Diwali Getaways

I totally dig Diwali, but this time I want difference. No same-old same-old rounds of cards and dinners in town. I’m packing my bags and heading off someplace special. No boring 5-stars, please. I’m a heritage hotel junkie. So, eenie, meenie, mynie, mo, where should I go?

Pataudi Palace, Gurgaon
This gem’s just right if, like me, you don’t want to drive too much. Barely 1.5 hours from Delhi, this little palace is a cocktail of cricket, Bollywood and colonial architecture. The lobby has sepia-toned pictures of Tiger Pataudi and Sharmila, and Saif in his younger days! I can play billiards or swim, but I might just end up lazing in the palatial verandah that overlooks green lawns and marble fountains. And follow that up with a long, lovely soak in my antique tub!
Tariff: Rs 3,500- Rs 6,500; Distance from Delhi: 60 km
Pataudi Palace, Village Pataudi, District Gurgaon, Haryana, 0124-2672244, www.neemranahotels.com

Fort Nalagarh, Solan
If I’m hankering after the hills, Fort Nalagarh may be it. Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, the fort was built in 1421 and has a charm all its own. There’s a swimming pool, spa, badminton and tennis courts, croquet, treks, picnics and barbecues on demand. But I’m not going to miss the ayurvedic nature cure centre, and the wonderful 60-minute body massage.
Tariff: Rs 2,700-Rs 6,500; Distance from Delhi: 300 km
The Fort Resort, Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, 01795-223179, 223009, 223667, 9816038433, www.nalagarh.in

Alsisar Haveli, Jaipur
Or maybe I could head to another favourite — the Pink City. Where to stay? At Alsisar, a 47-room haveli owned by a branch of the Kachawa clan of Rajputs. There’s lots to do — explore the haveli, with its beautiful antique furniture, and attend the puppet shows and folk dances. Or just sit by the poolside, and watch the day turn into dusk. My Diwali diyas will look lovely under starlight.
Tariff: Rs 2,750-Rs 4,100; Distance from Delhi: 300 km
Alsisar Haveli, Sansar Chandra Road, Jaipur; Ph: 0141-2368290, 2364685, 5107157, www.alsisar.com