83 Best Hotels in India

This hotel occupies a 200-year-old restored Portuguese country house on an inland lane, and its lovely pool, lush garden, and simple, well-maintained rooms make it a well-priced place to stay in Anjuna. The multicuisine restaurant is a step up from the shack restaurants that line the beach.

A 10-minute drive from the main group of temples, this is a clean and tastefully decorated hotel, and though it lacks personality, it does have an excellent range of sport and leisure options, including swimming, cricket, badminton, tennis, and jogging. Most of the rooms have views of the 18 acres of green lawn and gardens. Yoga instruction is available on request, and the basement spa provides Ayurvedic massages.

Still the residence of a well-to-do family, this guesthouse has small, beautiful rooms with quirky charm, and classical Indian concerts are often held here. There is a great veranda overlooking the river and Assi Ghat, and inside, there is a Shaiva shrine and 14 guestrooms. Delicious dinners, served under a galaxy of lamps and chandeliers, are Brahmin-style vegetarian. Book months ahead for peak season.

In the best location in town, this charming, small palace, where all rooms open onto a pretty courtyard garden, sits above its own ghat (private stairs leading down to the lake) and has fabulous, panoramic views of Pushkar. Rooms and public areas are outfitted with antique furniture and mirrors from Rajputana's heyday and have enormous bathrooms---opt for a lake-view room. Suites are more attractive than the rooms. The hotel has a relaxed, sleepy vibe, so don't expect luxury service. The hotel restaurant, on a terrace overlooking the lake, serves Indian and continental fare, and has a small selection of baked goods. Built by the Maharaja of Jaisalmer, the palace was later presented to the Maharaja of Kishangarh.

This comfortable, small, and well-maintained hotel is on the edge of town, with a great view of the fort from afar. Small sandstone rooms have tasteful old-style furniture, pebbled courtyards, and stained-glass windows, and some rooms face the fort; luxury tents are also an option during the October to March high season. and the hotel staff can arrange desert and village excursions.

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.

The clean, modern rooms at this Hyatt are spread over six floors and all come with a view of the city. There are two main restaurants, an in-house bakery, and Regency Lounge that's open 24 hours and is perfect for small bites. The state-of-the-art fitness center is also open 24 hours.

Aside from the ideal sea-facing Marine Drive location (near the commercial hubs of Nariman Point, Colaba, and Fort) and some of the city's biggest standard rooms, service is a big plus point at this hotel catering to a business clientele, with personal concierges and a complimentary in-room massage for every guest. It lacks lobby space, but it has one of the best bars in Mumbai: the open-air, rooftop Dome. The contemporary, sophisticated finish complements modern interpretations of tribal Warli art on the walls.

The bearded guard, brandishing a spear and offering a salute as you arrive, is a good indication of the style of service at this mildly eccentric haveli-style hotel, with a promising view of the dunes outside Pushkar from some parts of the property. Rooms and bathrooms are furnished with period furniture and gray-streaked marble floors, quite like its sister property Pushkar Palace. Although not a heritage hotel, it is run by Khanpur Rajput rajas and the palace bearer--type service is a throwback to the royal era, as is the rich decor. The hotel has two wings located in manicured grounds with marble walkways and a couple of handicraft shops. You can opt to have afternoon tea or a meal alfresco by the central pool. Food is vegetarian, and main restaurant suffers from a lack of attention.

The location of this lovely, ancient, characterful hotel, built into the walls of the fort, could not be better---the views are great. Rooms and public areas are tastefully decorated in traditional but elegant Rajasthani style and are comfortable. The warm and helpful owners, who are always around, harvest rainwater, making the property admirably eco-friendly.

As the closest hotel to the temples, the Lalit has a great view of them—one you can enjoy while lounging in the manicured garden, sipping cocktails next to the pool. The interior has a colonial feel, with cream-color marble floors, traditional Indian tapestries and art, and teak and wicker furniture. It also has a world-class spa, a restaurant serving decent continental and Indian cuisine, and its own sound-and-light show and cultural performances. Ask for one of the temple-view rooms, though be prepared to pay extra for it.

Rural and old-fashioned, this cozy, memorable heritage hotel is the best place to stay in the city and is still home to descendants of the former maharaja of Bharatpur. The palace, a two-story rambling haveli built in 1887, sits on 50 acres of mustard and wheat fields. The interior blends Mughal and Rajput styles—each room is different, and many contain fireplaces, old brass beds, antique furniture, original tiles, and painted walls. Cheaper rooms, still pleasant, are smaller with newer furniture. The Keoladeo Park is 3 km (2 miles) away and the hotel organizes Jeep safaris or excursions.

At this old Colva favorite right on the beach, most have private balconies with lovely sea views. For a special stay, opt for the Modern deco-style Arabian Sky View Suite, complete with an al fresco bathtub. If you don't want to eat at Loca, the in-house restaurant and bar serving local and global fare, you can take your pick from dozens of shack restaurants close by.

Run by the Oberoi group, this is one of the city's oldest hotels, occupying a classic Raj building, with high-arched windows, deep verandas, grand old trees, pleasant lawns, and a quirky interior with huge rooms and bathrooms. Opened in 1903, before New Delhi even existed, this is outside the boundaries of Old Delhi, but with a Metro station adjacent, it's a speedy, air-conditioned ride from both Old Delhi and Connaught Place.

