253 Best Hotels in India

This ultraexclusive 250-year-old white-marble palace—location for the James Bond film Octopussy—floats like a vision in the middle of Lake Pichola, and you arrive, of course, by boat. A stay here is one of those do-before-you-die experiences—a blue lake, views of fairy-tale havelis, serenity, beauty, and majesty will be hallmarks of your stay. It is easily one of the most romantic hotels in the world. Rooms range from standard (contemporary but elegant) to opulent suites with private butlers and lake-facing Jacuzzis; most have lake views while others overlook the lily pond or courtyard, the scene of nightly folk dances. Romantic boat trips include onboard spa treatments, and there's a lakeside veranda where you can sip martinis, James Bond–style—but there's a catch. You must be a guest at the hotel to indulge in any of these luxuries.

Ensconced on the first floor of Colaba's Lansdowne House is a 100-year-old home made over into a hipster-chic boutique hotel with vintage furniture, chrome fans, and old-fashioned tiled flooring. Location, of course, is excellent---it's right next to the royal Taj Mahal Towers and in the pulsing center of Colaba. The in-house dining is rather sparse, although the coffee bar is excellent; luckily, you have all of Colaba's restaurants at your feet.

Overlooking verdant rice plantations and the Arabian Sea, the Alila Diwa Goa is a cool open oasis of dark pitched roofs, breezy verandas, and serene courtyards. The first Indian venture for the Alila luxury chain, this stylish resort is designed to soothe and indulge—whether through pampering ayurvedic or Balinese spa treatments, lounging by its lovely paddy-facing infinity pool, going on custom local tours and activities, or catching a flick at its mini theater. The rooms all come with balconies and are fully loaded with modern amenities, including 55-inch LCD televisions. A shuttle service takes guests to and from nearby Gonsua Beach from sunrise until just after sunset.

In the heart of the Old City, this gorgeous and opulent haveli—one of the most popular family-run heritage hotels in Jaipur—is a pretty and relatively quiet sanctuary with a popular pool, numerous courtyards, and elegant rooms featuring carved antique furniture, restored frescoes, crystal chandeliers, and hunting paraphernalia. Built in 1892, it belongs to a clan of Shekhawati Rajputs; it is a chance to experience the real royal Rajasthan affordably. Guest rooms, with rug-covered tile floors and traditional Rajasthani-print bedspreads, vary in shape and size.

Accessed by boat from Assi Ghat, this 200-year-old palace packs the best of culture, architecture, and luxury in Varanasi, with the stay including complimentary pickings from the city such as holy water, zari-embroidered bags, and wooden toys. The Ganges is visible from the lobby, viewing deck, and all suites, but the property's stone-carved architecture and regal furnishings lining the sunlit hallways is a sight to behold in and of itself. There's ample to do within the hotel, with live music, classical dance performances, astrology sessions, and henna designing taking over the courtyard every evening. With a dining area, boutique store, and spa, this place is ideal if you're looking to savor Indian hospitality without having to leave your hotel.

Built in a combination of Dutch and Portuguese colonial styles, this elegant hotel is on the site of a former boatyard, facing the Chinese fishing nets and featuring antique fixtures and furnishings, right down to the light switches. Guest rooms offer four-poster beds and luxurious, colonial-style bathrooms with showers and bathtubs; most rooms have balconies offering picturesque views of the harbor.

Built into the side of a steep hill, this tranquil hotel, located 6 km (3¾ miles) from the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, offers sweeping views of the verdant valley below and the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. The rooms are spacious and feature picture windows, a sitting area, a private balcony, plus bathrooms with modern fittings, a floor-to-ceiling window, and standing-only showers. The restaurant uses organic produce and spices from the on-site farm. There's also a swimming pool and watch tower.

Easily the most appealing hotel in Delhi, with a driveway lined by soaring king palms, the luxurious Imperial offers unparalleled service and location. It was designed by Lutyens' associate F.B. Blomfield in a unique mixture of colonial, Victorian, and Art Deco styles, and the terrace of the Royal Imperial Suite peeks out from above the entrance. Inside, the building is well lit and hung with original lithographs and engravings. Guest rooms continue the Raj look with quilted bedspreads and marble or parquet floors; "Heritage" rooms have sitting areas and are significantly more sumptuous than the cheapest rooms.

