18 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Delhi, India

With upscale amenities amid lots of greenery, Clarks makes a good choice for a quiet stay. Rooms have lots of natural light and wood laminate floors; the best ones overlook the palm-fringed pool or lawn. The plush hotel lobby is all cool white marble and chandeliers, looking out onto a green driveway. The hotel even has its own haveli (traditional Rajput mansion) at Raja Ghat, which is used for cultural programs and demonstrations of Hindu rituals; trips are arranged for groups, but individuals can join if there's room.

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 massage.

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 15 guestrooms, one of which has a jungle painting and stone shrine (with goddess) that you sleep under. Delicious dinners, served under a galaxy of lamps and chandeliers, are Brahmin-style vegetarian. Book months ahead for peak season.

Affordable and charming, this quaint hotel, run by the Madhya Pradesh Government, is built in the style of a "traditional village," and although it's a 10-minute walk from the bustle and noise of the main road, it feels much more remote. The small cottagelike rooms are clustered around a rustic garden full of mango and lime trees. Families with children might enjoy the wood-and-rope swing, or playing with the domesticated bunnies, kept in a small chicken-wire pen.

Set within 36 acres of lush gardens with a miniature lake, this brick and marble hotel is one of Agra's largest, and its size can be daunting. Rooms are big and bright, and many have window settees, marble-top desks, and upholstered headboards. The gaming area has air hockey, table tennis, and pool tables, and for the outdoorsy types, there are ATVs and tandem bicycles, though the real highlight is the expansive Kaya Kalp Spa, an expansive wellness space beautifully decorated with red-hued curlicue designs, inspired by pomegranates.

Accessed by boat from the nearby Dasaswamedh Ghat, this stunning sandstone heritage hotel on the Ganges is perfect for a romantic getaway or a personal retreat. Tasteful and cozy, most rooms overlook the river, and the elegant terrace beneath marbled Mughal arches is also a great place to take in the river views. There's a stylish inner courtyard, decorated with Rajasthani pictures and plush white sofas contrasting neatly with the art deco black-and-white-check marble floor. The rooftop restaurant has excellent mixed cuisine.

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.

One of India's best resorts emulates the opulent lifestyle of the Mughal emperors, and each room has a breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal. Common areas are full of sandstone arches, glistening pools, and stone inlay detail copied from the Taj Mahal, and each spacious room is understatedly elegant, with teak floors and rich fabrics. If you don't stay here, at least stop by for an elegant meal or a drink on the terrace.

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.

Luxurious and modern, this hotel situated just a kilometer from the Western Temples has a lively restaurant and lovely surroundings—the pool, one of the deepest in Khajuraho at 9 feet, is surrounded by undulating landscaped gardens, so you can always hear birdsong. The plush rooms, in marble and dark wood, all have Indian art on the walls and attached balconies that overlook either the pool or the garden. There's no shortage of amenities, including a business center and a gym.

Plush and always lively, this hotel in the relatively noise-free Cantonment is a favorite for its luxurious settings and well-maintained and upscale amenities. The bright and spacious rooms feature green marble and dark wood floors, pale green and cream silk throws, flat-screen TVs, and upscale bath products. The deep red and gold lobby is always bustling with activity—and large groups. The Great Kebab Factory, the hotel's specialty restaurant, is a big draw for its authentic Uttar Pradesh cuisine and kebabs grilled in a show kitchen.

The expansive lawns of this 14-acre property feature a lovely walking track, a rose garden, and an organic kitchen garden, while inside the hotel all is grand and cool white-marble elegance. There are chandeliers, curving white staircases, and well-chosen Indian antiques throughout. The rooms (some with king beds) have teak wood furniture and large bay windows overlooking the pool or gardens; they are decorated in soft cream shades and rich fabrics. The Mahuaa bar on the first floor is a particularly lovely spot, with a little library and live music some evenings.

Built in the style of a traditional Nepali courtyard by the royal family of Nepal and once frequented by the king of Nepal and his guests, this boutique hotel sits directly on the banks of the Shivala Ghat. Rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, with colonial furniture and stylish silk throws. The property features an elegant garden courtyard, a "viewing deck" with lounge chairs facing the Ganges, and a garden terrace with a gazebo.

Rooms at the Gateway are modern, done in soft colors with brass-accented furniture and eclectic Indian art, and most are spacious. The upper-story rooms facing the adjacent Nadesar Palace are cozy and quiet, with great garden views. Grab the yoga mat from your room (they all have them) and attend the free yoga sessions in the morning. Dine at the specialty Varuna restaurant for a posh Indian meal, or at the GAD restaurant overlooking the pool.

This restored heritage palace provides the most luxurious accommodations in Varanasi, as it did in its heyday, when guests of the Maharaja of Benaras included Queen Elizabeth, Lord Mountbatten, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the king of Persia. The rooms, evoking that bygone era, are elaborately furnished with pieces from the maharaja's private collection—voluptuous four-poster teak beds with silk canopies, Victorian-style armoires, antique bathtubs. There's a pool with ghatlike steps, a golf course, and manicured gardens amid fields of marigolds, jasmine, and mango trees. The signature spa treatment is based on the ritual purifying bath once performed on royalty for special occasions. Rooms are named after patrons who once stayed in them, so if you want to live a bit like the queen of Bhutan once did, ask for her room.

A good, though distant, view of the Taj Mahal from some rooms and the rooftop make this hotel a popular choice. Executive Rooms feature marble inlay on the red sandstone headboards and screens, plus daybeds positioned next to huge windows with views of the Taj Mahal in the distance. The elegant marble lobby opens into an excellent restaurant. The palm-fringed pool is surrounded by acres of landscaped lawn, with live entertainment in the evenings.

Built around a large garden courtyard with fountains, a soothing expanse of green lawn, and a pool, this place is a real oasis in Agra. The spacious rooms are in soft greens and browns, with tile floors, large desk areas, and coffeemakers; those facing the courtyard offer the best views. The lobby is, perhaps, the most inviting part of the hotel: bright yellow chairs, dark-wood accents, and modern chandeliers made of glass tubes are infused with sunlight. There's live Indian classical music, folk dancers, and a henna artist by the pool every evening.

A night at this large estate feels a bit like staying in a Mughal palace, with sweeping beige and white marble arches, manicured gardens, gurgling fountains, and elaborate rooms. Its 18 acres of grounds include a beautifully tiled pool (the largest in Agra) with a poolside bar, three restaurants, a Jacuzzi, a children's play center, and tennis courts. When the weather's good, there's an outdoor restaurant, with rustic wooden tables set under the stars and a buffet of traditional local fare. Live entertainment includes folk dancers, musicians, and puppet shows.