Last Updated : Oct 16, 2025  |   Author : Tanya Parsad   |   View Count : 888   |   Read Time : 7 min

Indulgent Stays at India's Most Royal Palace Hotels for Your Honeymoon

I've stayed in some beautiful hotels over the years, but nothing quite prepared me for what I experienced at India's palace properties. When I started researching honeymoon destinations, I kept seeing the same beach resorts and European cities. Then someone mentioned staying in actual maharaja palaces in India, and honestly, I was skeptical. Would it feel too touristy? Too over-the-top?

Turns out, I was completely wrong. These aren't just hotels dressed up to look like palaces. These are actual royal residences where maharajas lived, now converted into luxury properties that let you experience what it felt like to be royalty. And for a honeymoon? The romance factor is off the charts.

When I started planning which palaces to visit, I got overwhelmed pretty quickly. Seven properties across multiple cities seemed complicated to coordinate. But working with a luxury Indian travel agency changed everything. They arranged private chauffeur-driven cars between cities, booked flights, and set up a 24/7 concierge who handled everything from restaurant reservations to last-minute itinerary changes. Having that support meant we could just focus on each other instead of logistics.

What makes staying at Indian palace hotels special for a honeymoon

These aren't replicas or themed hotels. They're actual royal residences where maharajas once lived, now converted into luxury properties. You get to experience genuine history and architecture while enjoying world-class service that understands romance. The settings are naturally romantic, from floating palaces on lakes to hilltop estates overlooking cities

Table of Content

1. The Imperial, Delhi
2. Taj Nadesar Palace, Varanasi
3. Taj Rambagh Palace, Jaipur
4. The Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
5. Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
6. Lalitha Mahal Palace, Mysuru
7. FAQ

The Imperial, Delhi
 

Starting in Delhi felt right. The Imperial sits in the heart of the capital, and calling it a hotel feels wrong somehow. It's more like a museum where you're allowed to sleep in the exhibits.

Built in 1931, The Imperial has this colonial-era elegance that makes you feel like you've time-traveled. The suites here are massive. I stayed in one of their luxury suites, and the bathroom alone was bigger than my first apartment. What struck me most was the art collection scattered throughout the property. Original paintings, rare photographs, antique furniture that probably has more history than most countries.

The staff knew my name within hours. Not because I introduced myself repeatedly (though I'm sure I did), but because they genuinely cared about making the experience personal. My private guide for Delhi tours was arranged through my travel agency, and having someone who understood both history and my pace made exploring the city so much better than any group tour could've been.

I spent two days here before catching a morning flight to Varanasi. The Imperial's restaurant, Spice Route, served some of the best Southeast Asian food I've had outside of Thailand.
 

Taj Nadesar Palace, Varanasi
 

Landing in Varanasi felt like entering a different universe. The city pulses with energy that's hard to describe. Ancient, spiritual, chaotic in the best way.

Taj Nadesar Palace sits on the outskirts, which turned out to be perfect. After witnessing the Ganga Aarti ceremony at the ghats (something everyone should experience at least once), returning to Nadesar's quiet gardens felt like a sanctuary.

This palace was the private residence of the Maharaja of Varanasi. Now it's a boutique hotel with just ten suites. Ten. The exclusivity means you're never fighting for pool loungers or waiting for dinner reservations. My suite overlooked manicured lawns where peacocks just casually strolled around like they owned the place. Which, historically speaking, they kind of did.

What I loved here was the intimacy. The staff remembered that I preferred my coffee strong and brought it to my room each morning. My guide for exploring Varanasi's temples and silk weaving workshops was incredibly knowledgeable, explaining Hinduism's complexities without making me feel like I was back in school.

After 2 nights, I took a short flight to Jaipur.
 

Plan Your Royal Honeymoon
 

Taj Rambagh Palace, Jaipur
 

Rambagh Palace was home to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II, and the grandeur is real. This isn't intimate and quiet like Lake Palace. This is sprawling luxury on 47 acres with gardens that go on forever.

We stayed in one of the palace suites, which came with a private terrace where we had breakfast every morning. Watching the sun rise over Jaipur while eating fresh parathas and drinking masala chai became our routine, and honestly, it was perfect. No rushing, no agenda, just us and the morning light.

Jaipur itself has incredible forts and palaces to explore. Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal. Having a private chauffeur meant we could see everything at our own pace. Our driver Rajesh knew all the shortcuts to avoid crowds and suggested great local spots for lunch.

What surprised me about Rambagh was how much there was to do on the property itself. We took a vintage car ride around the grounds, spent an afternoon at the spa, and had dinner at Suvarna Mahal, the palace's formal restaurant, which felt appropriately royal.

Four nights here gave us time to explore Jaipur thoroughly while still having lazy pool days at the palace. The balance worked really well.
 

TL;DR: Spread across 47 acres of gardens, this former maharaja residence blends grandeur with comfort. Four nights here gives you time to explore Jaipur's famous forts while enjoying vintage car rides and spa treatments.

The Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
 

I'm starting with this one because it's probably the most romantic property I've ever seen. The Taj Lake Palace sits in the middle of Lake Pichola. You can only reach it by boat, which means the moment you arrive, you're separated from the outside world in the best possible way.