This smart and luxurious property by the sea has enough to keep guests occupied both on- and off-site, from meditation and yoga sessions to cultural and culinary excursions—though you might choose to linger on your private balcony or patio (each room has one) with views of the sea, lagoon, or garden instead. The 45-acre property also has an excellent spa, a meandering pool (one of the largest in India), a children's play area where they can learn arts and crafts, and restaurants covering a broad spectrum of cuisines, including Goan specialties.

A favorite with executives and dignitaries, the ITC Maurya works hard to style itself as the swankiest hotel in Delhi, and the whole place buzzes with importance. The lobby soars, yet somehow creates intimacy; its three-tiered, wood-beamed dome has a fantastic technicolor mural. Fountains outside the picture windows add a natural touch. Rooms are varied but essentially Western, and the more money you spend, the more wood paneling, plush carpeting, and pampering you receive.

Overlooking Lake Pichola, this airy, whitewashed, 17th-century haveli hotel is one of the best medium-budget places to stay in Udaipur; you'd be hard-pressed to find better value (or better views). The haveli, artistically decked out with filigree work, carvings, and paintings, is quite spacious and accommodations are located through different courtyards and at different levels. Rooms are neatly decorated with Rajasthani fabrics and heavy wooden furniture, and the bathrooms sparkle. There's a bakery on the premises. The charming rooftop restaurant has romantic open-air alcoves overlooking the lake. Most of the better-category rooms have lake views, and some suites have window seats to take full advantage of the vista.

Set around a network of canals and pristine lawns, this lush 25-acre heritage resort is right on Lake Vembanad and is known for its palatial traditional villas fitted with ornately carved teakwood ceilings, colorful mythological murals, and open-air garden bathrooms with private pools. Some offer direct access to a 250-meter (820-feet) meandering pool. There are two main restaurants, an excellent ayurvedic center, and houseboats, as well as daily yoga, afternoon tea, and traditional dance performances.

This luxurious boutique guesthouse is steeped in the folklore of Lord Krishna, with the interiors painstakingly hand-painted with scenes from his life as well as themes of festivals and nature. Each of the seven rooms and two suites is uniquely designed—some with lotuses, others with birds—and feature window seats, comfy beds, spacious bathrooms, and high-quality amenities. The garden is a mini fruit orchard, dotted with tables and block-printed sun umbrellas. There are plenty of cozy nooks and a library to lounge in, a pretty terrace with chevron flooring, and a mid-sized pool to cool off in. Meals are prepared in the onsite kitchen by local home chefs and range from Rajasthani fare to global cuisines. The hosts are warm and friendly, making it a point to meet all guests for high tea or a meal, and are in-the-know about everything that is interesting and cool in Jaipur. They also conduct hands-on cooking classes and take you on curated walks to meet Old City artisans and see how traditional crafts are practiced.

Perched on a cliff, this large and luxurious hotel was designed by Charles Correa, one of India's most famous architects. The property houses the Kovalam Palace, the former summer retreat of the Travencore Royal Family, which has four opulent suites. Rooms have balconies that overlook either the sea or the garden. The enormous lobby, with a sloping roof, is lit by massive skylights. Golf carts take you around the 67-acre property, that has six dining options and three swimming pools.

This luxurious Relais & Chateaux property set in an early-18th-century Dutch villa is highlighted by a courtyard garden with a pool and a stunning frangipani tree. Rooms in this delightful hotel, which once housed European traders and bankers, are a mixture of regional-traditional and contemporary styles. Each room is adorned with antiques and paintings, and some come with high four poster beds.

Overlooking the sea, this rambling and simply beautiful resort, a top Kerala location that is built along a hillside, has an exquisite beach, lovely views, and a great deal of peace. Magnificent sculptures, hammocks, pools of flowers, and discreet stone fountains dot the meticulously maintained grounds. Most rooms are in restored wooden houses, each with an intricately carved facade, a domed wooden ceiling, open-air bathrooms, and ocean-view patios. Kovalam beach is about 15 minutes away by road. 

After a nearly two-year, multimillion-dollar refurbishment, the beloved hotel reopened in 2018 in a fresh new avatar though still retaining much of its classic Indian charm; highlights of the change include more spacious rooms and technological upgrades. The wood-floored rooms filled with light from large windows that overlook the Humayun’s Tomb or the lush golf course. Loyalists can happily return to good old Threesixty, the main restaurant, along with a host of great new dining additions.

