170 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The expansive lawns of this 12-acre property feature a lovely walking track, a rose garden, and an organic kitchen garden, while inside the hotel all is grand and cool white-marble elegance. There are chandeliers, curving white staircases, and well-chosen Indian antiques throughout. The rooms (some with king beds) have teak wood furniture and large bay windows overlooking the pool or gardens; they are decorated in soft cream shades and rich fabrics. The Mahuaa bar on the first floor is a particularly lovely spot, and the in-house restaurant, Gautama, serves great food.

Hidden amid the lanes of the Pink City, this stately and rambling heritage hotel built for a prime minister of the royal court in the mid-19th century preserves its Rajasthani character and harbors a few surprises, including elegant gardens and a beautiful open-air pool with poolside bar. Rooms are spacious and opulent, including the luxurious quarters of the local Rajput himself. Arranged around two courtyards, the hotel contains some original frescoes; low arches and mazelike corridors also add to the character. Walk up the elephant ramp entrance, built to accommodate the pachyderm-riding guests at a Samode clan wedding, and you are arriving at a royal manor built in the popular Indo-Saracenic style of the time.

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.

Facilities are top-notch in this giant, boomerang-shape hotel with first-rate business services and good leisure amenities. The teak-panel business center has laptops for rent, the health club is amply outfitted, the beauty salon has a range of treatments, and the outdoor pool overlooks manicured lawns. There's even a putting green. Aside from giant traditional lanterns in the sprawling marble lobby, the building is Western and designed for corporate convenience. Half the rooms face the pool and lawns; the rest have city views. 

Set amid lush greenery and the serene setting of the Eco Park, Taj Taal Kutir has rooms and suites with private balconies and warm modern furnishings. Unique dining experiences are arranged during winters in its ample open spaces.

You can live like (and alongside) royalty at this magnificent palace, one of Rajasthan's grandest hotels, where the royal treatment begins the moment you arrive: bugles sound, drums play, petals are strewn at your feet, and an ornate canopy comes up to welcome you. Still home to the titular Maharaja of Jodhpur and his family, who live in a separate and distant wing away from guests, this Taj group-managed hotel has a massive, domed lobby, lavish public rooms filled with objets d'art, and many guest rooms that, though not opulent, are in Art Deco style, with large luxurious bathrooms.

Splurge on a small suite, if you can.

There's a beautiful, astrology-theme subterranean pool that was built for the ladies of the palace, though sunbathers will prefer the one in the garden. The property has been featured in many movies and has hosted at least one international celebrity wedding.

Convenient for visiting the caves, this gleaming Mughal palace is all bright marble and stone, inside and out—its windows and doors arch to regal Mughal points, and the grand dome over the lobby is hand-painted in traditional Jaipuri patterns. The warm, Ajanta-esque rooms have solid furniture with matching headboards and mirror frames, and all look out onto the garden. Many rooms have their own balconies. Stone paths wind through the five acres of beautifully landscaped lawns. The staff is obliging, and go out of their way to make you feel safe and welcome.

The hillside views on this cardamom, coffee, and vanilla plantation are stunning. Accommodations, which are behind the planter's home, among a grove of towering trees, are large and homey rooms with exquisite embroidered linen, wall hangings, and curtains. The wooden, chalet-style dining area has a small library upstairs, under the rafters, with breathtaking views.

Right in the middle of acres of tropical foliage and within shouting distance of the sands of Candolim beach, this handsome and sprawling property provides an excellent base from which to explore North Goa. One large, five-bedroom villa, one three-bedroom villa, three two-bedroom casinhas (little houses), and four cottages make up Aashyana Lakhanpal. The main villa is light, bright, and modern, with slate-lined water bodies and plush cream sofas. The double-bedded suites are furnished tastefully, with four-poster beds, modern art, and outdoor bathtubs in some, and private outdoor spaces in all. The casinhas are less trendy, but still lovely, with brightly colored open-air bathrooms and stone floors. Staff are extremely solicitous and on-hand to organize everything from massages to water sports or trips to the old town. There is a three-night minimum stay, which edges up to a seven-night minimum stay in peak season.

Set on the banks of Vembanad Lake, this backwater hotel offers lake-facing cottages and garden rooms with private open-air bathrooms; three bamboo villas have their own private pool. Rooms are simply furnished but lack the traditional Kerala architecture that neighboring resorts provide. There’s an ayurvedic spa, a swimming pool, and a multi-cuisine restaurant.

In an exclusive 1930s neighborhood dripping with late-Raj charm, this quiet Taj Group hotel's service is heartwarmingly friendly. The small marble lobby has comfortable banquette seating; upstairs, the hallways are windowed and bright. Most rooms have carpeting, basic teak furniture, city or garden views, and a modern bathroom; a few have tile floors, area rugs, and old-style bath fixtures. Try to get a garden-facing room in front, as rooms in back can be noisy.

A former leisure palace of the Maharanas of Udaipur, this 18th-century haveli-turned-heritage hotel has a fantastic location on Lake Pichola with views of the City Palace and surrounding ghats. Spacious rooms retain their traditional architecture and are done up in calming colors with bold accented furnishings. The baradari or enclosed pavilion on the lower level is a great place for a sunset drink followed by dinner at Ambrai restaurant. For a special evening, consider splurging on a meal at Badi Mahal, the haveli's beautiful inner garden where you dine at a rose-petal strewn lakefront pavilion accompanied by live music from a musician duo.