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Accommodation

Taj Usha Kiran Palace

Gwalior, India

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India

Accommodation

Taj Usha Kiran Palace

Enclosed by nine acres of perfectly manicured grounds, the magnificently regal Taj Usha Kiran Palace is a stunning testament to the history of Indian royalty.

Originally built in the 19th century by HH Maharaja Jayaji Roa Scindia, the opulence of the palace has only been enhanced by its transformation into a heritage hotel, with its shining marble interiors complete with gold accents, and countless archways carved from stone. The grounds of the palace provide ample space for secluded relaxation. The main outdoor pool is a meeting of several interconnecting pools, separated by vibrant strips of lawn that criss-cross over the water.

The rooms and suites themselves range from luxurious ‘tents’ that explode the typical idea of camping, to self-contained villas containing multiple rooms and private pools. The décor of each room is characteristically luxurious and those inside the palace pay homage to the architecture, accentuating the ornate walls with hand-painted murals. The Marathi/Nepalese restaurant serves food just as spectacular as its surroundings and there is also an evening bar and all-day café serving both Indian and international cuisine à-la carte.

What we love

Referred to by The Michelin Guide as “more than just an awfully luxurious hotel” the palace prides itself on offering guests an immersive activity choice. We particularly love the heritage walk that takes you back through 144 years of palatial history, with an attentive historian guide
Encircled by ancient oak trees, the J Wellness Circle spa offers rejuvenation and ultimate relaxation through age-old treatments cherished by the Indian royalty of a bygone era. Indulge in a signature Mangal Snan treatment followed by a dip in the serene spa pool
The hotel offers a traditional royal welcome featuring ancient music and a Chandan tikka ceremony
Take a day trip to the nearby Sarod Ghar Museum of Music in Gwalior to experience the legacy of Indian music firsthand

This is a popular hotel for high-end social events so you can be busy but the hotel never misses a beat on service

Children under 12 stay free when using beds already in the rooms, and a range of family suites and villas are available. The hotel offers dedicated kid’s activities and a children’s pool.

Just 25 km from Gwalior Airport and 3 km from the Railway Station . Easy to wander Gwalior itself, the birthplace of modern Indian music. Gwalior Fort is only a ten-minute drive from the palace. Known as the ‘Pearl Among Fortresses’, the nightly music and light show here brings the rich cultural history to life.

What our travellers say

If Red Dot ever ceased to exist and I wanted to return to Sri Lanka I would probably go somewhere else instead. They were, in every way shape and form, impeccable. From Samanthie who created the itinerary to Wicky who drove us here, there and everywhere I cannot imagine anybody doing it better. Impeccable. I need say no more except it doesn’t get any better.

Stuart (March 2025) United Kingdom Read the whole review here Tripadvisor

We chose this company as we wanted our money to benefit the people of Sri Lanka rather than international companies. Their work supports smaller businesses, projects and communities as well as the environment

Jessica E (August 2025) London, UK Read the whole review here Feefo

Our 11th visit to this magical Island with always something new to discover and see. This time we made it up north to Jaffna, via Mannar Island, after beginning in the tea country and acclimatising to the heat, after leaving a very cold UK in January. We had total confidence that RedDot would organise everything to perfection, having used them many times before

Roy L (March 2025) United Kingdom Read the whole review here Feefo

We had a fantastic holiday. The itinerary and choice of hotels was spot on, and seamlessly organised.

Charlotte (August 2024) United Kingdom Read the whole review here Tripadvisor

Exceptional tour of Sri Lanka with Dami. We cannot recommend Dami at Red dot tours highly enough. As our guide over 9 days he made sure that our trip to Sri Lanka was unforgettable- always going above & beyond to impart his knowledge, show us things off the beaten track, looking after us, getting us to try many local delicacies & making us laugh .. a LOT. Cannot imagine anyone doing a better job- if we could take him with us on every holiday we would!

Sarah (July 2025) United Kingdom Read the whole review here Feefo

Dulmini did a great job listening to our wishes and arranged an itinerary that was very busy but met all our needs. Sisira, our guide, was outstanding, providing us with great local knowledge and suggesting other activities on our travels. He was a great driver on the busy Sri Lankan roads, was always punctual but above all added colour to the whole trip.

Malcolm (April 2024) United Kingdom Read the whole review here Tripadvisor

I cannot recommend Red Dot Tours more highly. Thank you so much to Samanthie for her patience with me and all her hard work at putting together the perfect itinerary for my family. I had done a lot of research before I contacted Red Dot and Samanthie created a tour that fitted in all the activities we wanted to do and secured the hotels I told her we would like to stay in (not easy to do in high season).

Nina (July 2025) United Kingdom Read the whole review here Tripadvisor

Wow what can I say, from start to finish we have had a wonderful holiday with Red Dot Tours. Dulmini was so helpful in putting an itinerary together for us as a family of 6 and catering to all of our needs. We have ticked off so many of Sri Lanka’s beautiful sights during our trip. Dulmini and Dhanu were a great help to us while we were out on our travels too.

Anupa (July 2025) United Kingdom Read the whole review here TripAdvisor

We spent 13 days on a Bawa tour with wonderful driver and guide Manjula, including Kandalama Heritance, The Kandy House, The Last House, Jetwing Yala, Jetwing Lighthouse and Club Villa hotels. We are 3 friends, one of them in the wheelchair. Dulmini Ekanayake from Red Dot Tours was very helpful and very patient and found solutions to all our special demands.

Rene (March 2025) United Kingdom Read the whole review here Tripadvisor

The itinerary was absolutely perfect and the hotels wonderful, especially Thotalagala, The Warden’s House and 41 Lighthouse Street. Our driver, Indika, was a delight-charming, knowledgeable, considerate and always punctual; he showed us more of this amazing country than we could have hoped for!

Karen - United Kingdom Read the whole review here Tripadvisor

Wanted to take a moment to thank RedDot Tours, and specifically Jayandi for helping book a wonderful family vacation for my family and I. First time for my family and Jayandi took care of every detail, was so courteous and professional, and genuinely cared about our experience in SL. I would also like to mention Pradeep, our kind and understanding guide/chauffeur who took such good care of us while we were out and about. I cannot recommend RedDot enough!

Bob (November 2024) United States Read the whole review here Tripadvisor

We used Red Dot for the first time for our holiday in Sri Lanka. Dulmini put together such a wonderful experience for us, creating an itinerary she drew up after many discussions about what we like and also gave us suggestions for excursions and activities. It was totally bespoke and we were able to make changes throughout this process.

Gill (March 2025) Kent, United Kingdom Read the whole review here Tripadvisor

This is an excellent tour company. They planned our Sri Lankan holiday from start to finish. The trip was initially planned for 2022 but due to Covid and other issues we didn’t manage to undertake the trip until this year. Throughout all this time we had the same travel advisor Lahiru who responded quickly to my emails and rearranged and adjusted our holiday each year!

Anne (January 2025) United Kingdom Read the whole review here Tripadvisor

As a group of 8 we have had the most fabulous tour of Sri Lanka organised by Dulmini from RedDot who totally understood my brief of "some" culture, agriculture, nature, trekking and relaxation. The hotels chosen were a wonderful mixture of homestay, tented and pure luxury (Ceylon Tea Trails). The experiences to local villages, trekking the Pekoe Trail and climbing Pidurangala were memorable and our wonderful guide, Ananda, was so informative and knowledgeable and adapted to our needs admirable (not easy with a group of 8)

Anna (February 2025) United Kingdom Read the whole review here Tripadvisor

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