51 Best Hotels in Rajasthan, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Trusted, reliable, comfortable, and probably the most efficient family-run hotel in Jaipur—and one of the best bets for a budget stay—the Arya Niwas has that ideal combination of convenience to the heart of the city and cushioning from its noise and chaos. As a busy, large hotel, it loses some characteristic Rajasthani gracious hospitality, but it has a helpful staff, and rooms are clean and unfussy; the bathrooms are decently clean and have reasonable-size showers or tub. The large open area and adjoining café—serving home-cooked Indian and continental vegetarian food—overlooks a well-manicured lawn and garden.

Cradled in the Aravali hills, this late-19th-century club is where British officers and royalty from Gujarat and Rajputana came to escape the summer heat, and now it combines modern amenities with its country style. Set on18 acres of gardens, with waterfalls and an artificial lake, the main building is a rambling old bungalow with a red-tiled roof and plain but comfortable rooms. There's a restaurant and bar on-site, as well as a billiards room.

Located close to the Old City and its attractions, this moderately priced boutique hotel sports a blend of Rajput and Mewar architecture. Rooms are compact (even the suites are only slightly larger), but they do have all the basic amenities and are immaculately clean; two of the suites also come with views of the City Palace. Savor a mix of Rajasthani, North Indian, and international fare at the rooftop restaurant, which has great views of the city and the palace. The pool on the rooftop is rather small but has pretty jharokha-style architecture, and of course, lovely views.

Set in a restored 1921 home, this sprawling boutique hotel is an intricately carved sandstone structure with individually styled rooms, all of which look out over the garden. Room decor steers clear of Rajasthani kitsch and is understated with vintage furnishing, a cozy window nook, and spacious bathroom. The rooftop infinity pool is perfect to relax in (with a view of the neighborhood) or get a champi (vigorous head massage) in the garden. The in-house restaurant and bar—both called Old Loco—serve great cocktails with Indian and global cuisine. The hotel collaborates with local entrepreneurs and creatives to offer curated experiences that range from tours of top attractions to offbeat trails in and around the city.

One of the more moderately priced hotels in Jodhpur, this quiet hotel is in a spacious, pleasant garden, with plenty of spots to relax in the open air, and a nice pool. The homey rooms—with a choice of two sizes—are tastefully furnished with antique furniture and bathrooms with attractive black-and-white checked floors; some rooms have window seats. A small restaurant, open only to hotel guests, serves thalis. Safaris around Jodhpur can be arranged.

The hotel can be hard to locate so call ahead of your arrival for help.

In Jaipur's popular C-Scheme neighborhood (with hip coffee shops and boutiques), this palace, dating from the 18th century and retaining its regal ambience, is a peaceful, intimate, and charming alternative to staying in the rowdy Old City. Run by the royal Diggi Rajput clan, this refreshing retreat has large open courtyards, lawns, and extensive gardens; rooms are simple, clean, and well maintained, with elegant dark wood furniture (some with four-poster beds) and traditional Rajasthani features. The restaurant offers Indian dining with alfresco and terrace seating; the breakfast buffet is included in the price. The city's hub is just a 15-minute walk away.

The main reason to stay at this dramatic-looking royal retreat is to avoid taking on the twisting round-trip between Ranakpur and Udaipur in one day, because it's just a short drive from the Jain temple. It offers traditionally decorated, enormous rooms; some of the suites have Jacuzzis. Interestingly, it is not native to Ranakpur. It once stood neglected, outside of Udaipur, and brick by brick—65,000 in all—it was migrated to this new, prettier location in 2002. The honeymoon suite has a traditional wedding swing-bed hung from the ceiling and needs to be booked in advance.

This century-old, somber red fort in the dusty village of Luni is now a heritage hotel offering a real get-away-from-it-all experience. It has spacious courtyards and delightful rooms that have small, arched windows called jharokhas; Rajasthani-style furniture and fabrics; and old photographs. Many of the small rooms have stairways leading to an alcove or to the bathroom. The waterwheel—now a fountain in the bar—was originally used to channel water around the fort. The restaurant has a fixed-price Indian menu. Consider a night here if you are driving from Udaipur to Jodhpur.

The hotel might not be particularly convenient, but its architecture and interior design are interesting, and the suites are quite luxurious. Inside, French-style features are blended with historic Marwari touches: the large entryway once belonged to a 16th-century haveli from the local fort. Standard rooms are Western, with contemporary furnishings, but take a suite and you'll get frescoes and antique beds with pure silver bedposts. The restaurant, Sonal, serves à la carte Indian, Chinese, and continental food, and the rooftop bar is good for sunset and fort views. Bathrooms could be better.

