Portsmouth City Guide, Including Hotels

Introduction:

Portsmouth is located on the south coast of the scenic county of Hampshire. The city has a long established historic naval presence. The city of Portsmouth was established in the year 1623, being a community that swears by its influence to world history. As well as being an important naval town, Portsmouth has a nostalgic feel with it?s cobblestone streets, horse drawn carriages, museums and famous historic buildings. Boasting over one hundred restaurants, antique shops and a huge music hall called the Portsmouth Music Hall. You will fall in love with the ambience that this historic city offers as well as the coastal aspect of the place.

Places of Interest:

A place of historic significance, you can explore Lord Nelson?s flagship, HMS Victory and visit Queen Victoria?s battleship, HMS Warrior 1860. You could also have a look at Henry Vlll?s Mary Rose and retrace the history of the Royal Navy at the Royal Naval Museum. Other attractions include Charles Dickens? birthplace, the D-Day Museum featuring the Overlord Embroidery, Southsea Castle, the Royal Marines Museum, and Portsmouth Cathedral.

Royal Marines Museum: This is a grand museum situated in a former officers' mess with sweeping stairways, chandeliers and fine paintings. There are also beautiful grounds in which you can relax and enjoy a quiet picnic with your friends. The Exhibition gallery features a talking head of Hannah Snell, audiovisual shows, interactive games, and a collection of over 7,000 medals.

Eastney Beam Engine House Industrial Archaeology: This museum contains a pair of magnificent James Watt beam engines, stationed in their original high Victorian engine house of 1887. There are also a variety of other pumping engines on display here.

Natural History Museum: In this museum you can see the geology of the Portsmouth area and a full-size reconstruction of Dinosaur ?Iguanodon? and other fossil remains. You can enter here through the Riverbank scene with a fresh water aquarium and have a look at the different kinds of fish on display. You can also see the ?Ice Age? displays and early mammals and birds here.
The Spinnaker Tower: This is one wonder which is absolutely breath-taking.You can experience the stunning views from this unique 170m tower, visible from miles around. This is the newest landmark which is change the skyline of Portsmouth!

Aspex Gallery: Here, tourists can experience the most creative and contemporary visual arts; locally, nationally and internationally. There are programs of solo, grouped and themed exhibitions mostly centred on the work of younger or emerging artists.

The 1642 Living History Village, Historic Site, Gosport: This is a representational Hampshire village set in the year 1642. You could go back in time and experience this replica of how it used to be with timber and thatched buildings. Occupants dress and speak in 17th century style.

Things to do:

Portsmouth is also called the Waterfront city. It has a fantastic range of restaurants, bars and caf?s to soothe your thirst and satisfy your taste buds. Of course, it will suit your budget too. As far as shops are concerned, the choice is huge.


Shopping: The Southsea, this major shopping complex has two department stores as well as a range of boutique shops. There are florists, diamond merchants and antique dealers; even interior decorators to cater to your every shopping need. Of course, the cafes, restaurants and bars are numerous too. There is Gunwharf Quays with 80 outlets that sell big brand names for a discount prices. It is open seven days a week. The City Centre is famous for it?s branded and trendy stores. The shopping precinct on Commercial Road, the indoor mall at Cascades, and the street markets on Thursday, Friday and Saturday are very popular and well worth a visit.

Eating and drinking: There are restaurants and small bistro?s that offer cuisine ranging from Indian to Italian, Turkish to Thai. If you want to meet with friends or enjoy your weekend, there is always a themed location to drink and socialize.

Special Events: Two of Portsmouth's most renowned personalities have events to commemorate their lives in 2006. ?Brunel 200 Portsmouth? will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who was born in Portsmouth on 9th of April 1806.The famous author Richard Lancelyn Green will be releasing his wonderful collection of Conan Doyle-related books, papers and assorted memorabilia in the later half of 2006.

Transport: Portsmouth has regular bus routes connecting the main visitor areas. In fact, a new pilot bus service for all you night owls has been inaugurated and is operational on Friday and Saturday nights. The Nightrunner will start services from South Parade Pier at 1.25am and 2.25 am and at Winston Churchill Avenue at 1.30am and 2.30am. There are currently 234 licensed taxis working in the city providing 24-hour service.

Food and Drink:

Indian Palace: Indian Palace in Gunwharf Quays is famous for authentic and traditional spicy and tasty Indian and moghlai dishes.

Arbuckles: This small and friendly restaurant is famous for chicken and vegetarian burgers. Booking is required.

A fistful of Tacos: This place at South Sea serves authentic sea food and vegeterian dishes as well.
Caf? Citrus is a popular caf? bar in Albert Road, Southsea. It is perfect for a romantic rendevous or a friendly get-together.

