For Palatial Splendor: Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad

Built as the residence of the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, Falaknuma Palace is a grand mélange of 19th-century European design, with Renaissance, Art Deco, and Baroque elements woven into its extravagant Victorian texture. Perched regally on a hilltop overlooking Andhra Pradesh’s sprawling state capital, the luminous white-marble palace (its name means “mirror of the sky”) stood abandoned and in a sad state of disrepair before undergoing a meticulous decade-long restoration overseen by members of the royal family. Guests now arrive in a horse-drawn carriage driven by a liveried coachman, sleep in one of 60 period-furnished guest rooms, and, in the evenings, watch cultural performances under the colored-glass canopy of the main terrace. But the real star of the show here is the main palace building, which guests are free to use as their private living quarters, taking high tea in the Jade Room—a dazzling sweep of geometric parquet floors and lime-green walls—or flipping through antiquarian books in the carved-walnut library. Ask to sit in King George V’s favorite chair—the British monarch was one of many royals who bunked here in Falak-numa’s heyday (91-40/6629-8585; tajhotels.com; doubles from US$765).

For a Seaside Sojourn: Grand Hyatt Goa, Bambolim

While India may not be the most ob-vious choice for a beach vacation, this tropical enclave on quiet Bambolim Bay has every-thing a sun-worshipper could want, save for much of a beach. Just a 15-minute drive from Panjim, Goa’s riverside capital, the year-old Grand Hyatt is a colonial-inspired confection of Indo-Portuguese architecture set amid 11 hectares of lush, bird-filled gardens studded by venerable banyan trees and swaying palms. The 298 rooms and 16 suites are furnished in a contemporary style and come with gleaming wood floors and recessed balconies, most of which confer spectacular views of the Arabian Sea. A trio of restaurants offers everything from grilled seafood to tandoori to multicultural buffets, while the roster of activities includes fishing, diving, sightseeing in nearby Old Goa, and Ayurvedic massages or Pilates at Shamana Spa. This is also a good option for families, with a top-notch kid’s club that guarantees parents at least some time to themselves (91-832/301-1234; goa.grand.hyatt.com; doubles from US$204).

Originally appeared in the August/September 2012 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“India Indulgence”)