Built of golden sandstone, this hotel away from the city center is spacious and elegant, and the rooms, with balconies, are arranged in haveli-style blocks around a series of small interior courtyards with skylights and fountains. Interiors feature traditional Rajasthani motifs and large, lovely windows; the suites are spacious and worth the price. The property includes two restaurants, a bar, a swimming pool, and a small spa. The hotel, popular with foreign tour groups, is run by IHCL under the SeleQtions brand (the same group that runs Taj Hotels).

Family-owned and -operated, this hotel in a 200-year-old sprawling haveli preserves many of its original features, including carved stonework, striking Bundi School of Painting murals, and other artwork, making a stay here like living in an art gallery. The hotel sits at the base of Bundi's fort and has fantastic views of the palace, the fort, and the city, especially from the higher-level floors and rooftop terrace, where meals can be served. Rooms are individually styled and contain antiques, paintings, books, and old photographs.

This boutique heritage hotel, furnished with antiques, is in the heart of the town, with great views of the palace and fort. It offers a range of tastefully decorated bright-white rooms, from simple budget accommodations to elegant suites, and many have window seats to take advantage of the views. The rooftop restaurant on-site also has good views of the lake and Bundi's Old Town, but the food itself is mediocre.

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.

Centrally located, this large and sumptuous ITC chain hotel is a luxurious refuge from hectic downtown Jaipur. Decor is plush and elegant, with bathrooms in green granite; rooms sprawl in red-stone blocks that face a central garden, pool, and main building with a splendid marble lobby decorated with lattice screens.

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.

Rooms at this historic, Taj group–managed palace hotel are modern but plush, and many overlook 18 acres of lavish Mughal-style gardens. Located in the Civil Lines, quite close to the state governor and chief minister's residence, this hotel built in 1745 was once the home of the local prime minister and later Jaipur's British surgeon general Dr. Thomas Hendley, who was well-known for his artistic contribution to the city. Rooms are accented in either dramatic blue or a cheerful pink, and ground floor rooms have garden terraces. The hotel has three restaurants (all serving different cuisines) and a golden-hued bar where you can sip cocktails in an elegant ambience.

Ensconced in a brick-red 19th-century haveli in Old City's Johari Bazaar (jewelers' market), this beautifully designed boutique hotel combines traditional Rajasthani design with contemporary touches. In keeping with its location, each of the hotel's room is named after a gemstone and is done up in the corresponding color, and features scalloped arches, antiques, and vintage furnishing. The extra-large bedroom is flanked by a living room, powder room, and bathroom—the latter stocked with luxury amenities. Food is largely modern Indian and vegetarian, beautifully plated and quite delicious. The Johri & Sons bar is popular with Jaipur's swish set and serves up inventive cocktails along with a small selection of bar snacks.

This homey, colonial-style bungalow offers unique-themed rooms (each is decorated in honor of local festivals and former principalities) with standard amenities. The large rooms are simple but clean with period furniture; bathrooms are quite basic. The restaurant serves Indian and Chinese cuisine—the Rajasthani food is better than other choices—and evening entertainment and dinner are organized in and around traditional thatched huts in the garden area.

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.

Especially surprising given its price, this hotel has some great features, including a wonderful lakeside location, rooms with private terraces, suites with Jacuzzi or steam room, an Upre restaurant, and a rooftop pool. The rooms are homey, though not strongly designed, and many of them have great views. There are various options, including deluxe rooms (best value) and suites. The small pool gives the place an edge over the neighbors, and the restaurant menu ranges from standard Indian fare to Mexican food, with a large, reasonably priced wine list.

Sumptuous lawns and views, grand terraces, palace pomp, and an interesting range of activities for guests—horse dancing, bagpiper recitals, puppet shows, snooker—are the highlights of Laxmi Vilas, a former palace constructed in 1911. Located on a gentle hill facing Pichola's sister lake, the Fateh Sagar, it was built by the worthy Maharana Fateh Singh, who constructed many of the mahals in this town. He also built the Connaught Dam as a small welcoming present for Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria's son who visited in 1889. Its rooms are large, many with lake views and window seats and attractively furnished in earthy colors with pretty wall screens. The hotel company has also undertaken social responsibility initiatives, including an employment program for acid-attack survivors and LGBT rights and awareness programs.