Hotels and Accomodation:

Whether you are looking for a short stay or a longer holiday, Portsmouth offers a comprehensive range of accommodation from small, private bed and breakfasts to the plusher four-star hotels. It is always better if you reserve your accommodation in advance. The tarrif?s for hotels, accomodations and guest houses are generally quoted as per person, based on a couple sharing, and include VAT (17.5%). All prices for self-catering units are quoted as per unit per week inclusive of VAT (17.5%).

Inn Lodge Portsmouth
Royal Beach Hotel
Express by Holiday Inn Portsmouth
Tulip Inn Portsmouth
Beaufort Hotel
Best Western Queens Hotel
Seacrest Hotel

Entertainment:

The city of Portsmouth is abuzz with entertainment and activity around the clock. Catering for all diverse tastes such as comedy, film, football, live music, bowling, literature and arts. At Gunwharf Quays there is a bowling arena and a state of the art 12 screen cinema, with a further 9 screen cinema at Port Solent. The Kings Theatre Trust Limited at Albert Road, Portsmouth is famous for live music and theatrical events. No 6 Independent Cinema and Vue Cinemas are two of the 4 major cinema houses here.

All in all, Portsmouth is a city on the sea packed with a beautiful mix of history and heritage. Add to it the variety on offer with it?s bars and restaurants as well as a comprehensive program of events, you know that you have discovered the right city to spend your holiday or short stay. Being situated on the coast is a huge bonus too!.

Name: Maria Williams Occupation: Traveller Website: http://www.sleepuk.com Sleep UK are an online hotel booking engine for uk hotels

Hotels in Central London: History and Luxury

Central London is where everything is: the history, the culture, the center of the UK's government, and the night life. For about a three-mile stretch between the Tower of London and Hyde Park, you'll find most of the London you're looking for: Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, St. Paul's, London Bridge, Westminster, Trafalgar Square. It only makes sense, therefore, to find a great hotel to stay in that area. You can do this for a reasonably-inexpensive rate, or you can splurge and be treated like the Queen. The most important thing, though, is to reserve your spot as early as you can; rooms, especially the inexpensive rooms, go quickly. If you're arriving by midday, many places will hold your spot without a deposit. Others can be expensive if you're forced to cancel.

Bed and Breakfasts

In the streets behind Victoria Station, you'll find colonies of budget Bed and Breakfasts. It's a nice area, not at all touristy, and you can get a cheap ?50 room (expect what you pay for, of course) or a nicer ?80 room, with atmosphere and a nice British breakfast. You can possibly save a little money by arriving later in the day without a reservation and looking for a bargain. Competition is fierce here, and you can probably strike a deal, particularly in the off-season, and particularly with a multiple night stay. In Warwick Way hotels, request a quiet back room.

Woodville House at 105 Elbury St. offers inexpensive rooms. You'll share a bathroom down the hall and you may end up next to the noisy street, but the atmosphere is great, the proprietor friendly and endlessly informative, and you can save even more money by bunking 3-5 in a room with friends.

Or you can try a more expensive place like Lime Tree Hotel, with thoughtfully decorated public areas and spacious guest rooms; the breakfast room is even attached to a nice traditional garden.

Wherever you stay, a bed and breakfast will give you a traditional taste of London.

Modern Hotels

For the cheapest rates, you can stay at one of the Travel Inn hotels. The rooms are cookie-cutter and dull and the restaurants and bars are ordinary, even somewhat tacky, but if you're planning to stay out in the city most of the time, you can't find a better deal. They have locations near Big Ben, the British Library, and further off at Putney Bridge.

Classy, Trendy Hotels

If you don't need to cut corners and would like to stay in an area so classy they don't allow tacky things like hotel signs on the street, you probably want to stay in South Kensington. The shops are great - Harrods is in walking distance - and you can find budget and nice restaurants of all descriptions lining the streets nearby.

Aster House Hotel has excellent rooms with televisions, phones, and a refrigerator. You can have breakfast in the Orangerie, a Victorian greenhouse and lounge in the back garden; or you can walk a short distance to have your meals in town.

5 Sumner Place Hotel has been voted the best small hotel in London. Chandeliers decorate the Victorian-style conservatory, a greenhouse decorated in blues, where you'll have breakfast. The hotel is in a 150-year-old building, and each room is decorated with period furnishings. It can be expensive, but if you're looking for atmosphere, this is where to find it.

If you don't quite have as much money to spend, you can try 16 Sumner Place up the road, or Kensington Juries Hotel. Either is popular and close to attractions, with excellent furnishings, informative and friendly management, and loads of class and comfort.

Wherever you stay in this neighborhood, you'll be certain of atmosphere, walking-distance attractions, and friendly service.

