What is the classic luxury route through Rajasthan?

The Golden Triangle plus Udaipur: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur, about three days in each.

How do you get to Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur?

By boat. The hotel sits in white marble on Lake Pichola.

Is the water safe to drink in Rajasthan?

Drink bottled water only and skip ice outside good hotels. Eat at your hotel for the first couple of days to ease in.

What should I wear to temples in India?

Cover your shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off where asked.

Rajasthan Palace Hotels: Where to Sleep Like a Maharaja

The former maharaja palaces of Rajasthan are some of the most romantic hotels in the world. Several are still connected to the royal families who built them, and you feel that history in every courtyard.

Which Rajasthan palace hotel should you book? For pure romance, Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, reached by boat across Lake Pichola. For royal history, Umaid Bhawan in Jodhpur or Rambagh Palace in Jaipur. Most travelers do a Golden Triangle loop (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur) and add Udaipur, spending two or three nights in each.

Key facts

Best months: October to March, Rajasthan's cooler season.
Classic route: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur over about 12 days.
Where to stay: Taj Lake Palace, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Rambagh Palace, The Oberoi Rajvilas or RAAS Jodhpur.
Caviar trip:The India Experience, 8 days through Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, with a palace hotel in Jaipur.

Our Favorites

Mehrangarh Fort above the blue city of Jodhpur at sunset, Rajasthan Photo: Vishal Gehlot / Unsplash

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur: white marble on Lake Pichola, reached by boat
Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur: one of the largest private residences in the world, partly still home to the royal family
Rambagh Palace, Jaipur: the Jaipur royals' former home, with peacocks on the lawns
The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur: a garden estate with private villas
RAAS Jodhpur: a smaller, modern hotel right under Mehrangarh Fort

The Lily Pond courtyard at the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, seen from above Photo: Taj Hotels / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Where we stay on our trip: Taj Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, plus The Oberoi New Delhi and The Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra.

The Golden Triangle Plus Udaipur

Sunrise over the Taj Mahal in Agra reflected in the long garden pool Photo: Shan Elahi / Unsplash

The classic India luxury route:

Days 1-3: Delhi. The Imperial hotel, Mughal monuments, a street food walk Days 4-6: Agra. The Oberoi Amarvilas, the Taj Mahal at sunrise and sunset Days 7-9: Jaipur. Rambagh Palace, Amber Fort, textile shopping Days 10-12: Udaipur. Taj Lake Palace, boat rides, a cooking class

Short on time? Our India Experience covers Delhi, Jaipur and Agra in 8 days, with Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal and the Taj Mahal at sunrise.

What Most Guides Won't Tell You

Topic	Advice
Stomach	Ease in. Eat at your hotel for the first couple of days
Water	Bottled only. Skip ice outside good hotels
Tipping	Small tips are customary for drivers, guides and hotel staff. Ask us for current amounts
Bargaining	Expected in markets, not in fixed-price shops
Photography	Always ask before photographing people. Some sites charge a camera fee
Dress	Cover shoulders and knees at temples, and take shoes off where asked

Want the bigger picture first? Read why India's luxury humbles you, and if you need a soft landing after the palaces, my Kerala backwaters guide is the calm half of the trip.

Book a free consultation to plan your Rajasthan trip.

6X Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist with 65+ countries visited across all 7 continents.