Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

A verdant oasis of greenery amid the parched plains of northern Rajasthan, Aman Bagh or Garden of Peace lies within a walled compound at the end of a valley, fed by an underground stream, where the Maharajah of Alwar used to site his tiger hunting camps. Invisible until you’re almost at its gates, the complex of graceful domed pavilions and colonnaded walkways is discrete and elegant, melding beautifully with its setting.

Accommodation is offered in palatial suites, accessed via private staircases and courtyards, in which everything, from the displays of floating marigolds and rose petals to the light switches, is pleasing to the eye. The main pool is simply out of this world: a shimmering, deep-green rectangle framed by date palms, sandstone paving and pillared walkways. Possible excursions include trips to the medieval ghost town of Bhangarh and sunset village safaris.

Our opinion

A luxury rural experience par excellence.