16 Best Hotels in Rajasthan, India

This fabulous 32-acre luxury retreat, 20 minutes outside Jaipur and set against a hilly backdrop, is a destination unto itself, whether you want to splurge on a private villa with its own pool, enjoy a spacious standard room, or revel in a romantic luxury tent with rich wood fittings on grounds that are home to hundreds of peacocks. Re-created to look like a grand heritage fort, the resort brings back to life a certain majesty and romance of another age. Honey-gold buildings, orchards, reflection pools and fountains set the tone, though the marble-and-stone carving blends well with the arid environment. Standard double rooms are minimalist in concept, but the real standout is the sunken marble bathtubs, which look out over private gardens.

On the edge of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, this resort, one of the best in all of India, is ideal for those who want to "camp" in sheer luxury. A ceremonial gateway leads to a magical lobby with beautiful frescoes and a splendid residential area, where sumptuous, romantic a/c tents evoke all the magnificence of the former royal lifestyle. The tents have teakwood floors, walled gardens, private decks, and claw-footed bathtubs as well as modern conveniences like televisions, DVD players, and electronic safes. The spa offers massages, scrubs, and ayurvedic treatments. The resort requests you to book your jungle trips in advance. Guided tours of the grounds can be arranged with staff.

This enchanting palace and village complex has several intriguing perks—like a pool with waterfalls and caves; a lobby stuffed with atmospheric royalty-related memorabilia, such as portraits of maharajas, spears, and heads of deer; and even a garage full of royal vintage cars available for rent. The individually styled rooms are a funky mix of contemporary designs and traditional Rajasthani fabrics and artifacts; some even have trees growing inside. The prettiest rooms are located within round hut-style thatched cottages with mud-walled verandas that have swings. Attached baths are large with tubs and loads of sparkling granite/marble. In peak season nightly outdoor dinners feature live entertainment. Horseback riding, village tours, and safaris can be arranged. While it's located a good 10-minute tuk tuk ride from the Old City, this place still puts you close to boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants.

Mere minutes from the gate of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, this fully tented camp is glamping at its best with expansive Mughal-inspired tents. Each apartment-sized tent (108 square mt [1,162 square ft]) is done up in warm colors and classic furnishing with a king or twin bed, oversized day bed, twin writing desks, and a large bathroom with bathtub, shower area, and smart toilet. There's also a separate seating-dining area and a private sundeck. Meals are a mix of Indian and international cuisines, mostly made with produce from the camp's own organic garden. Apart from wildlife safaris with a trained naturalist, fort treks, horse-riding, and a cruise on the Chambal River are also on offer. After an adventurous day, relax in the stepwell-style swimming pool or indulge in traditional Ayurveda-inspired treatments at the spa.

Spread across 9 acres, Pushkar’s loveliest and most expensive hotel has an outdoorsy lodge feel and there are golf carts to get around. Many of the cottages, with their beehive-shape tiled roofs and cobblestone walls, have private side patios and open-air showers set in greenery. Rooms, furnished with delicately etched tree murals and rich silks, have an understated and modern elegance. There are better priced rooms in the main hotel building, but they lack locational charm.

Named after the former hunting lodge of the Maharaja of Jaipur (which still stands in ruins inside Ranthambore Tiger Reserve), this boutique resort features traditional Rajasthani architectural influences like arches and jharokhas as well as a large baoli or stepwell-style swimming pool. The wildlife motif runs throughout with hand-painted murals of tigers, leopards, and other animals adorning the walls of common spaces. Rooms sport modern decor and are set around a large lawn; lower-floor rooms have private plunge pools while those on the upper floor come with views of the Aravallis. Cuisine is a mix of Rajasthani and international fare as well as healthy, vegan, and gluten-free options. The on-site Sansha spa offers indulgent treatments that are great post-safaris, and evenings feature folk performances, bonfire, and guided stargazing sessions.

