26 Best Hotels in India

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.

Nestled in a picturesque valley and surrounded by lush green hills, the rooms and villas here sprawl over so many acres that golf carts or buggies remain busy ferrying guests around the property. The ambience is relaxing, the views spectacular from every point, and service excellent. For a luxurious stay, opt for a villa, which come with a large private pool; some rooms also come with a plunge pool and balcony. The restaurant puts out top-quality local and Western dishes.

A fusion of traditional and contemporary Indian aesthetics, this hotel on the edge of the city center comes with spectacular views of the Maidan and the Victoria Memorial. Modern Indian art, artifacts, and antiques are showcased throughout the building. Rooms, which you access via quiet triangular atriums, are essentially Western, with Eastern accents and Indian prints. Ask for a pool-facing room, which provides a wonderful view of the Victoria Memorial. The hotel concierge can organize a day trip to Pingla (a small village located 3 hours away from Kolkata) to watch the Pattachitrakars (artists) create painted scrolls.

One of the least expensive and most comfortable hotels in the city, rooms here are somewhat small, but the lounge draws a hip crowd every evening. The garden is a great place to chill with a cold beer and tangri kebabs (chicken marinated in yogurt and spices).

The cottages here are spacious, clean, and refreshing, and the experienced staff looks after all your needs. The garden is small, but well kept.

If you want a taste of life in the Raj, stay in this Kolkata landmark that dates from 1801 and is in a neighborhood now popular with backpackers and volunteers. A small hotel, the Fairlawn has memorabilia-cluttered walls, a winding staircase, and a very homey feel.

A palatial 18th-century house renovated to meet new-age demands, Guleria Kothi has all the trappings of an eclectic stay. Wooden furnishings meet old sandstone walls and flooring, while views of the Ganges follow you wherever you go. There's an open-air eatery as well as a rooftop restaurant for fine dining. If you ask, the team will arrange sufi nights in the courtyard and yoga in the meditation room. Some room configurations feature four beds, ideal for families and groups.

Comfortable and large but somewhat bland rooms are available in this modern block hotel a few yards from the sea. Each executive room has its own balcony and affords excellent views of the beach and the rippling Arabian Sea. The service is warm and attentive, and rooms have all the modern amenities. There is a local temple nearby.

You won't feel cramped inside this hotel where the crisp and modern standard rooms are 220 square feet. The best rooms overlook the pool, but many others have good views of the city. The hotel also houses a popular nightclub and a pastry shop.

This sleek, tastefully designed business hotel has rooms with wooden floors and bathrooms with Italian-marble floors, glass sinks, and sunken rain showers. La Cucina, the hotel's Italian restaurant, is spectacular. Suites here are modern, comfortable, and worth a splurge.

Set within 23 acres of manicured gardens, this brick and marble hotel is one of Agra's largest. Rooms are big and bright, and many have window settees, marble-top desks, and upholstered headboards. The gaming area has air hockey, table tennis, and pool tables, and for the outdoorsy types, there's horse riding, cricket, and football arranged in the lawns. The real highlight, though, is the Kaya Kalp Spa, an expansive wellness space beautifully decorated with red-hued curlicue designs inspired by pomegranates.

Popular with repeat visitors to Kolkata, this hotel has pretty gardens and two cheerfully furnished wings with comfortable and spacious guest rooms. This hotel, which has a great downtown location and garden, gets a lot of business as a wedding venue.

In the heart of Kolkata's business district, this 19th-century heritage property was restored by Bharat Hotels Limited and turned into a classy business hotel with massive rooms in 2014; the property is well preserved with elements that highlight the building's history as a bakery. The 24-hour alfresco restaurant is very European, with pristine white decor and a global menu, while the old bakery equipment has been restored in another restaurant called The Bakery, which serves some old Calcutta favorites and a hearty breakfast.

One of the most elegant hotels in the country, this Victorian landmark in the center of town provides impeccable service. The restaurants are grand, albeit old-fashioned, and the contemporary-style rooms are spacious with well-appointed bathrooms. The best rooms overlook the interior courtyard and pool.

The location, good service, lively nightlife, and trippy interiors have made this into one of the busiest hotels in Kolkata. The hotel's restaurants, nightclub, and pub draws a steady crowd and the lobby sparkles with mirrors and cut-glass chandeliers amid rich wood and marble.

Favored by business travelers, this hotel in the heart of charming Cuffe Parade also offers some great views, comfortable rooms, a choice of restaurants, and a hip bar. Rooms are modern, with polished wood floors, wall-mounted televisions, and massage showers—sea-facing rooms cost slightly more, but the views of South Mumbai and the harbor are worth it. Although not as extravagant as its palatial counterpart near the Gateway of India, the Taj President is priced right for a business hotel.

Rooms are clean and basic, with comfy beds and air conditioning, and those on the top floor offer balconies with sea views. You can enjoy more of those views if you choose to dine at the well-regarded rooftop restaurant or get a drink at the lounge on the terrace.

Overlooking the sea about 2 km (1 mile) outside of Port Blair—don't miss the spectacular sunsets—this hotel features great views, spacious rooms and oversized bathrooms, as well as a nice pool and spa area. Though most rooms do have a view out to the bay, be sure to request a sea-view room with a balcony on a higher floor for an even more panoramic vista. One unusual feature: you'll find a World War II–era Japanese bunker inside the hotel.

The old meets the new at Taj City Centre, where the decor—terracotta walls, dancing dolls, and exquisitely woven carpets—upholds local artistic traditions. The rooms are spacious and the location is near high-end shopping destinations. The onsite spa offers ayurvedic treatments.

The well-placed Taj Wellington Mews's well-outfitted, elegant (but unremarkable) serviced apartments have all the amenities required for long-stay (and short-stay) guests. There's also a fancy Jiva Grande spa, a garden, a pool, jogging track, and fitness center with personal trainers---and the usual unflappable Taj service.

Formerly known as Taj Gateway, this hotel offers a good view of the Taj Mahal from some rooms and its rooftop restaurant. The rooms feature marble inlay flooring and jaali work, and some rooms come with daybeds by the window to enjoy views of the Taj. The elegant marble lobby opens into an excellent restaurant. Guests can go for a dip in the temperature-controlled pool surrounded by acres of landscaped lawn, or visit the JIVA Spa (spread out across five air-conditioned tents) offering therapies inspired by yogic principles.

Built around a large garden courtyard with fountains, a soothing expanse of green lawn, and a pool, this place is a real oasis in Agra. The spacious rooms are in soft browns, with wooden flooring, coffeemakers, and views of the gardens or the pool. The lobby is, perhaps, the most inviting part of the hotel: bright yellow chairs, dark-wood accents, and modern chandeliers made of glass tubes are infused with sunlight. There's live Indian classical music, folk dancers, and a henna artist by the pool every evening.