We arrived at sunset, and the boat ride across the lake while the City Palace glowed on the shoreline felt unreal. The staff greeted us with traditional music and flower garlands. Our room had floor-to-ceiling windows facing the lake, and we spent hours just sitting there watching the water and the city lights.

Everything here revolves around the lake. We had breakfast on the terrace each morning, took a private sunrise boat ride one day, and had dinner by candlelight with the palace illuminated around us. Udaipur earned its reputation as India's most romantic city, and the Lake Palace is a big reason why.

The palace also arranged a cooking class in their kitchen where we learned to make traditional Rajasthani dishes together. It was fun, slightly chaotic (I'm not great with spices), and gave us something we could try to recreate at home. The chef was patient and generous with his family recipes.

Three nights here felt like stepping into a fairytale. If you can only stay at one palace for your honeymoon, this is the one I'd choose.
 

Plan Your Stay at Palaces in India
 

Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
 

Falaknuma means "mirror of the sky," and standing in the palace courtyard, you understand why. One of the biggest palace in India, it sits on a hilltop overlooking Hyderabad, and the Nizam who built it in 1894 clearly wasn't worried about budget. The opulence here is different from the Rajasthan palaces. The dining room seats 101 guests at a single table. We had breakfast there one morning, just the two of us at this absurdly long table, and it was both ridiculous and wonderful. The palace staff treats you like visiting royalty, which feels appropriate given the setting.

Hyderabad surprised us. We expected to just use it as a base for seeing the palace, but the city itself was great. The biryani lives up to the hype (we ate way too much), and Charminar and Golconda Fort are worth visiting. Our guide was excellent at showing us both historical sites and local spots tourists usually miss.

The palace arranged a private tour of areas not normally open to guests, including the original throne room. Learning about the Nizams' history and seeing spaces where they actually lived added depth we wouldn't have gotten just staying in a suite.

We spent three nights here before flying to Mysuru for the final stop.
 

Lalitha Mahal Palace, Mysuru
 

Lalitha Mahal felt like the perfect ending to our palace tour. Built as a guesthouse for the Maharaja of Mysore's foreign guests, it looks like St. Paul's Cathedral in London with its white double-dome architecture. The palace sits at the foot of Chamundi Hills, and we hiked up to Chamundeshwari Temple one morning. The views from the top, looking back at the palace and across Mysuru, were worth the climb (though my legs disagreed for the next day).

Mysore Palace in the city center is stunning, especially at night when they light it up with 100,000 bulbs. Our driver timed our visit perfectly, and we watched the lighting ceremony while eating local street food across the street.

What I loved about Mysuru was how it felt less touristy than some of the other stops. It's a real city where people live and work, not just a tourist destination. The slower pace after the intensity of Hyderabad was exactly what we needed. Two nights here before our flight home from Bangalore gave us time to unwind and process everything we'd experienced over the past couple weeks.

The bespoke tailored itineraries meant everything flowed naturally. We weren't following some rigid schedule. If we wanted to skip a planned activity and just stay at the pool, that was fine. If we wanted to add something we'd heard about, the concierge made it happen.
 

TL;DR: Built as a royal guesthouse with architecture inspired by St. Paul's Cathedral, this palace provides a peaceful ending to any palace tour. Two nights here lets you explore Chamundi Hills and experience authentic local culture.

These palaces offer something you can't get anywhere else in the world. You're not just staying at luxury hotels. You're sleeping where maharajas slept, dining where they dined, walking through gardens they designed.

The romance isn't manufactured. It's built into the architecture, the history, the settings. Watching the sunrise over Lake Pichola from your room at the Lake Palace, having dinner by candlelight in a 100-year-old dining hall, taking a private boat ride at dawn, these moments feel genuinely special.

The staff at these properties understand honeymoons. They added little touches throughout our stay (rose petals, champagne, special dinners) without us asking. The service felt personal, not scripted.

India rewards travelers who take time to experience it properly. These palaces reward presence and patience. If you let them, they'll give you a honeymoon that outlasts any beach resort or European city tour. The memories we made staying in these royal properties, experiencing India's incredible heritage together, those are things we'll carry forever.
 

 Talk to Our Experts

FAQs
 

1. How much time should we plan for an Indian palaces honeymoon?
Two to three weeks works well if you want to see multiple palaces without rushing. We did four properties in two weeks, which gave us three to four nights at each. Some couples do shorter trips focusing on just Rajasthan's palaces (Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur), which fits into 10 days comfortably.

2. Can these hotels accommodate dietary restrictions or special requests?
Absolutely. Every palace handled dietary needs professionally. They also went above and beyond for honeymoon requests. Just mention what you need when booking, and they'll prepare. Even last-minute requests were handled smoothly throughout our trip.

3. Is this type of trip suitable for adventurous couples or just luxury travelers?
Both, honestly. The palace stays are definitely luxury, but you're also experiencing real India between properties. The cities are chaotic and vibrant, the culture is rich, and there's plenty of adventure if you want it. It's luxury with substance, not just pampering in isolation.