6 Best Hotels in India

Foreigners and wealthy Indians choose the Taj over other fancy hotels in town because it's a beautiful and regal landmark—worth visiting even if you don't stay here—with views past the Gateway of India to the Arabian Sea. The first hotel in what is now an international luxury chain, this Indo-Saracenic extravaganza was opened to the public in 1903. The stunning brownstone exterior has rows of jutting white balconies and Gothic windows, and onion domes on the corner turrets echo the high, central Italianate dome. Inside, every corner is exquisitely decorated, often with antiques, and always with warm, tasteful colors; rooms and suites in the newer building, some of which surround small, quiet interior verandas, replicate the old-fashioned character with high ceilings, pastel colors, antiques, and cane furniture. In 1973 it was joined by the less expensive 19-story modern wing ("the tower"), which has some Moorish elements. Rooms in the tower are slightly less expensive, but even though they're spacious, they're also a bit unremarkable for the price. The traditional afternoon tea at the in-house Sea Lounge is an iconic Mumbai experience; try to snag a window seat.

The stately ITC Royal Bengal is an icon of Kolkata, with clusters of ionic pillars, arches, colonnades, and terraces. The rooms and suites are spacious and modern, with marble bathrooms equipped with soaking tubs. The onsite spa offers ayurvedic treatments and the 24-hour fitness facility offers personal training. The hotel uses native plants and trees for landscaping and gardening so that they require minimal resources to survive.

ITC Sonar resort has comfortable and modern rooms surrounding picturesque ponds and lush landscaped gardens. Koi and goldfish swim in its ponds, and cranes, doves, and kingfishers frequently visit the flowering groves of oleander and orchid. The in-house chocolate boutique Fabelle serves delicious desserts.

Located right on the exquisite Radhanagar beach, this resort has luxurious private villas with domed thatched roofs. All villas come with private decks, and some have private pools. The resort arranges an impressive array of activities, including scuba diving, snorkeling, forest treks, deep-sea fishing, birding at Havelock Island, and many more.

The Taj Mansingh, as it's locally known, is Delhi's premier social hotel, with nightly cocktail affairs, cultural events, and occasional society weddings drawing the glitterati. The lobby has Mughal-inspired decorative domes, a giant Oriental rug, and a general feeling of bustle, so you won't feel like you're off in a tourist enclave. Rooms have simple Western furnishings; those on the pool side overlook plenty of greenery. Prices vary greatly depending on season; listed price is inclusive of taxes.

At this grand, luxurious hotel you can retreat from the chaos of Mumbai but still step out and experience it, though the main sights are distant. Beyond the vast, spectacular lobby a giant glass wall overlooks an Olympic-size swimming pool and the sea—by night flaming torches highlight the garden of lotus ponds and sandstone statues—and a pair of staircases curve down to a garden-level café that serves one of the city's best brunches. The elegant rooms have ocean views, tasteful furnishings, large mirrors, and striped bronze walls, and bathrooms are especially luxurious.