Best Luxury Hotels in India

An architectural tribute to the Imperial Cholas, this palatial building accommodates a whopping 600 bedrooms and apartments, three outdoor pools (one is dedicated for families), a full-service spa and shops, as well as 10 venues for eating and drinking. LEED Platinum certified the ten-storey hotel’s eco credentials are impressive, with an excellent reputation for waste management and its own wind and solar farms to generate onsite electricity. Suites offer round-the-clock butler service and an entire floor is set apart for single female travellers. ITC Grand Chola is found beside Alexander Square’s park.

The extensive formal grounds surrounding this fort-like building (erected in 1727), provide a sense of calm, with lotus ponds, elegant sculptures and wandering peacocks. Yoga, meditation and locally-inspired treatments in the spa aid guests’ serenity, as do four-poster beds with cream drapes, sunken marble tubs and antique furnishings. Ideal for a romantic escape, the hotel has its own ancient Shiva temple for vow renewal ceremonies and the option to stay in a five-star tented room. And with a focus on timeless elegance, rather than technology, it’s a superb choice for those wanting to unwind and experience traditional Indian life in luxury.

Not only can you easily visit the Taj Mahal from this hotel, but you can also see it. The Oberoi Amarvilas affords unobstructed views of the iconic structure, as they lie within the area of protected land around the world wonder (golf carts taxi those staying at the resort to the Taj Mahal’s gate). All rooms get a view of the marble mausoleum and all guests receive attentive butler service. Interiors are decorated with opulent silks, hand-knotted rugs and polished teak furnishings, while outside there’s a huge pool. Those staying here can dine in two restaurants and make use of the spa.

Dating back to the late 19th century, this hotel is found in the bustling shopping district, yet has an oasis-like ambience. A blissful pool area sits at its centre, flanked by palm trees and comfy loungers. Threesixtythree° is the hotel’s signature restaurant, fusing cooking influences from across Asia and Europe and baking pizzas in a wood-fired oven. Decorated in a midcentury style, its menus include a wellness selection with uber-healthy dishes and a lavish brunch. Guests can also eat at the fine dining Baan Thai restaurant, or order lighter meals in the fashionable bar. Personalised treatments are available at the Oberoi Spa.

Facing onto the expanse of sands that make up Benaulim Beach, the Taj Exotica is surrounded by manicured gardens, tropical flowers and coconut trees. It provides opportunities to get active, with facilities enabling yoga, tennis, swimming, golf, or some relaxation with Ayurvedic therapies at the Jiva Spa. Book a room, garden villa, or pool villa, all of which display a Colonial meets palatial style of decor. There are three restaurants serving Goan seafood, Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, two bars and ample facilities to keep children entertained during your stay.

At the centre of The Oberoi, is a raintree which has stood in place for over 12 decades. Indeed its horticulture has won awards, with balconies overflowing with blooms, lotus-covered ponds, manicured lawns and rainforest-like vegetation separated by aristocratic fountains — and its flowers go into the hotel’s exclusive tea blend. The spa here opens around the clock and the salon until late. Bedrooms have organic herbal bath products, espresso machines, blackout drapes, iPad controls and private outdoor spaces. Like the grounds, the four restaurants have received many accolades, each providing menus for kids.

Right in the middle of Lake Pichola, this palace was built back in the mid-18th century, as the summer residence for the royal dynasty of Mewar. By the middle of the last century, the Taj Lake Palace was accepting paying guests and was featured in the James Bond movie, Octopussy. But its regal atmosphere and level of service never left, with 24/7 butler service and a water taxi available whenever you want it. Additionally, there are four restaurants, a rooftop bar, a pool, a spa and 360-degree water views. This hotel is certainly something very special and exudes classic romance.

The 44 acres owned by this Radisson Blu Resort overlook the sea and incorporate a 27,000-square-foot outdoor pool spa with mini palm tree-planted islands to swim past. There’s much to do onsite, with the resort offering ATV rides, boat adventures, scuba diving, bicycle rental, archery, indoor games and canoeing, as well as spa treatments. 157 suites, chalets and villas have private patios or balconies, work desks and TV with casting capabilities. Guests can dine at the family-friendly Waters Edge Café with pool and sea views, or the fine dining establishment, Wharf 2.0.

Anyone who has ever considered visiting Mumbai has likely heard about the Taj Mahal Palace, which is touted as India’s first and premier luxury hotel. This flagship hotel boasts is located in a rather impressive modern palace, and its staff is comparable to a small army whose sole purpose is to ensure all guests enjoy the finest available experience. If you want nothing short of prestige and affluence, the Taj Mahal Palace will cater to your desires.

Previously named India’s ‘Best Luxury Historical Hotel’ at the World Luxury Hotel Awards, this 235 bedroom establishment dates back to the 1930s. Indeed, the design is reflective of the colonial era; ceiling fans, rattan furniture, dark polished wood, black and white prints and staff dressed in red livery are all found within. So too is a spa with a menu of Ayurvedic treatments, a pool, a yoga studio and four restaurants. The Imperial is found in Janpath, just over half a mile from New Delhi’s centre, ideal for business travellers.

For anyone who enjoys gazing at the landscape, the Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai is a natural choice – with its iconic windows spanning the entire height of the rooms, allowing for a glorious view of the metropolis and its bathing shores. This hotel is located in a beautiful glass toward that looks incredibly modern and fresh, although it draws from inspiration from the ancient Indian architectural practices. The result is a markedly cosmopolitan accommodation that feels very in-tune with traditional values and secular ideals.

With its open helipad, the ITC Gardenia allows you to arrive into the heart of the city, in movie-star style, greeted by a staff member in tails, presented a chilled glass of champagne. The building was created as a tribute to Bangalore, and pays homage to the region’s culture throughout. It was the first hotel in Asia to have a Platinum rating under LEED®, thanks to its eco-conscious approach; its vertical lawned wall proving a notable feature. Take a medicinal or spiritual journey at Kaya Kalp – The Spa. And feast on everything from kebabs to robatayaki and tapas, at the seven eateries, which include a semi-open-air, grass-roofed Lotus Pavilion.