3 Best Hotels in Jodhpur, Rajasthan

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.

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.