NOV/DEC2013

THEULTIMATEHOLIDAYGIFTGUIDE

$50.00

GRAND PRESIDENTIAL SUITE/ TAJ FALAKNUMA PALACE

14 DAYS

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14 DAYS: THE INDIA LESS TRAVELEDJourneys to India are as intense as its colors are vibrant; senses become alive, and even

chaos resonates with beauty. But India becomes its most profound when you truly live it. Ker

& Downeys new Experiential Luxuries of India does just that. Designed as the ultimate India

dream trip, this 14-day itinerary weaves together the best of India outside the major cities, and

with customized wow experiences in each destination, this unique private jet tour of the

subcontinent promises unparalleled access that gives a total sense of place. BY SCOTT GOETZ

THE DIVINE SOUL OF INDIA, VARANASI

At Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, your Ker &

Downey rep ushers you through customs

and introduces you to Indradjeet, an expert

Varanasi guide. On the way to your hotel,

learn about one of the oldest continuously

living cities in the world and why Indias

spiritual center is important to many major

religions. Pass through the gates of your

firstand with only 10 suites, the most in-

timateroyal residence, the Taj Nadesar

Palace. Gong chimes, incense, chanted

blessings, jasmine garlands, and a vermil-

lion bindi placed on your forehead combine

to give you an unmistakable sense of place.

Like Queen Elizabeth, youll stay in the Royal

Suite (from about $781 a night). After lunch

and a rest, experience Aarti, a daily sunset

ritual at the ghats of the Ganges that has

been taking place for hundreds of years.

Back on the terrace of your palace, a cham-

pagne toast and an introduction to Banarasi-

Varanasi cuisine complete your day.

Taj Nadesar Palace: General Manager

Ahmar Siddiqui, 91-9044000551; ahmar.

siddiqui@tajhotels.com; www.tajhotels.com

1 RITUAL & PURITY, VARANASIJet lag is on your side for a sunrise boat touron the Ganges. A riot of temples, shrines,

and humanity line the shore of this sacred

spot where the river turns to look back at its

source in the Himalayas. Witness morning

bathing rituals, offerings to Mother Ganga,

and Hindu funeral pyres as your boatman

paddles past the ghats. Acquire your Ru-

draksha prayer beads from a Sadu before re-

turning to the palace to immerse yourself in

luxury with Jiva Spas Abhisheka purifying

bathing ritual, which combines pure source

water from the Ganges, rose petals, yogurt,

honey, and a sandalwood scrub. In the af-

ternoon visit Sarnath, where Buddha first

preached his Dharma Deshana, then return

to the hotel for a tour of the palace grounds

in a centuries-old horse-drawn carriage.

After sunset, make your way to the palaces

400-year-old temple for Aarti, then follow

the sitar to your Baradari Dinner celebra-

tion, a moguls feast with fireworks.

Jiva Spa: Director Sushmita Sarangi, 91-

2266651285; sushmita.sarangi@tajhotels.

com; www.tajhotels.com/jivaspas

INDO-EUROPEAN

SPLENDOR, HYDERABAD

Jet to the gateway of Southern India,

Hyderabad, an ancient city famous for its

pearls and diamonds. Head by Jaguar to Fal-

aknuma Palace, which Taj Hotels spent 10

years restoring to its 19th-century glory. A

cascade of petals confirms your royal status

as you retrace the paths of the nizam, once

the richest man in the world. Ascend the

grand marble staircase past French tapes-

tries and a two-ton pipe organ to meet the

palace historian for a champagne tour of the

fascinating propertys 22 halls whose high-

lights include a huge Venetian chandelier

collection. In the afternoon, designer Vinita

Pittie will swathe you in the height of mod-

ern Indian fashion, youll shop at the Laad

Bazaar, famous for its carved bangles, and

fourth-generation ittar perfume makers will

customize a scent for you in time for your pri-

vate dinner for two at a dining table measur-

ing 108 feet, and seating 101.