Sprawling over a long stretch of a swimmer-friendly beach, the 10 air-conditioned rooms in this beach-facing property are a good option if you want a quiet stay and to spend time lounging along the sandy shores of the Arabian Sea. The resort has sprawling gardens and a restaurant that serves Indian cuisine.

This strictly ayurvedic resort is quieter and even closer to the water than its neighboring sister property, Somatheeram Beach Resort. Its simple, circular brick cottages are neatly arrayed on ascending terraces—the rooms inside are small, with red oxide floors. "Special" cottages have better sea views. Alcohol is not permitted.

Abutting the eastern wall of the City Palace, this haveli from 1910 has been refurbished into a design-forward boutique hotel with an expansive central courtyard. Each spacious room has a foyer in striking blue or terracotta with tone-on-tone chandelier, a large bathroom with custom-made toiletries, and a light-filled bedroom in neutral colors and a contemporary four-poster bed. The overall look is pared down and modern with touches of Rajasthani motifs and architectural elements. A highlight is the rooftop pool with cow-head fountain spouts and sweeping views of the Old City and the City Palace (which looks particularly enchanting after sunset). The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating and serves North Indian cuisine with a focus on Mewari and Rajasthani classics. The hotel organizes offbeat experiences like a breakfast trail in the Old City, curated shopping tours, and a champi (vigorous head massage) by the pool.

A restored Portuguese villa with clean rooms and antique furniture, this heritage guesthouse is a popular place among those who know Goa well, and it's only about half a kilometer from here down to Sinquerim Beach. Rooms are sunny and bright, and many overlook a charming garden.

Built in the 1970s, this Western-style high-rise was completely renovated when Novotel took over in 2009, and the spacious lobby and large rooms now have a modern, sleek feel. White, gray, and black marble abounds, and the rooms have LCD TVs with laptop connectivity and a modern brown and beige color scheme. The best standard rooms have limited views of the beach—but this doesn't add all that much to the atmosphere.

Located close to the airport, this luxury hotel has a colorful, art-filled lobby and clean, modern rooms. The vibrant---though not garish---color palette continues to their main restaurant, O Cafe, that overlooks the large swimming pool. There's a spa and a salon onsite.

Luxury and stellar service are the hallmarks here—every floor has a butler who will make reservations, collect your laundry, shine your shoes, supervise the room cleaning, and bring you chocolates. The service is diligent, subtle, and simply perfect. The outdoor swimming pool, a cool, shamrock-shape oasis, offers a spectacular and secluded vantage point of Marine Drive and the Arabian Sea.

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.

This hotel is the former home of the late Sir Robert Bristow, the architect of the modern port of Kochi, and it is one of the only Kochi hotels that opens out onto a beach. Some rooms look out to the Arabian Sea, while others have a view over the garden and swimming pool. Rooms are large (though in need of maintenance). Pool-side villas and ocean-view suites are attractive.

Scoring high on location and heritage, this 300-year-old rambling haveli with an opulent feel is close to the clock tower in Old Jodhpur and has views of Mehrangarh Fort. The spacious rooms—most of which overlook courtyards or verandas with fountains—are decorated in traditional designs and packed with modern amenities. The public spaces have some very unusual antiques on display. The rooftop restaurant, also the spot where breakfast is served, is one of the best in the city for views, though the food is just OK.

Set on 40 acres of grounds and featuring activities such as tennis and billiards, this family-run heritage hotel built in 1893 is a sophisticated and hospitable getaway with something of the feel of a regal hunting lodge. Rooms are large and beautifully decorated; suites, which each have their own special color scheme, are majestic. Besides once being the summer residence of the Maharaja Ganga Singhji, the maharaja of Bikaner, this building was for decades the center of Mount Abu's aristocratic social life. There's an elegant restaurant serving Indian, Rajasthani, Gujarati, and continental cuisine.

In this century-old building on Assi Ghat, rooms are styled after Indian states—Gujarat (brightly colored drapes studded with mirror work), Rajasthan (elaborately carved doors and furnishings), and Assam (lots of bamboo). All delivering modern comforts, rooms at the front have a great view of the ghat, while others are quieter. The long, airy lobby is a great place to relax with tea, while the multi-cuisine rooftop restaurant has live classical music in the evenings (not during summer) and a good view of the Ganges.

This eye-catching edifice in a delicate pink stone on a low hill is one of the first landmarks visible as you enter the outskirts of Pushkar town coming from Jaipur. Inside, vast expanses of marble and white gives a sensation of immense space and grandeur, and the stylish and modern rooms have a touch of Rajasthani flair and most have a swing (!) and balcony. The royal looking accommodations are large, though the complex is relatively new and is run by the Taj Group and focuses on service.

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.

Designed like a Rajbaari, or sprawling homes of the Bengali Zamindars (landlords) of the past, Raajkutir has comfortable, spacious rooms with dark wooden furniture and marble floors. The property hosts pottery lessons headed by local artisans, traditional evening rituals at the courtyard, and walking tours through the premises. The on-site dining options, like the East India Room, are excellent.

This is one of the few modern chain hotels in the city, where most of the rooms come with a view of the backwaters. Its popular multi-cuisine restaurant, World in the Pot, overlooks the pool; there's also a Chinese restaurant, Venice, that serves interesting cocktails. The hotel has its own houseboat and organizes a two-hour lunch cruise for an extra fee.