NOV/DEC

2013
THEULTIMATE
HOLIDAY
GIFTGUIDE
$50.00
GRAND PRESIDENTIAL SUITE
/ TAJ FALAKNUMA PALACE
14 DAYS
124
14 DAYS: THE INDIA LESS TRAVELED
Journeys 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
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RITUAL & PURITY, VARANASI
Jet lag is on your side for a sunrise boat tour
on 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 froma 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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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
KumarakomLake 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 LAKE
RESORT
HOUSEBOAT ON THE
BACKWATERS / 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
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EXPLORING JODHPUR
The sun illuminates the cliffs of Mehrangarh Fort as Sikander serves an
Indian 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 renowned music 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
8&9
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 this Relais &Chteaux destination is as delicious
as the silence is serene and the views breathtakingly vast.
The Serai: General Manager 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 SCENES
Handling 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