Taj Falaknuma Palace: General Manager

Girish Sehgal, 91-40-6629-8585; girish.

sehgal@tajhotels.com; www.tajhotels.com

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126126 DOWNLOAD EXCLUSIVE DESTINATION GUIDES AT www.elitetraveler.com/destinationguides

14 DAYS

REVITALIZATION, LAKE KUMARAKOM

Wake up with the suns rays hitting coconut palms as you float past the

morning fishermen. Cruise to Vembrand Lake, the largest in Kerala for

breakfast and try to spot otters on the shoreline. After fishing on the lake

check into the Presidential Suite ($1,200 a night) with a private pool at

Kumarakom Lake Resort and make your way directly to the spa. Kerala

is the home of Ayurveda, and its here that youll meet with an Ayurvedic

doctor who will prescribe the right mix of herbs for your Sirodhara treat-

ment that, when blended with warm coconut oil and applied in a gentile

stream on your head for 45 minutes, reduces stress and mental tension.

Follow this up with a therapeutic massage and relax in your suite until

evening, when youll taste regional specialties from the sea in Ettukettu,

an eight-sided mansion commissioned by King Marthanda Varma as a

gift to his martial arts tutor.

Kumarakom Lake Resort: General Manager Neelkantan Damodaran,

91-9995318000; neel@thepaul.in; www.kumarakomlakeresort.in

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UNVEILING HYDERABAD

Wake up in the two-story Grand Presidential Suite (from about $11,410

a night), the largest in India, and plunge into the suites pool while your

exemplary butler Himanshu sets your breakfast table with Versace. Ex-

plore the citys past and present at the Charminar monument/mosque,

Chowmahalla palace, and several private residences where a biryani

cooking demonstration will lead to lunch at Taj Krishnas Firdaus,

known for the best biryani in town. Freshen up back at Falaknuma be-

fore your meeting with the visionary designer credited with returning the

palace to its former glory, Her Highness Princess Ezra, in her private

residence on palace grounds (subject to prior arrangements). Savor your

Shikaar Kaa Khaana Hunting Experience Dinner on the Royal Terrace,

2,000 feet above the sparkling lights of Hyderabad.

LOCAL TRANQUILITY, KERALA BACKWATERS

Fly south to decompress in Kerala where after meeting your guide Rad-

hika, you head to Alleppey for a houseboat tour of the gentle backwaters.

Totaling 560 miles, these narrow, intertwining waterways just inland of

the coast are lined with lush vegetation and palms. An overnight on a

local houseboat is an undisputed must, and youll do so in style aboard

Injourni, the best in the region (about $1,500 a night). Cantilevered nets

dip in and out of the water as you make your way past small fishing vil-

lages, where youll glimpse colorful flashes of a simpler way of life. Put

your feet up, take in the passing scenery, and completely unplug as you

cruise deep into the narrow channels and your private chef prepares de-

licious meals on board.

Injourni: Pooja Kapoor, 91-9810362052; poojakapoo@hotmail.com

CULTURAL IMMERSION, COCHIN

An early morning transfer through tea, cardamom, pepper, and rubber

plantations ends at the Arabian Sea-side town of Cochin. Take the ferry

across what is believed to be the finest harbor in the world and the old-

est European settlement in India. Check into a Deluxe Sea Facing Suite

($715 a night) at historic, 22-room Brunton Boatyard Hotel. Try the

chefs fish curry at lunch then head out to explore the 500-year-old Fort

Kochi before walking through rambling alleys resplendent with Dutch

and Portuguese architecture to Jew Street, a designers paradise full of

brass sculptures, old wooden carvings, and antique nautical items. Mar-

vel at an evening performance of Kathakali, an ancient art of silent facial

expressions and dance. Afterwards, join the cast of the Cochin Cultural

Center for the ultimate Kerala photo session, where theyll transform

your party into the characters, an exacting process involving facial and

body prosthetics, heavy makeup, headgear, bells, and, for the purists,

sollanum seeds to redden the whites of the eyes.

