The thought of a luxurious vacation, more often than not, creates a mental image of a lavish 5- or 7-star hotel, with a large, fully equipped suite and a deluxe car accompanied by a chauffeur at your beck and call. You can have it all, at almost every other tourist destination. So, what is it that you can only experience in India, and nowhere else in the world? What can you indulge into in India? What Indian luxuries must you experience, at least once, in your lifetime?

The stubborn taste buds- Indian cuisine, renowned for its use of spices, is a rush of flavor, aroma, color and texture. Your taste buds will be enthused to the core as you relish the delicacies of the various places you visit. The traditional vegetarian South Indian food; the curries, kebabs, koftas, biryanis of the North Indian, meaty Mughlai cuisine; the Punjabi tandoors, marinated meat cooked in clay oven; and the seafood along the coast will leave any gourmet beggin for more. India’s notoriously wide range of sweet delicacies like the soft, semi-solid halwa, sweet balls of rasgulla and gulaab jaamun, barfi can corrupt a fitness freak.

The colors of India- The vibrant feel of its artistic heritage can also tempt a miser to give up his wallet. From an incredible range of handicrafts, an amazing variety of weaving and embroidery, the delicate pashmina to terracotta work, the blue-glazed pottery, traditional wood work, these items are one of their kinds. You might get some of them online but, there is nothing like seeing the urgent colors and feeling royalties yourself before buying.

The scent of regal love- The Taj Mahal, the monument which the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built to commemorate his love for his wife Mumtaz. Its exquisite marble screens, marble inlay work with thousands of semi-precious stones, elaborate carving, and the high vaulted arches, will bloom your love buds. The India finest monuments are honored by UNSECO as a Seven Wonders of the World.

Spiritual and wellness retreats- Spirituality and India go back a long way. A combination of its alternative therapies for body and soul, and breathtaking natural settings, are absolutely revitalizing. Meditation, yoga, and ayurveda will unburden your mind, body and soul to provide for holistic healing.

The houseboat sojourn- It’s a genuinely rural and picturesque experience that will relax you beyond your belief. You leisurely graze the quiet, chilly, backwaters; and enjoy the authentic local cuisine. Your houseboat will be as lavish as your tariff.

The rail romance- India has one of the most beautiful carriages in the world, thanks to the Indian maharajs who held pride in the trains built under their reign, followed by the British Raj which extended the railway network to the hill-stations. A journey in these trains gives a glimpse of the golden-bird era of Indian history. Besides giving you chance to experience the magnificent and musical India, these luxury trains with their palatial accommodation, mouth-watering meals, and guided sightseeing tours, are an experience on their own.