It is well-known that India has a rich culture and natural beauty. The country is also home to the kind of luxury hotels and resorts that have earned global acclaim. From refurbished palaces and luxurious glamping retreats to glamourous beach resorts, our guide to some of the best luxury hotels in India offers the most distinctive experiences in the lap of grandeur.
Rajmahal Palace RAAS Jaipur
Exhibiting a striking art deco exterior in light pink, Rajmahal Palace is the former home of Jaipur’s queen, Maharani Gayatri Devi. The hotel comprises 13 suites, two apartments, two restaurants, a bar, and an outdoor swimming pool. The property houses art and decor pieces from the royal family’s personal collection and bespoke wallpaper with motifs of peacocks, carnations and Mughal miniatures. Visitors can indulge in a Champagne High Tea at the Upper Lawns, have a private dinner at the Maharani Suite, dine at the poolside restaurant Baradari, or go on an insider’s tour of Jaipur.
Aman-i-Khás
Located near Ranthambore National Park, Aman-i-Khás offers visitors a spectacular camping experience. The hotel’s 10 tents are evocative of Mughal design and provide unparalleled vistas of the surrounding natural landscape. Guests can choose to have breakfast at the retreat’s guava farm, swim in the traditional stepwell-inspired outdoor pool, go for a wildlife safari with Daulat Singh, the expert guide, or partake in private cooking classes at Aman-i-Khás’ Dining Tent. Housing palatial interiors and state-of-the-art fixtures, the hotel is the perfect venue to unwind at after a day of wildlife safaris. Don’t miss the property’s delicious Rajasthani thalis.
Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra Kovalam
A Relais & Châteaux property, Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra is a seaside retreat housing quaint Keralite heritage cottages. This magnificent 32-acre cliff-top retreat is in the village of Pulinkudi, eight kilometres south of Kovalam. The opulent property provides guests with panoramic vistas of the Arabian sea. Visit this retreat for its wellness offerings, such as traditional ayurvedic therapies and yoga, meditation and pranayama sessions. The hotel’s Café Samsara, an all-day multi-cuisine restaurant, and Essence, a lively southeast Asian and seafood eatery, come highly recommended.
Ananda in the Himalayas
A celebrity favourite, this majestic property is located near Rishikesh amidst picturesque Sal forests. Ananda in the Himalayas is renowned for its impeccable service, aesthetically pleasing interiors and surreal location. The plush hotel is particularly well-loved for its award-winning ayurvedic, yogic and international wellness programmes that are tailor-made for individual guests’ health goals. Moreover, the property’s expert team curates personalised experiences such as nature safaris, river rafting and guided tours of age-old temples and monasteries.
Six Senses Fort Barwara
Situated against the backdrop of the majestic Aravallis, this property is a restored 14th-century fort. The hotel comprises the 30,000-sq-ft Six Senses Spa and fitness centre, 43 guest suites and five marquee suites. The spa’s treatments and customised wellness programmes are based on the preventative principles of Eastern medicine. Recently, Six Senses Fort Barwara collaborated with well-known sleep expert Michael J. Breus to develop the ground-breaking ‘Sleep with Six Senses’ programme. As part of this plan, guests have a sleep tracker, the results of which are interpreted during a consultation with a wellness expert who recommends personalised lifestyle changes and treatments.
The Belgadia Palace
Situated about a 3.5-hour drive from Kolkata is the majestic Belgadia Palace. The erstwhile royal family of Mayurbhanj has converted a section of their ancestral palace into a boutique hotel which boasts exquisite artworks and antiques exhibiting Odisha’s rich history. The 200-year-old palace features majestic suites, conference spaces, billiards, a theatre room, a rooftop for performances, a gym, a spa and a museum. Guests can watch chhau dance performances, visit handicraft villages, meet dhokra artists or go on bird-watching trails.
SUJÁN The Serai
Evocative of the royal caravans of the Rajputs, this boutique hotel comprises 14 well-appointed tented suites and is located amidst a 100-acre private estate. Six of these suites feature private walled-in gardens and dip pools, and the royal tented suite houses a private spa, outdoor pool, and dining and lounge tents. Along with thoughtful service, SUJÁN The Serai—a Relais & Châteaux member—offers several unique guest experiences such as desert treks, bird-watching and stargazing trails, craft workshops, camel safaris, cooking classes, and private musical performances.
The Oberoi Udaivilas
The design of The Oberoi Udaivilas pays homage to the traditional Indian palaces in Udaipur. Each 1,150 sq ft luxury suite features a ten-metre outdoor private infinity pool and a tented dining pavilion. The hotel’s Kohinoor Suite has two lavish bedrooms, a living room with working fireplaces, and a private pool overlooking the City Palace, Lake Pichola and the Aravalli Hills. Guests can dine privately under the intricately carved lakeside dome decorated with a curtain of fresh marigold flowers and lit by candles.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Set amidst 26 acres of lush gardens which are often graced by dancing peacocks and boasts a subterranean pool, this palace hotel offers 70 opulent Art Deco-style rooms and suites. Guests can decompress at the Trophy Bar, sign up for signature treatments at the spa, go on a heritage walk and explore the original architecture of the palace that has been the home of actual Indian royals.