The Cheapest Place Ever

If you're a young woman or a man with a Norwegian passport, you can get a room at the Norwegian YWCA for half the price you'd spend anywhere else in London; all rooms are smoke free, and, other than singles, have their own showers; if you're willing to share a quad room with strangers, you can get a room for as little as ?18 in the off-season, breakfast included. And believe it or not, it's a really nice place to stay, with atmosphere and comfort.

Smooth Hound http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/london-central.html offers affordable hotel, guest house and bed & breakfast accommodation throughout London and the rest of the world.

Finding The Best Cheap Hotels For Your Travels

Finding cheap hotels for your travels can be easy if you know where to look for them. In every town there are cheap hotels that a make vacationing a reality for those with even the modest of incomes. The best way to find cheap hotels is to simply start looking.

If you have friends or business associates that have traveled to your destination recently it might be a good idea to inquire with them about how expensive their trip was, and where they stayed. While it might be rude to ask for an itemized pound for pound account of what they spend during their travels, most people will be willing to share with you how expensive their hotel was, and what that price included. If the hotel they visited is a little out of your price range, find out if they looked at any other locations before settling on that one, and if they knew what the cheapest hotel in the area would be, or where one of the less expensive hotels would be located.

It's important to realize that the cost of staying in a hotel will vary depending on what point in the year you decide to make your trip. A winter trip to a popular summer destination will be exceptionally cheaper than if you made the same trip during the summer months and visa versa. Cheap hotels can have their moments as expensive ones depending on when you decide to travel.

Trips on the weekend are often a little more expensive than trips that you would take in the middle of the week to the same hotel as well. If possible try to book your vacation during the week, and at the very beginning of the season that the area is particularly known for. Depending on what you plan on doing on your trip, you may want to visit the area completely off season to make sure you get the absolute best rates possible.

If your friends could not supply you with the name of a suitable hotel, then begin a search on your own for the perfect accommodations. If you have the dates for your trip in mind, call around to several different hotels within the area and ask them how much a reservation would cost for those particular dates. The Internet can also be a very valuable resource. You can use the Internet to look up hotels contact information, and on some occasions the hotels will have offers available to Internet users that are not available to those who call or simply walk in to the hotel to make reservations.

The earlier you make any reservation wither through the Internet, or in person the less expensive your stay will ultimately be. Even cheap hotels will often make their prices more expensive as they begin to book up. The less rooms available in a particular area, the more expensive the available rooms are going t be. For that reason, as soon as you know that you are going to want to travel to a particular location, and you know the dates of you travels try to go ahead and find a hotel and make reservations. That way you can ensure that you are getting the best rate possible for your trip.

Cheap hotels are not that difficult to locate as long as you are looking for them. Do your research before making any reservation, and you can be sure that you have gotten the best hotel possible for the cheapest rate you can, and are sure to have excellent accommodations for your trip.

Smooth Hound http://www.smoothhound.co.uk offers affordable hotel, guest house and bed & breakfast accommodation throughout the London and the rest of the world.

City guide to Oxford, including Oxford hotels

Introduction

Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 (2001 census). It is home to the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by Matthew Arnold in reference to the harmonious architecture of the university buildings. The Oxford suburb of Cowley has a long history of carmaking, and still produces BMW MINIs.

History

Oxford was first occupied in Saxon times, and was initially known as "Oxenaforda". It began with the foundations of St Frideswide's nunnery in the 8th century. The University of Oxford is first mentioned in 12th century records. Oxford's earliest colleges were University College (1249), Balliol (1263) and Merton (1264).

During the English Civil War, Oxford housed the court of Charles I in 1642, after the king was expelled from London, although there was strong support in the town for the Parliamentarian cause. In the 19th century the controversy surrounding the Oxford Movement in the Anglican Church drew attention to the city as a focus of theological thought. Oxford's Town Hall was built by Henry T. Hare, the foundation stone was laid on 6 July 1893 and opened by the future King Edward VII on 12 May 1897. By the early 20th century Oxford was experiencing rapid industrial and population growth, with the printing and publishing industries becoming well established by the 1920s.

Places of Interests

Oxford has numerous major tourist attractions, many belonging to the university and colleges. As well as several famous institutions, the town centre is home to Carfax Tower and a historical themed ride, The Oxford Story. In the summer, punting on the Thames (sometimes called the Isis as it flows through Oxford) and the Cherwell is popular.

