75 Best Hotels in Rajasthan, India

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.

The quirky, charming, and nearly 500-year-old Juna Mahal, owned by a priestly family once attached to Jodhpur's royal temples, is tucked away from the congestion in one of the upper streets of the Old City (access is by auto-rickshaw) and resembles a carved dollhouse. While first impressions might be underwhelming, the wonderful views from the rooftop vegetarian restaurant and the warm and hospitable owners are good reasons to stay. Rooms are named after Hindu gods and have neatly whitewashed walls, antique furniture, vegetable-dye handloomed soft furnishings, and private bathrooms (some are not attached). The Lord Ganesh room is the best due to its sweeping views and spaciousness.

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.

Famous for its traditional Rajasthani thali available in its rooftop eatery, comfy KB has accommodations that are equally authentic and striking and located smack in the center of town near the historic Patwon ki Haveli. Room highlights are cheery Rajasthani furnishings, window seats, balconies, and accents in stone. Bathrooms are gray-tiled and clean. Views of the Fort and the Patwon ki Haveli from the terrace are impressive. Though KB Lodge's accommodations are more basic than its sister hotel Killa Bhawan, inside the fort, it is still pleasant.

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.

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.

Built to mimic the royal palaces of Rajasthan, this sprawling resort has pristine white exteriors with blue accents (channeling Jaipur's blue pottery), ornate jaalis (latticed screens), and silver-lined chhatris (domes). Marble corridors sport vibrant frescoes and intricate thikri mirror work. The spacious rooms and suites are done up in pastel pinks, blues, or yellows and have sumptuous furnishing and marble flooring. Many of them have private balconies, terraces, or courtyards; the royal villas with outdoor daybed, temperature-controlled plunge pool, and butler service are worth the splurge. Relax in one of the breezy pavilions dotted around the property, take a refreshing dip in the large common pool, or book a spa appointment (the therapy rooms have gorgeous Aravalli views). Right by the pool is the Jharokha Bar adorned with lotus-design chandeliers where you can stop for an afternoon tea or evening cocktail. The hotel has three restaurants: the all-day dining Sukh Mahal serves Indian and international fare, the cozy Preet Mahal is for Italian cuisine (the pizzas are fantastic), and the dinner-only Mohan Mahal is designed like the Sheesh Mahal (palace of mirrors) and serves royal Rajashani meals in a candle-lit ambience. 

You arrive at this art-filled domed palace aboard an EV boat (the only lakefront hotel operating them for transfers) to a shower of rose petals and musicians welcoming you to the lobby. The hotel is packed with Mewari wall murals, embroidered tapestries, marble sculptures, thikri mirror work, and silverware, all of which can be admired on a guided palace art walk (complimentary). Rooms and suites are spacious with elegant, contemporary interiors punctuated by Rajasthani motifs and crafts—of particular note is the furniture embossed with tarkashi work, which involves intricate brass-wire motifs set in dark wood. Bathrooms are massive and come with exclusively crafted bath amenities. Most meals are at The Dining Room, which offers a mix of Indian and global fare, while the lakefront al fresco Sheesh Mahal restaurant is open for dinner, where you can savor Indian fine dining with a view of the lit up City Palace and Old City. The hotel organizes city tour experiences as well as ceremonial rituals like morning prayers at the 16th-century Shiva temple on the palace premises and evening folk music and dance in the central courtyard.

The well-priced rooms—all with Rajasthani decor and period-style furniture—are the main reason for heading to this Bani Park haveli-hotel. While it might not be a real Rajasthani mansion, the comparatively austere lodging does still lend the haveli atmosphere---though there are more traditional offerings closer to the city. Enter through an ornate gate, and the main hotel, embellished with all the Indo-Saracenic touches, is just beyond, where the rooms face a central courtyard. The royal deluxe rooms, only a shade more expensive, are decently large with big bathrooms.

Like something out of a fairy tale, this rambling 300-year-old palace-hotel at Gandhi Chowk with comfortable, neat, and clean (but not luxurious or memorable) rooms has a breathtakingly beautiful carved exterior that incorporates turrets, arched doorways, windows, and balconies. Its wedding-cake-looking Badal Vilas is the tallest structure outside the fort and includes the Tazia Tower, a delicate five-tier pagoda carved by Muslim craftsmen; each tier has an intricately carved balcony.

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 10-minute walk from the Golden Fort, this 18th-century haveli exudes old-world charm and is owned and run by descendants of the Maharaja Kesri Singh, who ruled over Jaisalmer during the 1700s. Rooms vary in shape, size and style; most of them contain antique furniture and authentic family portraits, but quite a few lack windows. Built of compact golden sandstone, the property sits bang across the Jaisalmer "0" milestone (from where distances are measured), and has two small courtyards, fountains, and a lounging area with interesting, quirky antiques, trophies, and portraits.

