With a history dating back to 1835, Rambagh Palace began life as the queen’s handmaiden’s quarters. Over the years it grew and grew, becoming the permanent residence of the maharaja of Jaipur. It remains in this glorious state today, its walls marked by opulent gold frescoes and guest rooms centred around ornate, four-poster beds that evoke the grandeur of days gone by, albeit with a touch of modernisation for the traveller of today. Vast gardens offer serpentine wanderings, scored to the tune of myriad birdsong. Transforming at nightfall into a riotous venue of colour and festivity, folk dancers and musicians perform traditional set pieces that have lasted for centuries. The Steam bar is worth a look, residing within a restored steam engine, nestled within a Victorian-style station.

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