Other notable attractions include:

Christ Church Cathedral The Church of St Mary the Virgin (the University Church) Martyrs' Memorial Ashmolean Museum Pitt Rivers Museum Museum of Natural History Museum of the History of Science Science Oxford University buildings The University Parks The University Botanic Garden Cornmarket Street, Oxford Turl Street, Oxford Little Clarendon Street Oxford Covered Market Westgate Shopping Centre

Museums and Art Galleries

Oxford has a large number of museums and galleries open for public. Following are the world famous and a major tourist spot in Oxford:

Ashmolean Museum, Britain's oldest museum Pitt Rivers Museum Museum of Natural History, home of (the remains of) the Oxford Dodo Museum of the History of Science, in Britain's oldest purpose-built museum building Museum of Oxford Museum of Modern Art Science Oxford

Shopping

Golden Cross, an arcade of first-class shops and boutiques, lies between Cornmarket Street and the Covered Market. Parts of the colorful gallery date from the 12th century. Many buildings remain from the medieval era, along with some 15th- and 17th-century structures. The market also has a reputation as the Covent Garden of Oxford, with live entertainment on Saturday mornings in summer. In its way, Alice's Shop, played an important role in English literature, it functioned as a general store (selling brooms, hardware, and the like) during the period that Lewis Carroll, at the time a professor of mathematics at Christ Church College, was composing Alice in Wonderland. It is believed to have been the model for important settings within the book. Today, the place is a favorite stopover of Lewis Carroll fans from as far away as Japan, who gobble up commemorative pencils, chess sets, party favors, bookmarks, and in rare cases, original editions of some of Carroll's works. The Bodleian Library Shop, specializes in Oxford souvenirs, from books and paperweights to Oxford banners and coffee mugs. Castell & Son (The Varsity Shop), is the best outlet in Oxford for clothing emblazoned with the Oxford logo or heraldic symbol.

Food and Drink

Oxford offers European and Middle-East and Asian cuisine. Some of the restaurants are:

Cherwell Boathouse Restaurant Gee's Restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons Rosamund the Fair Al-Salam Browns.

Except these restaurants Oxford hosts some Traditional and historic pubs

The Eagle and Child The Turf Tavern The Lamb and Flag The Bear

Education

The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

Events and organizations and institutes officially connected with the University include:

Worcester College, Backs of medieval cottages The Oxford Union Society The Oxford University Press, the world's oldest and largest university press The Bodleian Library Major Research Libraries (including the Sackler Library) Oxford University Department for Continuing Education The Taylor Institution The Oxford University Student Union Oxford University Newman Society -- Catholic speaker society The OICCU, the undergraduate Christian union The Oxford University Museum of Natural History (sometimes called The Oxford University Museum) The Pitt Rivers Museum The Ashmolean Museum The Bate Collection Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum Oxford University Sports Federation Oxford University Boat Club The O'Reilly Theatre Moser Theatre Rothermere American Institute Said Business School The Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art Computing Laboratory Isis Innovation

Sports

Oxford City FC and Milton United FC among others are two famous football club and play regular club and league matches. Oxford Cavaliers Rugby League Club is the rugby club playing for Oxford city. Drayton Leisure Golf Driving Range is the golf course with 9 HOLE (PAR 3) COURSE and 6 HOLES FLOODLIT. As a city in UK it has a number of cricket teams and hosts tournaments like Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup, National Cricket Club Championship, The Cricketer National Village Championship etc

Tours and Sightseeing

There are a number of tour operators in Oxford. The tourist information center is also very helpful to find out a way to enjoy the visit of Oxford.

Hotels and Accommodations

Accommodations in Oxford are limited, though recently, motels have sprouted on the outskirts -- good for those who want modern amenities. In addition, if you have a car, you may want to consider country houses or small B&Bs on the outskirts of town

Some of the notable hotels are:

Victoria House Hotel Cotswold Lodge Classic Hotel Westwood Country Hotel Ltd Holiday Inn Oxford The Oxford Hotel Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel Express by Holiday Inn Oxford Kassam Stadium The Bat & Ball Inn The Upper Reaches Abingdon Four Pillars Hotel Oxfordshire Inn Days Inn Hotel Oxford The Plough at Clifton Hampden Marlborough Arms Hotel The FEATHERS Macdonald Bear Hotel White Hart Hotel

Transport

Oxford is located some 50 miles (80 km) north west of London; the cities are linked by the M40 motorway, which also links northwards to Birmingham.

Rail connections include services to London (Paddington), Bournemouth, Worcester (via the Cotswold Line), and Bicester. The city also has regular train services northwards to Birmingham, Coventry and the north. The railway service connecting Oxford and Cambridge, known as the Varsity Line, was discontinued in 1968.

The Oxford Canal connects to the River Thames at Oxford.

Oxford Airport at Kidlington offers business and general aviation services.

Local bus services are largely provided by the Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach South Midlands.

Biography

Name: Maria Williams Occupation: Traveller Website: www.sleepuk.com Biography: Maria writes for Sleep UK - providers of discounted hotels to make your stay in the UK as comfortable as possible.