One of India's best resorts emulates the opulent lifestyle of the Mughal emperors, and each room has a breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal. Common areas are full of sandstone arches, glistening pools, and stone inlay detail copied from the Taj Mahal, and each spacious room is understatedly elegant, with teak floors and rich fabrics. If you don't stay here, at least stop by for an elegant meal or a drink on the terrace.

This fabulous 32-acre luxury retreat, 20 minutes outside Jaipur and set against a hilly backdrop, is a destination unto itself, whether you want to splurge on a private villa with its own pool, enjoy a spacious standard room, or revel in a romantic luxury tent with rich wood fittings on grounds that are home to hundreds of peacocks. Re-created to look like a grand heritage fort, the resort brings back to life a certain majesty and romance of another age. Honey-gold buildings, orchards, reflection pools and fountains set the tone, though the marble-and-stone carving blends well with the arid environment. Standard double rooms are minimalist in concept, but the real standout is the sunken marble bathtubs, which look out over private gardens.

On Lake Pichola, with sublime views of the Lake Palace, City Palace Complex, and ghats, this 30-acre property—a contemporary palace in its own right, reflecting the beauty of Mewar artistry—is one of India's most luxurious (and expensive) hotels. If the hotel organizes your pick up, you will arrive by boat. For the ultimate experience, take a suite with butler service and a semiprivate infinity pool, and watch deer approach the edge of the hotel's private wildlife reserve. Traditionally dressed staff reflect old-world courtesy and display acute attention to detail, and the restaurants serve delicious continental and Indian food. The Oberoi consistently makes the lists of most luxurious hotels in the world and has been used as the opulent background for many a Bollywood movie.

On the edge of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, this resort, one of the best in all of India, is ideal for those who want to "camp" in sheer luxury. A ceremonial gateway leads to a magical lobby with beautiful frescoes and a splendid residential area, where sumptuous, romantic a/c tents evoke all the magnificence of the former royal lifestyle. The tents have teakwood floors, walled gardens, private decks, and claw-footed bathtubs as well as modern conveniences like televisions, DVD players, and electronic safes. The spa offers massages, scrubs, and ayurvedic treatments. The resort requests you to book your jungle trips in advance. Guided tours of the grounds can be arranged with staff.

In the very top bracket of the Goa resorts, the modern and sleek, 45-acre Hyatt has spacious rooms, great dining, an excellent spa, a library with 1,500 titles, a minitheater where you can watch movies, and the largest swimming pool in India (21,527 square feet). The thoroughly luxurious spa houses body scrub and massage suites, hydrotherapy facilities, steam rooms, and well-trained staff; it offers a full range of ayurvedic treatments. The sprawling group of restaurants in the hotel's food "village" adjacent to its expansive lobby covers a broad spectrum of cuisines, including Goan specialties (Casa Sarita), North and South Indian cuisine (Masala), and wood-fire pizzas and pasta (Da Luigi). Praia de Luz, a wine and tapas bar overlooking the Arabian Sea, is one of the highlights here.

Small design details, spacious grounds, and lake-view rooms with private patios just steps from the water make this large backwater resort sparkle. The traditional tile-roof buildings have ornate wooden carvings on the facades, while rooms have high ceilings, exposed wooden rafters, and decoratively tiled floors. The resort also has luxury one-bedroom and two-bedroom houseboats and floating cottages that can be booked for a day cruise or an overnight stay on Vembanad lake.

This lavishly restored hotel has a long history of serving royalty (Queen Elizabeth once stayed here), though it’s much more opulent now than it was in the 1960s. The ultra-luxury palace (it’s still owned by Jaipur royal family) has just 13 rooms outfitted with marble bathrooms, chandeliers, and custom-made wallpaper to reflect a modern interpretation of Rajasthani grandeur. Be warned, it’s one of the more expensive hotels in all of Rajasthan, but if you want to splurge, or are visiting during off-season (when it’s highly discounted), you’ll be treated to high tea and even higher levels of service. There are three restaurants and a bar. The Colonnade, decked out in green and pink with a view of the palace lawns, is a favorite spot for breakfast.