Brunton Boatyard Hotel: General Manager Radha Krishna Shenoi,

91-484-3990500; radhakrishnashenoi@cghearth.com;

www.cghearth.com/brunton-boatyard

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CHARMINAR / HYDERABAD

WATERSIDE LIVING /KUMARAKOM LAKERESORT

HOUSEBOAT ON THEBACKWATERS / KERALA

DINING AT DUSK / BRUNTON BOATYARD HOTEL

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LIVE LIKE A MAHARAJA, JODHPUR

Jet off to Jodhpur, known as the Blue City, where, well before landing,

youll see your Chittar sandstone palace proudly standing on a 26-acre

hilltop overlooking the desert capital. Royal butler Sikander and your Ker

& Downey guide escort you home in a vintage Jaguar, where live music,

showers of rose petals, and champagne welcome you into the Umaid

Bhawan Palace. This royal splurge is worth every rupee when checking

into the Indo-European/Art Deco masterpieces that are the Maharaja

and Maharani Suites (about $12,225 a night). Built by Maharaja Umaid

Singh between 1929 and 1943, this wing of two separate his-and-her

private residences has hosted Madonna, Elizabeth Hurley, and other lu-

minaries. Whether Sikander is teaching a lesson in nine meters of preci-

sion turban tying, delivering fresh cool towels by the subterranean 1930s

Zodiac-themed pool, assisting in photo shoots during a historical tour, or

serving cocktails and canaps in the maharajas former living room, this

star butler is at your service to help you enjoy the palace, creatively and

authentically, throughout your stay.

Umaid Bhawan Palace: General Manager Vincent Ramos,

91-291-251-0101; vincent.ramos@tajhotels.com; www.tajhotels.com

10 EXPLORING JODHPURThe sun illuminates the cliffs ofMehrangarh Fort as Sikander serves anIndian breakfast on the maharanis private terrace. Prior arrangements

allow for exclusive pre-opening access to the fort, where you make your

grand entrance upon a painted elephant. After touring the residence of

maharajas past, built in 1459, visit Chamunda Temple and Jaswant

Thada, then lunch in the gardens at On the Rocks with the maharajas

nephew as your host. Fill your jet with antique pashminas, linens, and

other treasures woven for Etro and Herms by Maharani Textiles. Back

in the suite, Sikander outfits you in traditional attire and the royal jeweler

delivers an exquisite array of finely cut emeralds from the same collec-

tions with which he supplied Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Fireworks light

up the palace during your private Royal Rajasthani Thali Dinner in the

garden, a feast that continues to surprise with a parade of singers, danc-

ers, and sitar players who accompany each course. A nightcap in the

Trophy Bar crowns another day fit for a king.

Maharani Art Exporters: Owner Mukesh Jain, 91-291-2639226;

maharanitextile@sify.com

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BEACH BLISS / THE LEELA GOA

UMAID BHAWAN PALACE / JODHPUR

JASWANT THADA / JODHPUR

SAND, SUN, AND FUN, GOA

As commercial connections arent the easiest to Goa, a jet definitely maximizes time and affords the opportunity for a true beach break as you make

your way to Northern India. From Dabolim Airport head south through the jungle past centuries-old Portuguese mansions and fishing villages to

Margaos Fatorda District to shop at Fab India for contemporary Indian home dcor and clothing that makes great resort wear. At The Leela Goa your

butler welcomes you into your 4,305-square-foot Presidential Suite (about $2,834 a night). The time is yours to recharge: Take a dip in your private

plunge pool or Jacuzzi, play a round on the 12-hole golf course outside your door, or work up an appetite by strolling on the pristine beach just beyond. A

driver stands by to deliver partiers to the legendary nightlife and internationally renownedmusic scene at Gaud-esque LPK, aka Love, Passion, Karma.

The Leela Goa: General Manager Shridhar Nair, 91-832-6621234; shridhar.nair@theleela.com; www.theleela.com

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DESERT ESCAPE, JAISALMER

Skip the six-hour drive to Jaisalmer: Ker & Downey has

cleared you for landing in the Golden City where no com-

mercial planes fly. Check into The Serai, a 21-tent luxury

camp on the edge of The Great Thar Desert. The Royal

Suite ($1,131 a night) harks to the days of maharajas lav-

ish hunting safaris, and boasts a private garden, spa, out-

door pool, and separate tents in which to dine, lounge, and

sleep in the air-conditioned comfort of this 100-acre oasis.

