Jaipur

Commonly known as the Pink City, Jaipur is the India you’ve been dreaming of. A land where herds of camels emerge from desert sands, opulent palaces are guarded by turbaned footmen and brightly colored fabrics spill out onto the sidewalks. A mainstay on the popular Golden Triangle route, Rajasthan is the place to mount an elephant or camel and to amble around a crumbling fort or two. The Indian state’s capital is also the place to indulge, as many of the ancient Rajput palaces have been converted into luxury hotels that offer sumptuous cuisine, spa packages and all the charm of old-world service.