Condo Hotels: The Math

SEC laws dictate that condo hotel developers cannot and should not sell their product based on cash flow and income that the property produces. This consumer protection, although well intended has created a void in the consumer's ability to judge whether a condo hotel is an investment or a 'consumption' real estate purchase. Condo hotels should produce income, as any hotel room would, but there are many factors that create a successful hotel and the income should not be the sole reason for a purchase. Here is just one way to analyze a condo hotel's potential income:

The Math: Consumer Since most people don't use a second home more than 30 days per year; a cottage or a condo hotel unit is likely vacant for 330 days/yr. IF we Assume a hotel runs a 65% occupancy = 214 of potential rentable days. IF the Average Daily Rate (ADR) is $175/night = $37,537 year in potential gross revenue. ($175x214=$37,537)

Many condo hotel Rental Management Agreements (RMA) pay a 41-60% split with hotel management. Assuming this, your income could be $1,370/mo before your expenses of Debt Service, Taxes, Insurance, Dues. At current market rates, $1370/mo supports roughly a $250,000 loan (before taxes, dues, insurance). Numerous assumptions have been made in this example. Hotels traditionally have seasons, and regularly require maintenance and improvement.

With Condo Hotel you are purchasing Real Estate, NOT Revenue.

Tax Benefits, Potential Appreciation, and Hassle Free Use are other benefits of this form of real estate ownership, but every purchaser should consult their financial advisors.

Bob Waun, CEO of Vacation Finance, www.vacation-finance.com was a VP at Paramount Bank, and while at Wells Fargo, Bob innovated lending for Condo Hotel projects. He holds a Master's degree in finance/economics and BBA in finance from Walsh College and a MI Real Estate Broker's License. He has personally lent over $600+ million in residential loans, and over seen operations lending $1+billion

Book Cheap Flights, Hotels And Arrange Weddings In India!

By Annie Jones
December 17, 2005

Located just a short drive from the capital city of New Delhi and close to Agra (home to the Taj Mahal), the royal city of Jaipur (also known as 'The Pink City' due to the predominant colour of its buildings), is well established as one of the most romantic places on earth to get married. From the rich history of its palaces to the gorgeous landscaped gardens of the luxury hotels to the serenity of the floating palace on Ramgarh Lake...everywhere you look there is pink...the colour of romance.

Jaipur is the throbbing, vibrant capital city of the colourful state of Rajasthan where the regal ambience of yesteryear is still felt throughout the city's numerous carved arches and once-bejewelled fortress walls. Enter this mystical city through a narrow, cobbled street where street vendors selling everything from sweetmeats to silver trinkets and leather slippers call out to passing trade. Pass the huge hill on the right with its stunning royal residence where decorated elephants obediently transport delighted tourists to the top for its amazing vistas of the city spread out below. Follow the winding road until you begin to see the glittering lights of the city's numerous palaces begin to emerge on the left hand side across the glistening waters of the Ramgarh Lake. Stop to take pictures or simply gaze in stunned silence at the beauty of the floating palace of Ramgarh - perfectly illuminated by golden lights strategically placed on all four corners of the palace.

And then comes the main city...surprisingly wide, clean roads with some of the most well known brand names dotted on each side...from the newly opened Hilton Trident to the Sheraton and Le Meridien...you will find a massive choice of premium accommodation in Jaipur. Each hotel has retained the city's former glory and royal demeanour and the service excels itself. Just remember to book your stay well in advance to avoid disappointment, as it is busy year round in this city of royal romance. Some of the most highly recommended hotels to stay in whilst visiting Jaipur include the Taj Group's Rambagh Palace and the Jai Mahal Palace Hotel. The opulence of both hotels will literally take your breath away and many a wedding takes place in the perfectly landscaped grounds of these hotels with their backdrop of lush palms and fountains.

A quick tip: whether staying at the Rambagh Palace or not, do take time to enjoy the delicious al-fresco breakfast buffet where the smart Jodhpur & waistcoat clad staff will treat you like royalty. With eggs made to order and succulent sausages and bacon following plates of the freshest, sweetest fruits, the plump muffins and Danish pastries are hard to refuse especially when accompanied with a choice of teas, coffee and piping hot chocolate. And all served in the finest china and silver.

Drive further down the main boulevards of Jaipur city and you come to a set of intricately carved arches, which divide the Old City from the New City. Once through the arches, your senses are immediately assaulted by the noisy onslaught of rickshaws, buffalo carts, taxis, bicycles, scooters, elephants and cars all jostling for space on the same road. Whistle blowing policemen, horn blowing cars, mooing cows and convincing street peddlars create a melodious harmony of ethnic sounds, which to the first time visitor to Jaipur, can be quite startling!