Dining at thisRelais&Chteaux destination is as delicious

as the silence is serene and the views breathtakingly vast.

The Serai: GeneralManager Jtin Sahni, 91-2997-200014;

manager@the-serai.com; www.sujanluxury.com

JAISALMER ADVENTURES

After a leisurely breakfast in your tented compound, venture into the 800-year-old Jais-

almer Fort, identical to what was seen by 12th-century merchants on camel caravans.

Shopping is fun but touristy, so get out quick to spend more time at your next home,

Suryagarh, a newly built haven that combines modern and ancient, while sensually

celebrating the exotic. By creating tailored experiences for each guest, hotelier Karan

Singh delivers an uncompromising sense of place with the magic of Prospero. Full moon

Dinners on the Dunes with desert performances, camel excursions to opium tea cer-

emonies, desert rallies in fortified Humvees, haunted midnight hikes into an abandoned

village, and spiritual awakenings in both the Rait Spa and out on the dunes are all pos-

sible for those who are open to letting the desert, and your host, take the reins for a day.

Suryagarh: General Manager Karan Singh, 91-299-2269269; karan@suryagarh.com;

www.suryagarh.com

THE LAST MEALS, JAISALMER & DELHI

Wake up in the Jaisalmer Suite (about $1,216 a night) before dawn and head out to a surprise destination for a scotch and cigar breakfast in the company of

hundreds of wild peacocks who join you to greet the sun. Afterwards, relax in your suites rooftop pool to savor your last moments in the Thar before pointing the

jet to Delhi. Ease back into civilization in the Presidential Suite (about $4,809 a night) of the new Oberoi, Gurgaon close to the airport. Butler Sumit Vashisht

packs and takes care of airport formalities while you attend a farewell dinner at Amaranta, where a tasting menu of freshly caught seafood has been flown in for

you. The Indian breads sprinkled with salts and spices from each of the regions you visited, along with Kerala fish curry, butter paper garlic crab from Goa, and

lobster in banana leaves inspire conversations of recently made India memories that are bound to become stories of a lifetime.

The Oberoi, Gurgaon: General Manager David Mathews, 91-124-2451234; david.mathews@oberoihotels.com; www.oberoihotels.com

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SPA / THE SERAI SWIMMING POOL / SURYAGARH THE OBEROI, GURGAON / GURGAON

14 DAYS

BEHIND THE SCENESHandling VVIPs in India is the Ker & Downey tradition. These top pros take true interest in their clients, and are adept at getting to know them and anticipating

their wishes. Selling luxury travel for a decade, Ker & Downeys India luxury specialist Sunita Hedaoo grew up on the subcontinent and now returns twice a year to

consult with her A-list connections. She scouts out the best experiences so she can craft incredibly personal itineraries that unveil Indias cultural soul, and works

with like-minded hotels, such as the Taj Group, so that an entire on-the-ground India team can facilitate fantastical events for guestsevents like the takeover of

the Mehrangarh Fort for clients, who, on elephant back, joined a procession of musicians and dancers, or a personal bejeweling session with the nizams jeweler in

the presidential suite where the nizam would throw diamonds into his private pool.

On the jet front, Taj offers an exclusive charter service, Taj Air, with the new Taj Air Falcon 2000/2000LX and P.180 Avanti II turbo-prop aircraft, which give

the choice of 130 destinations across India (compared to 71 commercial stops). A mere four hours of advanced notice makes extensions to this 14-day itinerary

possible so you can remain royal at Rambagh Palace in Jaipur and Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur; head to Mumbais Taj Lands End, where the royal butler will pack

while you escape for a day in Bollywood; and jet to a tiger safari at Taj Safaris, Mahua Kothi on the edge of Bandhavgarh National Park.

Contact: Ker & Downey Vice President David Jones, (281) 371-2500; djones@kerdowney.com; www.kerdowney.com