Built in 1928 by a commander for the Jaipur army as a vacation home, this sprawling heritage hotel, where peacocks strut through the expansive lawn, evokes visions of days past. The rooms are brightly decorated in traditional style, and the lobby begs travelers to sit and admire the grand architecture. Meals, including a breakfast buffet, are available in the lavish dining room; for dinner, you're best bet is to walk across the lawn to Bar Palladio for classic cocktails and its Mediterranean menu.

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.

Perfect for foodies, wildlife enthusiasts, and those who like to engage with locals, this cozy homestay in the upscale C-Scheme residential area is run by an energetic young couple, the Rathores—one a naturalist who runs wildlife tours, the other a food enthusiast who offers cooking and rangoli (a form of folk art) classes. Rooms are simple and modern but comfortable and very clean, with coordinated color schemes and large bathrooms; the upstairs rooms have a rooftop patio. Apart from the four rooms, the homestay also offers a cottage with private courtyard. Outside there's a lush garden with a swing. A simple but enriching continental or Indian breakfast is included, and dinner is an option that's well worth taking up. The homestay is a little hard to locate, so call for directions before arriving.

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.

Located on the periphery of the older northeastern quarter, with marvelous views of Mehrangarh, this pricey hotel is away from the thick of the commotion of Jodhpur, yet still offers a real flavor of the city---and the personal service is amazing. Combing a skillful blend of old and new elements, the hotel lobby and plush rooms are housed in new buildings, while the restaurants and bar are out back in 18th-century havelis. Raas has probably the only pool in Jodhpur with a sumptuous view of the fort.

Designed like a zenana mahal (queen's palace), this intimate hotel offers a taste of royalty, both in design and service. Its opulent jewel-toned interiors, extravagant chandeliers, hand-painted walls, thikri (glass mosaic) art, and the Raffles signature palms that dot the property (particularly in the soaring atrium) all scream luxury but balanced with a homely, lived-in vibe and personalized service. Each room has a unique design and decor—some in salmon pink, others in sunny yellow—but all are spacious and come with balconies (some with hammam-style tubs) or private gardens (some with temperature-controlled pools). The atrium houses Safir, a tea and Champagne lounge while the blue-walled Writer's Bar with tall bookshelves and a dramatic spiral staircase is perfect for an evening cocktail—try the Jaipur Sling made with gin and the local heritage herbal liqueur, Chandr Haas. The Arkaa restaurant serves North Indian cuisine in a palatial setting, while the rooftop Sehara is a Mediterranean restaurant right by the infinity pool.

Set on 47 acres of lawns punctuated by arcaded patios with fountains, courtyards, long colonnades, and prancing peacocks, this wistfully romantic palace was one of the first in Jaipur to be converted into a heritage hotel and is one of the most classically elegant properties in India. Simply the best address in town, it was once home to the last maharaja of Jaipur and his legendary and beautiful wife, Gayatri Devi, and preserves much of its history while providing up-to-the-minute comforts thanks to being run by the Taj group. You are nothing less than royalty yourself when you check into 19th-century Rambagh Palace, as shown by such details as the shower-of-petals welcome to the room butler (in some rooms) ready to attend to your every need. Standard rooms are spacious and largely contemporary, while opulent historical and royal suites have traditional furnishings and Shekhawati-style frescoes. Public spaces are packed with marble, domes, dainty arches, filigree work, and antiques. There's even a train parked in the corner of its grounds that has been converted into a fun restaurant, Steam.

This is one of the most comfortable mid-price places on the Ranthambhore Road, 10 km (6 miles) from the park, in an elegant heritage-style building. A long line of rooms is set against a rectangular courtyard with a pool, and a restaurant serves buffet meals (all are included in rates), and staff will arrange safaris for guests, including sending you off with a packed lunch. There's also a barbecue outside and bar area where travelers congregate at night for ice-cold beer. The rooms are spotless and large, with bright Rajasthani furnishings.

A great place to experience the lifestyle of Rajput nobility, this 17th-century desert fortress 40 km (25 miles) south of Jodhpur is both a heritage hotel and the home of its Rajput family, whose members are your hosts. The public rooms are decked out in original paintings, family photographs, and weapons, while guest rooms have traditional carved furniture and colorful hand-blocked prints, and some even have swings. Horseback safaris (Rs. 2,500 for about two hours) are a specialty, as there are plenty of bird species and other animals nearby—keep an eye out for the peacocks strutting on the hotel lawn. Trips can be organized to Bishnoi (tribal villages) and cooking classes are also available.

Done up in pastel colors and elegant decor, this former family home-turned-boutique hotel exudes a warm, homely atmosphere. Rooms and suites are spacious, with hand-painted walls, pretty rugs, chandelier-lit marble bathrooms, and high-end amenities. There are plenty of lounges and verandas to relax in, as well as an infinity swimming pool. The in-house restaurant offers a Rajasthani thali and an a la carte menu, both featuring family recipes; international fare is also served along with a small selection of wines, beers, cocktails, and spirits.