In addition to booking your flights and accommodation, we can also arrange:
Meet & Greet at Airport
Assistance of a Wedding Planner
Wedding Day schedule
A beauty treatment for the bride (manicure /pedicure /hair styling etc)
A professional wedding photographer to record memories of your special day
Assistance with all legal paperwork
Appointment at the Registrar's Office the day before the Wedding

With the romantic hues of pink all round you, this romantic city of Jaipur never fails to satisfy all your touristic senses. It is no wonder then that Jaipur has fast become one of the most popular places on earth in which to tie the knot? Yes, more and more couples are choosing to get married Maharajah-style at one of the opulent palaces in a style reminiscent of the British Raj. For more information on wedding & holiday packages to Jaipur, check out www.ticketstoindia.co.uk for great deals on air fares and discounted hotel rates. Do not even try and book a hotel in Jaipur directly yourself...unless you have just won the lottery! Prices are sky high and it is only through a specialist tour operator like Tickets To India that you can be assured of excellent quality combined with low prices.

Plan your wedding in the romantic pink city of Jaipur. Log on to www.ticketstoindia.co.uk and get connected to your very own Wedding Planner who will take you through all the options available to make your special day all that more special!

Annie Jones writes about "Weddings In India". Get more information about Indian Weddings and Cheap Flights To India at "www.ticketstoindia.co.uk"

The Exotic palace Hotels of India

When I started on a one month long tour to India, I had no idea what was in store for me.
I was not even sure why I planned on a tour to India. May be I was just too fascinated by the lifestyles of the Indian Maharajas and wanted to see and experience for myself their lives and their palaces. My interest in Indian palaces and forts grew by reading books like India Style by Monisha Bharadwaj, The Indian Princes and their States by Barbara N. Ramusack, The Indian Subcontinent by Alison Arnold and Indian temples and palaces by Michael Edwardes.

The palaces of the Indian Maharajas

India is a mystic land and has so many things that a traveler can discover. The best part about India is its rich history; the stories of Indian Kings and queens who lived and died for their kingdom is rather amusing. Even more amusing is to read about the secret lives of these kings and queens, their palaces, their summer retreats, their leisure activities, their traditions and their interest in art and architecture.

But time passed and none of them can be spotted today; their palaces, forts and other remaining works of art have become major tourist attractions even for the people of India. Most palaces and forts are opened today for tourism where as a few exotic ones have been converted into palace hotels.

Exotic Indian palaces that are converted to hotels

One of my major objectives of visiting India was to stay in one of the many palace hotels and experience the life of the maharajas (kings). I have discussed below some hotels in which I stayed and those that I cherish the most.

The Lalitha Mahal Palace in Mysore

My trip to Mysore was to reflect on my travel itinerary that needed that I visit those places that had a rich heritage and culture. Mysore was just one of them. When In Mysore I decided to stay in the Lalitha Mahal Palace which is by far one of the most exotic palaces that I have come across in my life. This palace was built way back in 1921 by a king named Wodeyar Krishna and was designed by E W Fritchley who was a famous English architect.

Today this palace is maintained by the India Tourism Development Corporation and they have done a good job with it. The exterior of the palace looks show white where as the interiors are almost as good as new. All rooms of this palace over-look the beautiful Chamundi hills and give the visitor a breathtaking view of Mysore city.

The palace offers all facilities that one can expect from a five star hotel that include swimming pools, golf grounds, health club, lounges and a shopping arcade to get all your souvenirs. This palace gave me a glimpse of the lavish life that that kings would have lived back then.

Fern Hill Palace in Ooty

Ooty located in southern India is Indias well known tourist destination. When in Ooty I decided to stay in the Fern Hill palace hotel that has a history dating back to 1840. Back then it was used by the British as their summer resort. This palace hotel has more than 50 rooms that also include hotel rooms and cottages. Although the palace is quite old, it is well maintained and has everything that can make anyone feel like a maharaja.

This exotic palace coupled with the pleasant atmosphere of the hill-station gave me something that I could cherish for life.

Bolghatty Palace in Cochin

Cochin in southern India is considered the pearl of the Indian Ocean and lives very much to its reputation. When in Cochin I decided to stay in Bolghatty Palace which was used as a British governors residence when India was colonized by the British. The Kerala tourism development corporation has renovated this magnificent piece of architecture bringing it back to all its glory.

The palace has five spacious rooms and six cottages. The rooms have been renovated beautifully, not to destroy their essence. The art work is as good as new and the portraits seem to talk back to you. It almost looks as if time stood still in the palace since it was built way back in 1744.

Lake Palace in Udaipur

My next destination was Udaipur in Rajasthan situated in the western part of India. The Lake Palace in Udaipur is one of the most exotic hotels that I ever stayed. The hotel is located in the middle of the blue waters of lake Pichola and practically looks floating in water from a near by fort.

