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Luxury-seekers are beckoned to this Land of Kings – the proud moniker often used to describe India’s largest state – to stay in the finest accommodations, experience epicurean fantasies, and venture into exotic India like the legendary royals before them.

A LUXURIOUS JOURNEY IN INDIA By Ilona Kauremszky

RAJASTHAN:THE LAND OF KINGS

DELHI, JAMA MASJID

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Here I was out on a morning mission staying at the Nahargarh Ranthambhore, a fantasy safari lodge in Rajasthan created by an Indian nobleman. Amid centuries-old banyan and sentinel-like ghost trees, I’m spying on the enigmatic, rarely seen Bengal tiger inside the Ranthambore National Park.

My guide didn’t have to say anything. Sitting like a regal king in this nature fiefdom was the royal Bengal tiger. My first safari at India’s beloved tiger playground and former royal stomping ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur became a bucket list, wish-come-true experience, all before 9 a.m.

INSIGHT VACATIONS LUXURY GOLD On my nine-day quest, I manage to live the life of an Indian royal, experiencing epic settings while visiting some of the country’s finest gems in revered cities like Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Mumbai.

Insight Vacations’ new portfolio, the Luxury Gold collection, has made travelling to India simple and hassle-free by introducing a personal travelling concierge who handles trip details, including everything from transfers and luggage hotel deliveries to exclusive private venue access and gratuities.

Travellers can expect an easy-paced itinerary, luxurious accommodations,

authentic experiences, fine local cuisine, and private VIP tours where doors are unlocked to breathtaking places among other bonuses. The goal is to exceed expectations, giving more time to enjoy the destination without scrimping on luxury.

FIRST STOP: DELHI By a private courtyard at the posh Hyatt Regency in Delhi, the tandoor wood oven is ablaze for an alfresco welcome dinner. A parade of spicy plates with bowls of pickled limes and savoury sauces enhances the heat as we toast our group, ready to embark on India’s fabled Golden Triangle journey.

The next morning our luxury coach weaves through a tangled web of traffic to our first stop, the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. The place of worship is an oasis of quiet in this bustling neighbourhood. I make a 360-degree turn to scan the vast historic mosque built by the great Shah Jahan, the same mogul who built other grand landmarks included in my itinerary.

In Old Delhi, I hop into a two-seater rickshaw led by a cyclist for a thrilling ride into a maze of alleyways at the Chandni Chowk market. Later, by the Mahatma Gandhi memorial, we take a sobering tour of the complex dedicated to the ‘Father of the Nation’ who was assassinated there.

INDIAN STREET FOOD IN CHANDNI CHOW MARKET RICKSHAW

THE RED FORT OF AGRA

BENGAL TIGER AT RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK

My first safari at India’s beloved tiger playground

and former royal stomping ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur became a bucket list, wish-come-true experience,

all before 9 a.m.

Extraordinary Experiences

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THE ASHRAMS OF

INDIAYoga lovers will want to extend their stay in India to visit one of the country’s many ashrams. Ashrams are sanctuaries for devout yoga practitioners; many are open for visitors to join in the ashram’s activities for a day, or stay overnight.

Most ashrams have a scheduled day of activities beginning with early morning meditations, followed by yoga class, wellness workshops to help you deepen your practice, then more yoga and another meditation to end the night. Often meditation classes include chanting in Sanskrit and spiritual discussions led by yogis. You can expect healthy vegetarian meals, and modest accommodations if you’re staying overnight.

One ashram to consider is the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres (named after its founder, Swami Sivananda). Classes and workshops are taught in English, the centre welcomes all faiths, and the program is suitable for practitioners of all levels. There are three Sivananda locations across the country: one in Tamil Nadu, another in Kerala, and one in Uttarkashi with breathtaking views of the Himalayas.

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AGRA’S LEGACY OF LANDMARKS Considered the grand capital of the Mughal Empire, the richest dynasty that ever ruled the country, the highly sought-after Agra has a legacy of landmarks one can visit. The finest among them: the Red Fort of Agra and the Taj Mahal built in the Golden Age during the 16th and 17th centuries.

For a Mughal-inspired overnight, our group stays at the elegant ITC Mughal, a luxury hotel decorated like a rich haveli, meaning status symbol mansions. Known for its glamorous spa, idyllic dining and sumptuous amenities, the regal property lies amid manicured gardens and lavish pools overlooking the great Taj Mahal.

A pillar of love and perfection, the Taj Mahal, built by heartbroken Shah Jahan as a memorial and mausoleum to his late wife, is buzzing with tourists on my morning visit. Our travelling concierge, a local expert, ensures the group enters smoothly avoiding the queue, giving us more time to view the world wonder. I gasp in awe at the sight and pinch myself as another lifetime wish is fulfilled on this Luxury Gold trip.

JAIPUR The palatial capital of Rajasthan offers exceptional experiences, such as spontaneous shopping sprees by the brimming bazaars, but, ultimately, the big attraction is its antiquities.

We veer away from the crowds by the museums at the colonnaded City Palace and set our sights on an exclusive behind-the-scenes VIP tour of the Royal Sitting Room prepared by our travelling concierge. We enter the private Royal Gates, passing a rich green cloister and ascend a secret passageway leading to a vacant terrace, bearing unlocked doors opening to an exclusive world only nobility, tycoons and royalty have seen.

I gasp yet again. This time, though, it is for the exquisite setting laden in a bounty of silver with the finest fabrics and immaculate furniture by a treasure trove of family paintings and intimate photographs, many bearing penned personal notes.

Over lunch, at the 1135 AD restaurant by the Amer Fort bedecked in fine silver, plush royal red velvets and lavish chandeliers, our group chats about our royal visit. The

servers in garnet-hued turbans refresh our crystal goblets as we feast on spicy Indian fare.

But it is back at my hotel, the palatial Fairmont Jaipur, where my golden trip comes full circle. I take a private dip in the outdoor pool surrounded by a Royal Palace fantasyland of marble latticework, and bulbous domes that echo the romance of the Great Mughal Dynasties.

I scan the smooth pink exterior as the sun casts its final glow. The mood is relaxed, and I cannot help but smile again as I reflect on my final day with Luxury Gold by Insight Vacations in the legendary Pink City. I can now count myself among the lucky ones who have cast their sights on The Land of Kings and lived like a modern day Indian royal.

FAIRMONT JAIPUR POOL

ASHRAM WOMAN MEDITATING

ARTWORK AT JAIPUR CITY PALACE

In Old Delhi, I hop into a two-seater rickshaw led by a cyclist for a thrilling ride into a maze of alleyways

at the Chandni Chowk market

Extraordinary Experiences

CHANDRA MAHAL PALACE WITHIN THE CITY PALACE