. From the moment of arrival each guest is treated like a maharaja. Resort staff greet guests with a traditional Indian welcome and a shower of rose petals while an attendant brings a fresh towel and refreshing glass of lychee juice, preparing you for the ultimate experience in Indian decadence and indulgence.

Dating back to 1745, the lush grounds and ornate architecture provide a living history lesson for children. The former home of the Indian Prime Minister of the Royal Cabinet of the Maharajas, the Jai Mahal is decorated throughout with Indian marble, historic artwork and extraordinary attention to detail.

Morning tea is accompanied by an Indian flute player in the gardens, ensuring your day starts with peace and tranquility. As the heat of the day sets in, the pool is the ideal place for the kids to keep cool while parents relax at the hotel spa, JIVA, which offers a number of centuries-old Indian therapies to soothe and pamper your body and soul. Treatments available include the masala spice scrub that soothes and rejuvenates tired muscles or the champi, the traditional Indian restorative head massage.

Jai Mahal chess set in Jaipur, India. Photo: Eugenia Lazaris

Evenings and early mornings are the best times to enjoy a stroll through the 18 acres of expertly maintained Mughal gardens. The lavish grounds are home to a pride of peacocks that majestically roam the property, offering amazing photo opportunities. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the giant chess set in the garden with pieces adorned in traditional Indian dress and riding intricately carved elephants and camels.

With six different choices for drinking and dining, each member of the family can satisfy their culinary tastes. Cinnamon, run by head chef Kuldeep Rajvanshi, offers a tantalizing array of specialties from all over the country, while Giardino, with its open-air patio, offers traditional Italian fare. The Marble Arch serves a wide variety of cuisines for families who cannot settle on one cuisine, as well as an impressive breakfast buffet that includes eggs and omelets made to order.

Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India. Photo: Indiatraveler | Dreamstime

Hotel staff can easily arrange a city tour for you and your family, providing you with a driver and tour guide to show you the impressive sights and sounds of Jaipur. Explore the ancient streets shared with cows and elephants while visiting the nearby royal complex known as City Palace where the current maharajah of Jaipur and his family reside. The Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, is a must-see as you tour Jaipur, as it is the most famous structure in the city and the most widely photographed. This intricate structure of 953 tiered, latticed windows is best viewed from the street and is a window facade for the Zenana Palace, or women’s quarters, where ladies could observe the daily life of the city without being seen by the public.

Amber Fort artwork on display in Jaipur, India. Photo: Eugenia Lazaris

Jaipur is also home to the Amber Fort, a medieval hillside complex of palaces, pleasure pavilions, gardens and courtyards once the refuge and playground of Indian royalty. Kids are especially enthralled with the Amber Fort when visiting it on the back of a stately elephant.  These impressive pachyderm taxis pick you up near the lake on the valley floor and drop you off just inside the gates of the fort.

After a fun-filled day of taking in the awe-inspiring sights of the city, return to the opulence of the Jai Mahal to revive your body and soul.