If you’re visiting North India, it’s well worth tacking on a
trip to Delhi and diving into the city before heading to Rajasthan.
Set up camp at The Leela Palace New Delhi hotel, where elegant
chandeliers, magnificent architecture and a rooftop pool provide a
tranquil respite from frenetic streets. Dump your bags and explore
Old Delhi on an adrenaline-inducing rickshaw ride, zipping along
alleys and traffic-packed roads. Stop at Bukhara Restaurant (widely
considered the world’s best Indian) to refuel with tandoori dishes
and its legendary black daal. If reservations are proving tricky to
get (as often the case), nip round the corner to Dum Pukht,
Bukhara’s sister restaurant and a favourite among Delhiites.

Start your second day with a meditation or yoga class before
reimmersing yourself in the city’s streets to visit Jama Masjid
(one of India’s largest mosques) and the tomb of Humayun, a lauded
Mughal emperor. Alternatively opt for a day trip to the historic
city of Agra, exploring the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, returning to
Delhi in time for a tour through the busy market area of Chandni
Chowk, sampling street food under the cover of night.

Make the transfer to Jaipur (four and a half hours by train or
five by car) and meander along the Pink City’s blushing streets,
where speeding rickshaws swerve around dawdling camels and the
salmon-hued Hawa Mahal beckons travellers. On the city’s outskirts,
Amanbagh hotel provides a quiet base among the rolling Aravalli
Range. With a name meaning “peaceful garden”, the hotel echoes the
city’s aesthetic with rose-tinted walls, marbled floors and shaded
courtyards in which guests can bask in regal elegance.

Hike up the hills surrounding the hotel for views over the city
before heading to Dera Amer, home to some Rajasthan’s majestic
elephants. After a working life spent at Amer Fort, elephants
retire to this safari camp, where they are free to spend days
roaming, eating and bathing to their heart’s content. Come dusk,
delve back into the city for a candlelit dinner at Bar Palladio
Jaipur, or book into a Bollywood-style dance class.

From the Pink City to one that’s blue, travel to Jodhpur, the
second largest metropolis in Rajasthan. Start with a visit to the
towering Mehrangarh Fort to enjoy views across the city before
choosing between dinner at Chokelao Restaurant, located inside the
fort, or venturing into the city to feast at Indique. Later, bed
down at RAAS Jodhpur, a converted 18th-century haveli (a
traditional Indian townhouse) set within the old town.

The next day, get to grips with the city on a Blue City Heritage
Walk, which takes you deep into the bazaar, or try the Bandhani Art
Experience for a tour through Ek Minar Masjid, learning about
Jodhpur’s creative scene en route. If you’re looking to explore
beyond Jodhpur, take an excursion to the “Golden City” of
Jaisalmer, where yellow sandstone buildings meld naturally into the
plains of the Thar Desert.

Next up, take a break from city life in rural Rajasthan. Wander
through colourful Narlai and surrounding villages before riding out
on a Marwari horse, characteristic of the Jodhpur region. As
evening draws in, hop onto a bullock cart to be whisked away to an
ancient stepwell, where dinner awaits. The 17th-century royal
retreat-turned-boutique hotel Rawla Narlai lets travellers stay in
the thick of village life. Spend mornings lazing by the pool with
views of nearby Elephant Rock, and later join a game drive to spot
wild leopards darting across the landscape.

After a few days among red-turbaned farmers and inquisitive
children, the decadent palaces and lively bazaars seem like a whole
new world (pun intended). Nicknamed the Venice of the East, the
city is interspersed with lakes which sparkle against a backdrop of
the Aravalli Range. Stroll on the banks of shimmering waters to
stumble upon sacred ghats, or nip down backstreets lined with
havelis and temples.

Book a suite at Hotel Amet Haveli to stay in spacious rooms with
balconies overlooking the lake. From here, while away mornings
jostling through crowds and bartering for souvenirs at the nearby
market and stop for lunch at the in-vogue Artist House. The city is
known for its contemporary-art scene, so take time to learn about
Udaipur’s artisans and craftspeople – this place is brimming with
local creatives keen to showcase their work. As dusk falls, be sure
to return to your hotel to watch the fiery sunset over the
lake.