NEEMRANA FORT-PALACE

Rajastahn, India

The West doesn’t hold a monopoly on awe-inspiring fortresses. Witness this 15th-century jewel box built into a commanding hillside by descendants of a dynastic king following an invasion by Muslim Ghurids. Astoundingly, the lavish, 14-level spread was a crumbling, abandoned fixer-upper by 1947, leading to its rehab as a resort in 1991. Today, the glittering labyrinth (seriously, one can get lost) includes a huge pool, hanging gardens, several eateries and even an amphitheater that hosts music and dance performances. If that’s not enough, tour the nearby village via a camel-pulled cart. Royal treatment: Looking for a romantic getaway? Choose the Sutra Mahal room, decorated with Kamasutra-inspired erotic paintings consulted by past randy royals.

Not too surprisingly, Neemrana Fort-palace has served as the lavish setting for more than a few big Bollywood dance numbers.