Environmentally friendly, community-minded, luxurious, and with an interesting backstory, this is one of Udaipur's notable boutique hotels, perched atop a hill adjacent to the Monsoon Palace. Originally in Bhilwara, around 160 km (100 miles) away, this small palace belonging to the Kelwa Rajput family was moved here, stone by stone, in 2007 and reconstructed using the Vedic architectural principles of Vaastu Shastra (think Indian feng shui). Antique doors and windows were also utilized. Rooms have elegant dark-wood furniture and pastel frescoes depicting concepts of Vedic science and are very large. The hotel has a water recycling plant, and windmills and solar panels produce electricity. The hotel has three pools, and the highest pool is one of the best with spectacular city views, as does the hotel's main restaurant. There's an interesting collection of vintage cars on the grounds—one of them is parked in the main portico.

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.

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.

This small, intimate Art Deco lodge is convenient for those heading to the national park as well as being something of a destination in its own right. Built less than a century ago as a hunting lodge for the Maharaja of Jaipur, it retains most of its original features and much of the welcoming house-party aura, but it has none of the hauteur or grandness one would expect of a Rajasthani royal property. It's rooms are large, modern, and tastefully furnished along wildlife themes–expect a tiger stripe pillow or leopard spot bedspread. The better rooms have a charming walled-in courtyard with a bonfire. Leisure activities are numerous. The grounds extend over 12 acres of lawns and gardens, and include barbeque areas. The park is 12 km (7½ miles) away.

Spread over 4 acres, this family-friendly resort offers large rooms with private or semi-private balconies and stunning views of the surrounding Aravalli Range. Rooms are clean and well-appointed but have bland interiors. The in-house Sterling Local restobar is a nice place to unwind with a drink and finger food, while Aravali restaurant serves Indian and international fare, both a la carte and buffet. The resort can get busy and noisy during peak season and weekends.

Like a mirage in the desert, this contemporary, elegant fort-style hotel rises out of the sand, luring you to its ramparts. The interior is equally impressive: built in old-world style and constructed and carved breathtakingly from yellow sandstone, it features high ceilings, sweeping marble floors, arches, antiques, enormous courtyards, reflection pools, and spacious, richly furnished rooms. Located on the road going out to the Sam dunes, Suryagarh is isolated from Jaisalmer. Given that you are marooned in the Thar, many an amenity has been provided for—billiards, gym, pool, spa, a bar, and several restaurants. The staff also organizes a wide variety of excursions.

Nestled in the Aravali hills, this haven offers secluded villa accommodations, spa treatments, and a chance to interact with the community. Dotted over 7-acres, 14 traditional-style domed villas have large bathrooms, walk-in closets, and high levels of privacy and relaxation; most have a private pool. Spa treatments are customized to suit each guest. Some of the fresh produce used in the hotel is from its attached organic garden, which you can visit. The resort supports a local school and guests are encouraged to interact with villagers—and even volunteer to teach the children if they wish.

Long a dreamy setting for royal getaways, this fine example of Rajput architecture offers a taste of country palace living at a reasonable price (unless you choose one of the suites, which are considerably more expensive than the rooms). The rooms are spacious and feature antique carved furniture and Rajasthani paintings on the white walls. The red sandstone heritage hotel is surrounded by lush, expansive green gardens on the outskirts of Jodhpur and on the banks of Bal Samand Lake. The park around the artificial lake, built in the 12th century, contains a nine-hole golf course and other activities, plus a small bird sanctuary---but watch out for aggressive monkeys. The hotel provides bikes to cycle around the area.

Relax and enjoy the fine service, as well as the peace and quiet, at this graceful palace and fort in the Thar Desert in rural Khimsar, a two-hour drive (90 km [56 miles]) from Jodhpur. Dinner is served by candlelight in the crumbling ruins of one of the original fort towers, and if you feel like exploring, you can take a safari or tea on the nearby sand dunes. The best rooms are in the original structure; some rooms even have furniture from the 1920s. For the complete desert experience, stay in luxury tents in Khimsar village 7 km (4½ miles) from the fort.