大几十年前，在印度有很多小国家（就像我国古代的春秋战国时期有很多小国家一样）。这些小国的王宫大部分都损毁了，只有一小部分保留了下来。其中一个王宫被改造成旅馆，接待来自全球各地的客人。
The royal residence turned hotel
by Kate Springer & Dan Tham
Known as the "Land of Kings," northern Rajasthan state in India has no shortage of history. And it's still on display today. From museums and temples to fortresses, markets and palaces, the region's treasures have been well preserved – there's a good chance your hotel room could even have a royal pedigree.
India /ˈɪndiə/ n. 印度
shortage /ˈʃɔːtɪdʒ/ n. 短缺
temple /ˈtemp(ə)l/ n. 寺庙
fortress /ˈfɔːtrəs/ n. 堡垒、要塞
palace /ˈpælɪs/ n. 宫殿
treasure /ˈtreʒə(r)/ n. 珍宝
preserve /prɪˈzɜːv/ v. 保护、（完好地）保存
royal /ˈrɔɪəl/ adj. 王室的
pedigree /ˈpedɪɡriː/ n. 门第、谱系
The lavish Umaid Bhawan Palace, which towers above the "Blue City" of Jodhpur, is a prime example. Established in 1943 by Maharaja Umaid Singh as a private residence, the hotel immerses guests in a grand and glamorous atmosphere.
lavish /ˈlævɪʃ/ adj. 奢华的
tower /ˈtaʊə(r)/ v. 高耸、耸立
prime /praɪm/ adj. 优质的、上乘的
establish /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/ v. 建立
Maharaja /ˌmɑːhəˈrɑːdʒə/ n. （印度境内小国的）国王
residence /ˈrezɪd(ə)ns/ n. 住处
immerse /ɪˈmɜːs/ v. 使沉浸于
grand /ɡrænd/ adj. 壮丽的、宏伟的
glamorous /ˈɡlæm(ə)rəs/ adj. 具有独特魅力的
atmosphere /ˈætməsfɪə(r)/ n. 气氛、氛围
"It's one of the last big palaces of India to be built," says Gaj Singh II, a grandson of Singh. "I want travelers to experience the Indian way of living, so we have Indian food, Indian music and staff whose families have been with us for generations. The warmth and the local touch is what people appreciate."
generation /ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 一代人
warmth /wɔːmθ/ n. 热情
touch /tʌtʃ/ n. 风格、特色
appreciate /əˈpriːʃieɪt/ v. 欣赏、赏识
Umaid Bhawan Palace has long been a symbol of prosperity in Jodhpur. The royal family lived in the palace for just a few years before India declared its independence from Britain. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi stripped Rajasthani rulers of their power, annual allowances and titles.
symbol /ˈsɪmb(ə)l/ n. 象征
prosperity /prɒsˈperəti/ n. 繁荣昌盛
declare /dɪˈkleə(r)/ v. 宣布
independence /ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/ n. 独立
Prime Minister /ˈmɪnɪstə(r)/ 总理
strip /strɪp/ v. 剥夺
ruler /ˈruːlə(r)/ n. 统治者
power /ˈpaʊə(r)/ n. 权力
allowance /əˈlaʊ(ə)ns/ n. 津贴、补贴
title /ˈtaɪt(ə)l/ n. 头衔
Over time, many of the old palaces have fallen into disrepair, but Umaid Bhawan has been beautifully preserved. That's thanks in part to Singh II's far-sighted decision to convert part of the palace into a hotel in the early 1970s, which helps offset high maintenance costs.
over time 随着时间的推移
disrepair /ˌdɪsrɪˈpeə(r)/ n. 年久失修（由repair加上表示否定的前缀dis-）
in part 部分地、在一定程度上
far-sighted 有远见的
convert /kənˈvɜːt/ v. 转变、转换
offset /ɒfˈset/ v. 弥补、抵消
maintenance /ˈmeɪnt(ə)nəns/ n. 维修保养
As for the guest experience, the hotel rooms and suites feel plucked from a bygone era, featuring Old World furnishings, luxurious upholstery（家具衬垫） and dramatic taxidermied（做成标本的） animals.
suite /swiːt/ n. 套房
pluck /plʌk/ v. 采摘、摘取
bygone /ˈbaɪɡɒn/ adj. 过往的、往昔的
era /ˈɪərə/ n. 时期、时代
feature /ˈfiːtʃə(r)/ v. 以…为特色
Old World 旧世界（指亚洲、欧洲和非洲）
furnishing /ˈfɜːnɪʃɪŋ/ n. 家具和陈设
luxurious /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəs/ adj. 豪华的（由luxury加后缀-ous变成形容词）
dramatic /drəˈmætɪk/ adj. 激动人心的
There's also an intimate library, elegant dining rooms and a sprawling terrace for afternoon tea – where you'll most likely be joined by colorful peacocks. In the basement, you'll find a Grecian spa and indoor pool, while tennis courts and gardens pepper the vast Baradari Lawns.
intimate /ˈɪntɪmət/ adj. （知识）详尽的
elegant /ˈelɪɡ(ə)nt/ adj. 优美的、雅致的
sprawling /ˈsprɔːlɪŋ/ adj. 蔓延的、占地广的
terrace /ˈterəs/ n. 平台
peacock /ˈpiːkɒk/ n. 孔雀
basement /ˈbeɪsmənt/ n. 地下室
Grecian /ˈɡriːʃ(ə)n/ adj. 古希腊风格的
spa /spɑː/ n. 水疗、水疗场所
court /kɔːt/ n. 球场、赛场
pepper /ˈpepə(r)/ v. 播撒、散落
vast /vɑːst/ adj. 巨大的
lawn /lɔːn/ n. 草地
"The level of personalization is much higher at palaces. Here, you're actually treated like a Maharaja, or a Maharani," says Mehrnavaz Avari, general manager of Umaid Bhawan Palace. Several celebrity weddings have taken place on the property, including festivities for Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas.
level /ˈlev(ə)l/ n. 水平、程度
personalization /ˌpɜːs(ə)n(ə)laɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 个性化、个性定制
treat /triːt/ v. 对待、招待
Maharani /ˌmɑːhəˈrɑːni/ n. （印度境内小国的）王后、女王
general manager 总经理
celebrity /səˈlebrəti/ n. 名人、明星
wedding /ˈwedɪŋ/ n. 婚礼
property /ˈprɒpəti/ n. 房产、地产
festivity /fesˈtɪvəti/ n. 庆祝活动
Though guests can't access the royals' private residence, where Singh II still lives, they can visit the onsite museum to admire 15,000 items from the family's personal collection including rare ceramics, antiques, armor, murals, and even several classic cars.
access /ˈækses/ v. 进入
royal /ˈrɔɪəl/ n. 王室成员
onsite /ɒnˈsaɪt/ adj. 现场的、当地的
admire /ədˈmaɪə(r)/ v. 欣赏
ceramics /səˈræmɪks/ n. 陶器
antique /ænˈtiːk/ n. 古董
armor /ˈɑːmə(r)/ n. 盔甲
mural /ˈmjʊərəl/ n. 壁画
classic /ˈklæsɪk/ adj. 古典的（classic car就是老爷车）
"In India, and particularly in Rajasthan, people are very proud of their culture and heritage, and they like to preserve it," says Avari. "Within India, these beautiful palaces take you back a century to see how the Maharajas were actually living at that time – it gives you a glimpse of history that you can't get otherwise."
heritage /ˈherɪtɪdʒ/ n. 文化传统
glimpse /ɡlɪmps/ n. 一瞥
otherwise /ˈʌðəwaɪz/ adv. 以其他方式
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