20. Building one of India’s top ten rated guesthouses while everyone thinks you have gone mad – Destination; Jaipur Haveli

With a dream of turning the family home, since four generations, into a classic but unique Indian guesthouse or Haveli, Vikram Seth and family started the major undertaking of turning the old home into a maze of wonderful and very special rooms unlike all others. Without having any previous knowledge of the hospitality industry Vikram put all his savings into the project that many called madness. He could have gone for the easy money and torn down the house to build a money making office building like his neighbours, but he chose the route less travelled. And his and the family’s efforts have paid off as they are now one of the most high ranking guesthouses in this country of 1.3 billion people. www.jaipurhaveli.com