Built way back in 1754 by Maharana Jagat singh, the palace is today maintained by the Taj group of hotels and offers the prefect ambiance for a romantic stay. The palace has 85 beautiful rooms along with special suites and fascinates everyone with its lustrous marble pillars, ancient paintings and unbelievable works of arts including glasswork. I almost felt like staying in a fantasy island with my room overlooking a refreshing lily pond.

Udaipur also has many other palace hotels but none can be compared to the Lake Palace. I was also fascinated by the Laxmi Vilas Palace which was once a guest house to serve British guests.

Bikaner house (Bharatpur House) In Mount Abu

Mount Abu in Rajasthan is another hill station that fascinated me. Mount Abu has a host of palace hotels as this was a favorite hill station for the Maharajas. I decided to stay in the Bikaner House palace which is located in one of the most scenic locations in Mount Abu. This palace built in 1893 was used as a summer residence for the ancient kings.

The palace is well maintained and has spacious rooms that have ancient paintings and art work. The rooms overlook mystic hills that look so much in peace with them-selves. It almost gave me a heaven on earth kind of an experience.

One more palace hotel which fascinated me in Mount Abu was the Sunrise palace which is situated in one its highest points. This palace hotel was built somewhere in the year 1920, and is quite popular with couples looking for a romantic getaway.

Nilambagh Palace in Bhavnagar

My objective of visiting Bhavnagar, a relatively lesser known tourist destination in western India was to stay in the famous Nilambagh Palace. Built by Maharaja Bhavsinghji in the year 1723 this palace looks like a piece of architecture in itself. The palace is surrounded by lush gardens and has 18 AC rooms and 5 cottages. The rooms are spacious and offer an extremely luxurious stay. The room in which I was put up overlooked beautiful lawns down below; and I could hear the birds chirping and the wind blowing mildly over me. The whole atmosphere was so tranquil; it really took me to a different world.

The best part about the palace was the way it has been designed and maintained. All rooms had antique furniture, beautiful chandeliers and belgian mirrors. Then there was this striking swimming pool that has been designed like a roman bath with marble steps and white walkways. Taking a dip in that exotic pool which was specifically meant for the maharajas was I thought a true privilege.

The palace on Wheels

The palace on Wheels is not a hotel or a palace, but a maharaja style train that is run by the government of India for tourism purposes. I was recommended to make this train journey by a fellow traveler and believe me; I was glad I took his advice.

This train is designed for the purpose of giving its voyagers a taste of ancient India and covers all major destinations and heritage spots in Rajasthan. Starting from Delhi (the Indian capital), the train takes you to all major destinations in Rajasthan that include Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Agra and back to Delhi in a seven day journey. I really got a good insight about the tales of Indian kings and queens and their lifestyles at the end of these seven unforgettable days.

The interiors of the train look no less than a five star palace hotel and that goes for the rooms too. The rooms are comfy, contain artistic furniture and include a private bath; now what more could you ask for?

When boarding my plane back home, there was a strange nostalgic feeling that had crept over me. But I was glad of one thing; I had lived out my dream of living like an Indian Maharaja.
I was not even sure why I planned on a tour to India. May be I was just too fascinated by the lifestyles of the Indian Maharajas and wanted to see and experience for myself their lives and their palaces. My interest in Indian palaces and forts grew by reading books like India Style by Monisha Bharadwaj, The Indian Princes and their States by Barbara N. Ramusack, The Indian Subcontinent by Alison Arnold and Indian temples and palaces by Michael Edwardes.

The palaces of the Indian Maharajas

India is a mystic land and has so many things that a traveler can discover. The best part about India is its rich history; the stories of Indian Kings and queens who lived and died for their kingdom is rather amusing. Even more amusing is to read about the secret lives of these kings and queens, their palaces, their summer retreats, their leisure activities, their traditions and their interest in art and architecture.

But time passed and none of them can be spotted today; their palaces, forts and other remaining works of art have become major tourist attractions even for the people of India. Most palaces and forts are opened today for tourism where as a few exotic ones have been converted into palace hotels.

Exotic Indian palaces that are converted to hotels

One of my major objectives of visiting India was to stay in one of the many palace hotels and experience the life of the maharajas (kings). I have discussed below some hotels in which I stayed and those that I cherish the most.

The Lalitha Mahal Palace in Mysore

My trip to Mysore was to reflect on my travel itinerary that needed that I visit those places that had a rich heritage and culture. Mysore was just one of them. When In Mysore I decided to stay in the Lalitha Mahal Palace which is by far one of the most exotic palaces that I have come across in my life. This palace was built way back in 1921 by a king named Wodeyar Krishna and was designed by E W Fritchley who was a famous English architect.

Today this palace is maintained by the India Tourism Development Corporation and they have done a good job with it. The exterior of the palace looks show white where as the interiors are almost as good as new. All rooms of this palace over-look the beautiful Chamundi hills and give the visitor a breathtaking view of Mysore city.

