Honeymoon Secrets: Escape to regal, natural, or spiritual India

Trip-planner Lynn Stewart from Escape to India uncovers three ways to revel in India’s heritage on your honeymoon

1. Feel like royalty

Shhh… A glorious Maharajah's Palace in Rajasthan is the perfect place to start your honeymoon in regal style. Nestled in the hills an hour away from Jaipur, 475-year old Samode Palace combines the best of Indian and Mughal styles and is fit for a king. If you're thinking of getting married in India, the Palace is a fabulous setting - the groom can arrive by elephant, welcomed by a shower of flower petals, while the bride enters a courtyard with bougainvillea cascading over the balcony.

Tell me more… Retire to one of the four Royal suites which overlook the mountains and have their own secluded courtyards and luxurious Jacuzzis. Add a four-poster bed draped with muslin and a bathtub filled with rose petals for the full-on royal treatment.

2. Dine in the jungle

Shhh… Wake up to birdsong, watch elephants bathing across the river or take a jeep into the Nagarhole National Park and search for tigers and leopards. The Bison is a hidden gem, three hours from Mysore overlooking the backwaters on the Kabini River in south India. Indulge in your own firelit bush dinner on the edge of the park, under the stars and surrounded by the sounds of the jungle.

Tell me more… The secluded tented camp has stunning views and you can take nature walks through cotton and ginger fields to local villages, ride on a boat safari or try fishing from a coracle on the river.

3. Soothe your spirits

Shhh… Breathe deep as you wander hand-in-hand along a golden beach, with only sea eagles and dolphins for company in north Kerala. Base yourselves at Neeleshwar Hermitage for the comprehensive beachside Wellness programmes, including Ayurvedic treatments, yoga and meditation.

Tell me more… In the cottages at Neeleshwar Hermitage you can listen to the Arabian Sea and shower under the stars in your private open-air bathroom. Or spend a couple of nights aboard The Lotus, a private houseboat. Cruise on an inland lake, while exploring sleepy villages and hidden shrines. Drink a cool beer on the elevated deck and watch fishing canoes return at dusk or head ashore and experience a Theyyam performance at a local Shiva Temple.

More about the experts:

Lynn Stewart is the managing director of Escape to India and has been travelling to the country for over a decade. The company offers a personalised service to deal with your every want and need on your trip to India.