More continent than country, India is a vast melting pot of diverse landscapes, cultures, and dizzying sights. For first-time travellers, it can be an overwhelming destination to navigate, and you’ll likely need to pinpoint your explorations to a particular region. After a short stint in Mumbai, history buffs should head north to the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, both rich with royal history, and teeming with endless palaces and forts to discover. Here’s how to do your first trip in style.
Days 1 - 2: Mumbai
Birthplace of Bollywood, and India’s capital of cool, Mumbai is the ideal starting place for beginning your Indian odyssey — alongside being a well-connected, international hub to fly into. You can easily spend far longer here, but 24 hours is just enough time to provide an intoxicating glimpse into the city’s rhythm: head to the fish and flower markets at sunrise where you can rub shoulders with the locals, before admiring the architecture of Mumbai’s most famous monuments (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai High Court, and The Gateway to India).
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Bed down at The Oberoi Mumbai, which straddles the city’s business district, and is well placed for easy exploring. Slick service stands out across the property - as soon as you step inside (and are showered with rose petals - a welcome that you’ll receive at all of Oberoi’s Indian properties), you’ll be swept up to your bedroom, where you’ll find personalised welcome treats, pillows and bathrobes embroidered with your initials, and panoramic vistas over the Arabian Sea.
Days 2 - 4: Udaipur
From Mumbai, it’s a short 1.5 hour flight northwards to Udaipur, the former capital of Rajasthan. Two days of exploring here is ideal for a deep-dive into the city’s bewitching history: otherwise known as the City of Lakes, Udaipur is defined by its unique Maharana history, and tranquil landscape: think shimmering lakes interspersed between the city’s palaces and temples, all set against a backdrop of the Aravalli mountains.
A visit to the City Palace, perched high above Lake Pichola, should be first on your agenda: ogle at the intricate architecture, Rajput weaponry, and centuries-old antiques across the sprawling palace complex. It’s also worth visiting the gardens of Saheliyon Ki Bari, taking a sunset boat ride across Lake Pichola (the most scenic way to view the old city), and exploring the city’s famed textile factories.
Stay at The Oberoi Udaivilas, a hushed, no-holds-barred luxury pad straddling the banks of Lake Pichola. Built like a palace and set among acres of lush foliage, a network of corridors spans out to domed pavilions and tiled courtyards, with bedrooms nestled among the gardens or primed towards the lake.
After mornings spent exploring the city, spend your afternoons spread-eagled by the hotel’s two outdoor pools, before feasting on traditional Rajasthani fare at the candlelit terrace restaurant.
Days 4 - 7: Jaipur
An hour’s hop from Udaipur by plane, head onwards to Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, and also the first stop on India’s famed Golden Triangle circuit (followed by Agra and Delhi). This is a city that pulses with electric energy, and is chock-full of spectacular palaces, temples, and forts — all enveloped by the constant honk of traffic. It’s worth loading your suitcase up with souvenirs, from hand-blocked fabrics to glittering gold jewellery at The Gem Palace (both products that Jaipur is famed for).
Named the ‘Pink City’ thanks to its terracotta-washed walls, each corner of the city is worth capturing, but you’ll snap the best Instagram fodder at colourful Patrika Gate, The Hawa Mahal (known for its pink-coloured facade), and the iconic City Palace. It’s worth paying the extra fee at the latter to enter the royal chambers, as you’ll be able to visit the Chhavi Niwas (inspired by Wedgewood crockery, the walls are hand-painted in mesmerising blue and white patterns), and the shimmering Sri Niwas, where every surface glitters with mirrored mosaics. Meanwhile, it’s worth venturing just outside the city to visit Amer Fort, a formidable Rajput palace complex perched above the hills.
Stay far from the madding crowd at The Oberoi Rajvilas, a property that’s nestled just outside the old town, and feels more tropical resort than it does luxe city pad. Kick back in spacious villas and luxury tents, all hidden among lush flora and private gardens, where 100 peacocks strut among the foliage. The hotel is laid out around an ancient Shiva temple, and there’s a generous pool and spa for unwinding, along with trickling fountains and fragrant frangipani everywhere that meets the eye.
Read our full review of The Oberoi Rajvilas here
Day 7 - 8: Agra
For most first-time visitors to India, a pilgrimage to its most iconic monument is a non-negotiable. It’s a seven-hour drive from Jaipur to Agra, the city where the epic Taj Mahal stands proud, and you’ll be crossing over from Rajasthan into the neighbouring state of Utter Pradesh. Break up the drive by stopping off at Fatehpur Sikri, the former capital of the Mughal Empire, which showcases a masterful blend of Islamic and Hindu architecture.
For the ultimate sleepover in Agra, The Oberoi Amarvilas is the most desirable address in the city, and the only hotel where every single room has an uninterrupted view of the Taj Mahal, the shimmering mausoleum built by Emperor Shah Jahan. Each bedroom is primed towards the Indo-Islamic masterpiece, and framed around the hotel’s tranquil pool and gardens.
At sunrise each morning, the hotel serves coffee and cakes so you can fuel up before heading out to explore. To beat the crowds (the Taj Mahal receives around 40,000 visitors every day), you’ll want to haul yourself there in the early hours: make sure to carve out an hour or two to marvel at the sheer immensity of the monument and its exquisite marble inlay craftsmanship, before visiting nearby Agra Fort.
Days 8 - 10: Delhi
End your trip in Delhi, India’s sprawling capital, and home to over 30 million residents. You could easily spend a week here, but 48 hours is just enough time to tick off the most famous historic sights. First up is Humayan’s Tomb, a spectacular landmark of Mughal architecture, before the Jama Masjid (one of the largest mosques in India) and Red Fort, both masterpieces commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan.
Delhi is a city of extreme contrasts, and it’s worth heading into Old Delhi to experience the tangle of ancient alleyways and chaotic bazaars that sit within its walls: seemingly a world away from the broad, leafy avenues of New Delhi.
Stay at The Oberoi New Delhi, a glossy new build placed near Humayan’s Tomb, where sleek and surprisingly spacious suites soar above the city’s skyline. There’s everything you could need here at your fingertips, (so much so that you’ll struggle to leave the property) from a fully-equipped gym, outdoor pool for strewing yourself by, and no less than three excellent restaurants from a slew of Michelin-starred chefs. Tuck into dim sum at Baoshuan, the hotel’s rooftop Chinese restaurant by London-based Andrew Wong, feast on elevated Indian fare at Dhilli, helmed by Vineet Bhatia, or kick back at 360, the hotel’s all-day dining room that’s fondly referred to by locals as ‘the drawing room of Delhi’.
The details
Abercrombie & Kent offers 10 nights from £5,995pp, based on two people sharing, with accommodation across the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts portfolio including Mumbai, Udaipur, Jaipur, Agra, and Delhi. Price includes all flights, private transfers, guides and accommodation on a B&B basis. abercrombiekent.co.uk
