Quick comforts

By Scott Kraft

April 29, 2007 12 AM PT

With speed trips, you’re covering a lot of ground in a short time. Here are some luxurious spots to pamper yourself and recover from the 12 1/2-hour time difference from L.A.

DELHI

Every traveler needs respite from the frenetic pace of the capital. Here are some places to chill out.

WHERE TO STAY

The Imperial, Janpath, New Delhi; 011-91-11-2334-1234, www.theimperialindia.com. Doubles from $425

In the 1930s, this hotel, above, was a rare sanctum where British and Indian aristocracy could rub shoulders. The public spaces are warm and inviting. The rooms are large and comfortable, with flat-screen TVs and all the amenities you’d expect of one of the top hotels in Asia.

WHERE TO EAT

Bukhara, Hotel Maurya Sheraton & Towers, Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi; 011-91-11-2611-2233.

It’s no wonder that heads of state adore this restaurant, which is cozy, with cushion-covered stools, low wood tables and a view of the kitchen. No reservations are taken after 8 p.m., but it’s worth the wait. Simply delicious chicken and lamb kebabs, dal and naan. Main courses $8 to $30.

Masala Art, 1 Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Enclave; 011-91-11-2611-0202, www.tajhotels.com.

This contemporary Indian restaurant has an eclectic menu. We adored the scrambled paneer (cheese) with corn and spices and the spinach with garlic (Lasooni palak). Entrees up to $30.

JAIPUR

There’s enough to see in Rajasthan’s capital to keep you occupied for a couple of days. Here, some spots to alight for a short while.

WHERE TO STAY

Oberoi Rajvilas, Goner Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan; 011-91-141-268-0101, www.oberoirajvilas.com.

We found the hotel and grounds had a wonderful facade, but it ultimately felt less inviting than we had expected, and the price was steep. The library bar was small and had the sterile feel of a movie set. But the health club was the best we found on our visit. The rooms were lovely and contained all the amenities. Hotel rooms start at $600, but we got a lower rate through Protravel International, Beverly Hills; (310) 271-9566, www.protravelinc.com.

WHERE TO EAT

Surya Mahal & Courtyard, Oberoi Rajvilas (see above).

This is a good choice if one of your group is looking for food from back home. Both the Indian food and a plate of shrimp and pasta were nicely prepared. We ate in the pretty courtyard on a nippy night; the waiters placed wire boxes of burning coals between the tables. In Jaipur, don’t miss Jantar Mantar, above, one of the observatories of Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II, built in 1710.

AGRA

The city is known for the Taj Mahal, but that doesn’t mean the iconic palace has cornered the market on luxury.

WHERE TO STAY

Oberoi Amarvilas, Taj East Gate Road, Agra 282001; 011-91-562-223-1515, www.oberoihotels.com.

The Amarvilas, above, would be a spectacular hotel even without the view of the Taj Mahal from every room. It opened in 2001 and has nine acres of terraced lawns, fountains, reflecting pools, a delightful spa and a pool that is too pretty to swim in. The rooms are large and elegant. The hotel lists its rack rate as $600 and up for a double-occupancy room, $650 for a room with a balcony. We did slightly better, $585 for a room with a balcony, arranged through Protravel International.

-- Scott Kraft

Travel & Experiences

Scott Kraft

Scott Kraft is editor at large for enterprise journalism and special projects at the Los Angeles Times, where he oversees the Investigations department, standards and practices, polling and survey research projects, and newsroom-wide reporting initiatives. He works closely with departments across the newsroom to elevate series and is leading an initiative to actively develop books that are an outgrowth of Times’ expertise and original reporting, in partnership with commercial book publishers. During nearly four decades at The Times, Kraft has been managing editor, deputy managing editor/news and national editor, as well as a foreign and national correspondent. As an editor, he has directed work that won nine Pulitzer Prizes. As a reporter, he was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in feature writing while a New York-based national correspondent for the Associated Press before joining The Times in its Chicago bureau. He spent a decade abroad as The Times’ bureau chief in Nairobi, Johannesburg and Paris. He covered the release of Nelson Mandela and the end of apartheid as well as the ill-fated U.S. military mission in Somalia, among other major stories. His story for the Los Angeles Times magazine on the AIDS epidemic in Africa won the SPJ Distinguished Service Award for Foreign Correspondence. He has served as both a juror and chair of the Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting. He also was a Pulitzer Prize juror in international reporting in 2014 and subsequently chaired five Pulitzer juries – Public Service in 2015, International Reporting in 2020, Explanatory Reporting in 2021, Illustrated Reporting and Commentary in 2022 and Editorial Writing in 2023. He is currently president of the Overseas Press Club of America. Kraft was born in Kansas City, Mo., and has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kansas State University.

Quick comforts

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