The palace offers all facilities that one can expect from a five star hotel that include swimming pools, golf grounds, health club, lounges and a shopping arcade to get all your souvenirs. This palace gave me a glimpse of the lavish life that that kings would have lived back then.

Fern Hill Palace in Ooty

Ooty located in southern India is Indias well known tourist destination. When in Ooty I decided to stay in the Fern Hill palace hotel that has a history dating back to 1840. Back then it was used by the British as their summer resort. This palace hotel has more than 50 rooms that also include hotel rooms and cottages. Although the palace is quite old, it is well maintained and has everything that can make anyone feel like a maharaja.

This exotic palace coupled with the pleasant atmosphere of the hill-station gave me something that I could cherish for life.

Bolghatty Palace in Cochin

Cochin in southern India is considered the pearl of the Indian Ocean and lives very much to its reputation. When in Cochin I decided to stay in Bolghatty Palace which was used as a British governors residence when India was colonized by the British. The Kerala tourism development corporation has renovated this magnificent piece of architecture bringing it back to all its glory.

The palace has five spacious rooms and six cottages. The rooms have been renovated beautifully, not to destroy their essence. The art work is as good as new and the portraits seem to talk back to you. It almost looks as if time stood still in the palace since it was built way back in 1744.

Lake Palace in Udaipur

My next destination was Udaipur in Rajasthan situated in the western part of India. The Lake Palace in Udaipur is one of the most exotic hotels that I ever stayed. The hotel is located in the middle of the blue waters of lake Pichola and practically looks floating in water from a near by fort.

Built way back in 1754 by Maharana Jagat singh, the palace is today maintained by the Taj group of hotels and offers the prefect ambiance for a romantic stay. The palace has 85 beautiful rooms along with special suites and fascinates everyone with its lustrous marble pillars, ancient paintings and unbelievable works of arts including glasswork. I almost felt like staying in a fantasy island with my room overlooking a refreshing lily pond.

Udaipur also has many other palace hotels but none can be compared to the Lake Palace. I was also fascinated by the Laxmi Vilas Palace which was once a guest house to serve British guests.

Bikaner house (Bharatpur House) In Mount Abu

Mount Abu in Rajasthan is another hill station that fascinated me. Mount Abu has a host of palace hotels as this was a favorite hill station for the Maharajas. I decided to stay in the Bikaner House palace which is located in one of the most scenic locations in Mount Abu. This palace built in 1893 was used as a summer residence for the ancient kings.

The palace is well maintained and has spacious rooms that have ancient paintings and art work. The rooms overlook mystic hills that look so much in peace with them-selves. It almost gave me a heaven on earth kind of an experience.

One more palace hotel which fascinated me in Mount Abu was the Sunrise palace which is situated in one its highest points. This palace hotel was built somewhere in the year 1920, and is quite popular with couples looking for a romantic getaway.

Nilambagh Palace in Bhavnagar

My objective of visiting Bhavnagar, a relatively lesser known tourist destination in western India was to stay in the famous Nilambagh Palace. Built by Maharaja Bhavsinghji in the year 1723 this palace looks like a piece of architecture in itself. The palace is surrounded by lush gardens and has 18 AC rooms and 5 cottages. The rooms are spacious and offer an extremely luxurious stay. The room in which I was put up overlooked beautiful lawns down below; and I could hear the birds chirping and the wind blowing mildly over me. The whole atmosphere was so tranquil; it really took me to a different world.

The best part about the palace was the way it has been designed and maintained. All rooms had antique furniture, beautiful chandeliers and belgian mirrors. Then there was this striking swimming pool that has been designed like a roman bath with marble steps and white walkways. Taking a dip in that exotic pool which was specifically meant for the maharajas was I thought a true privilege.

The palace on Wheels

The palace on Wheels is not a hotel or a palace, but a maharaja style train that is run by the government of India for tourism purposes. I was recommended to make this train journey by a fellow traveler and believe me; I was glad I took his advice.

This train is designed for the purpose of giving its voyagers a taste of ancient India and covers all major destinations and heritage spots in Rajasthan. Starting from Delhi (the Indian capital), the train takes you to all major destinations in Rajasthan that include Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Agra and back to Delhi in a seven day journey. I really got a good insight about the tales of Indian kings and queens and their lifestyles at the end of these seven unforgettable days.

The interiors of the train look no less than a five star palace hotel and that goes for the rooms too. The rooms are comfy, contain artistic furniture and include a private bath; now what more could you ask for?

When boarding my plane back home, there was a strange nostalgic feeling that had crept over me. But I was glad of one thing; I had lived out my dream of living like an Indian Maharaja.

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