The word in India has always been associated with royalty, luxury, and extravagance, not just in architecture and history but also in the food traditions. Having stewed in an ancient palace kitchen and enjoyed a fancy meal in a five-star hotel and luxury train at once, India is not only about that yummy but includes the experience to recollect those tales and create an atmosphere. In case you are craving to give yourself time to bask in the glam of the Indian past and present, then this handpicked list of six luxurious dining options is going to enthrall you.

Whether it is an experienced foodie, a traveler on the quest for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, these experiences could guarantee more non-edible delights, but a memory laden with tradition, style, and splendor.

1. Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad Dinner

Located on top of a hill and enjoying one of the most picturesque views of Hyderabad, the Taj Falaknuma Palace is an 1800s-era piece of land that once was the possession of the Nizam of Hyderabad, one of the richest princes our world has ever seen. The palace has been converted into a luxury hotel today, although some whispers of royal glamor are hard to get rid of.

The eating experience at the palace is an elegant time. The pièce de resistance will be the 101-seat dining table, which will be one of the longest in the world and where visitors will be accommodated to have a choice of menu curated after the Hyderabadi royal food. Castles, imagine saffron aroma biryanis, melt-in-the-mouth kebabs, and luxuriant curries with gorgeous china, and bright Venice chandeliers. The whole experience reminds of entering another century's royal banquet.

2. The Royal Thali in the Rambagh Palace, Jaipur

Jaipur is the ground of Maharajas and there is no better reflection of this heritage than in the legendary Rambagh Palace. Having once belonged to the Maharaja of Jaipur, the palace was converted to a luxury hotel that is run by the Taj Group, and it is one of the finest heritage properties in India.

Their Royal Thali experience is legendary. Served in the palace’s opulent dining room or alfresco in candle-lit courtyards, the thali includes an array of Rajasthani dishes, all presented with regal flair. The use of silver thalis (plates), rose petal-infused hand towels, and live classical music sets the mood for a sensory journey into Rajasthan’s royal culinary history.

3. Gourmet Journeys at Restaurants of Maharajas Express

The Maharajas Express, usually referred to as the Indian version of the Orient Express, offers luxury train travel to some of the most elegant restaurants in India. It is an award-winning luxury train that takes guests on multi-day tours of the most iconic destinations of India, such as Delhi, Udaipur, and Varanasi. However, one of the most unforgettable experiences of the trip? The meals.

Maharajas Express Restaurants, namely Mayur Mahal and Rang Mahal, are the billionaire restaurants that serve international and gourmet Indian food, and represent a part of the Maharajas Express. It is the perfect place to match the royal decoration of a dining hall, polished wood design, and beautiful cutlery, which makes every meal a special event. Onboard chefs prepare fresh and seasonal ingredients to make the best of both worlds, the North Indian specialties and continental food. The constantly shifting scenery in the yacht is far better than any restaurant waiting to serve as one is eating as they pass by ancient temples, deserts, rural villages and more.

The Maharajas Express also offers a one-of-a-kind experience that caters to the needs of those travelers who expect to combine the process of cultural immersion with the five-star dining experience.

4. Romantic Dinner in Jaisalmer Sand Dunes by the River

There is something magical in having a dinner in the free expanse of the Thar Desert. In Jaisalmer, there are luxury hospitality brands such as Suryagarh and The Serai, which offer sand dune dinners that transform the definition of outdoor dining.

Just visualize how you arrive at a distant place on a camel or an old jeep, with live Rajasthani folk music, fire torches and some conventional welcome offering. A tastefully done-up tent or on low seating accommodation waits with chefs serving a wonderful Rajasthani dinner right under the stars. Seclusion of the desert with only music and low talk to break the silence creates a close and almost religious atmosphere of eating.

5. Chef Table, The Leela Palace, New Delhi

Located in the Leela Palace of New Delhi, the Chef Table is where Indian luxury is served with a contemporary touch, courtesy of some exquisite combinations of elements. This experience is held in the separate dining room of the luxury hotel, where an observer will be behind the scenes of the culinary profession with a personalized multi-course tasting menu that is being prepared before your very eyes.

The visitor speaks to the chef, gets to know about techniques and ingredients used, and savor the wine perfectly matched course by course. The food prepared is progressive Indian, European or a fusion dish, but the preparation and the serving detail are class and world-class. It is a DIY dinner, a collaborative, creative, luxurious experience.

6. The floating brunch at Lake Pichola, Udaipur

Known as the Venice of the East, you can hardly have a better feeling of romance in Udaipur than a privately served brunch on Lake Pichola. Most of the luxury hotels, such as The Oberoi Udaivilas or Taj Lake Palace, give their clients the opportunity to hold a cruise dinner on a shikara-like boat or a boat shaped to their wishes, accompanied by their personal butler and a tour of gourmet dishes.

Sailing past the architectural genius of the City Palace, Jag Mandir, and the floating Taj Lake Palace on champagne drinking and having fresh delicacies prepared inside, one cannot have a more peaceful experience in life, which is most certainly timeless and elegant.

Feasting Like a Maharaja

Eating is hardly an act of subsistence in India; it is a communicating, celebrating, and cultural act. All these luxurious experiences are not only a display of culinary expertise but also the rich culture and hospitality that India is renowned for possessing.

You are not merely eating when you are eating in a palace, on trains, lakes, underneath the stars of the desert; you are not eating per se, you are living a legacy. Therefore, the next time that you visit India, spoil yourself more than just with food. Eat like kings.