Hazur Palace Ahmedabad

About the location: Built in a combination of the Indo-Saracenic style with European inflections, the pillared galleries and balconies resting under the five domes of Hazur Palace (formerly Utelia Palace) in the 18th century replaced an older wooden mansion of the Vaghela Rajput rulers of this area. Old woodwork has been restored beautifully and decorative plasterwork and patterned floors likewise, complemented by period furniture and old-fashioned light fixtures.

There’s jeep safaris, horse and bullock-cart rides by day, folk music performances by evening. The dining hall offers ‘Indian Chinese’ as well as regional Indian cuisines, and some attempts at Continental, there’s nowhere else to eat Nearby, though, and the tariffs and meal costs are a tad on the higher side, all told.

• 14 well-appointed rooms with intricately carved wooden beds and excellent tiled bathrooms, some with private balconies.
• Village tours by bullock cart, horse riding, Jeep safaris, gala evenings of dances and folk music of Gujarat, traditional welcome, personalized.
• Indian, continental and traditional cuisine including Kathiawadi and Rajasthani.