13 best hotels in India, from transformed palaces to city boltholes
India is one of the largest countries in the world and home to some of the best, most spectacular hotels. There’s something magical about it. There must be - just ask anyone who’s been, and they’ll likely describe it with misty-eyed optimism and tell tales of its place in their hearts. Whether it’s a first-time trip you’re planning or a return to explore different regions, from the Southern city of Channai to mountainous Himalayan landscapes, finding the right place to stay can add to the experience. From dollhouse-like boutique accommodation in Jaipur where meditation rooms and Tibetan treatments are par for the course, to the spectacular, palace-inspired architecture of India’s most famous hotels, these are the best places to stay in the country, as curated by the editors of Conde Nast Traveller.
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How we choose the best hotels in India
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve. Find out more about our editorial standards and how we review hotels.
Rishul BangarhotelSamode Palace
Stepping into Samode, 45 kilometres from Jaipur airport in India, feels like entering a half-remembered epic. First the cobbled street of an old village, then four domed gateways, and suddenly, a palace with the Aravalli mountains rising behind it. Each doorway frames the one across from it, creating a hypnotic progression through centuries. Outside it may be the 21st century, but at Samode you are in the era of Rajputana royalty, and that mood carries through everything: the service, the cuisine, the architecture, the decor. What began as a 16th-century fort evolved over generations into a palace. The family still runs it today, and their touch is palpable, from the warm welcome by staff who anticipate needs before they are spoken. Like in all great palaces, intrigue lingers in its details: hidden alcoves, scalloped arches, carved parapets, frescoes of a faded Durga on her tiger, a centuries-old miniature of Radha, and ceilings painted in indigo and rose. The Sheesh Mahal dazzles most dramatically, where 250-year-old Belgian glass mosaics glimmer across vaulted ceilings. The palace has its enchantments, but the kitchens are where the alchemy really happens, recipes tested over centuries: lamb in gently spiced curry, locally grown greens, wines from a cellar stocked with improbable vintages. There are two restaurants at the palace, but the true joy is in its movable feasts – a dinner in the Durbar Hall, lunch at the Sheesh Mahal, a tea in the garden, or supper on the pool deck under the stars. Everything here feels unstaged, unfiltered, and regally authentic. Just as it should be. Shunali Khullar Shroff
hotelThe Oberoi, Mumbai
$$$Perched on the tip of South Mumbai, the 237-key Oberoi Mumbai overlooks the glittering lights of the curved bay that forms the Queen’s Necklace. The stark modernist building with its soaring atrium was among the first hotels built by legendary hotelier Biki Oberoi in 1986, setting new standards in design and service for luxury hospitality in India and becoming a defining part of the Mumbai skyline. In the four decades since, the property has remained a grand doyenne of hospitality, even as the city around it has churned and reshaped itself. Walk into the lobby and the first thing that greets you is an ever-smiling member of the staff. The changing colours of the sky and the ever-shifting sea are framed as the perfect artwork in the ocean-view suites, the residences, and at the Art Deco-inspired Eau Bar, one of the best sundowner spots in the city with views of the Arabian Sea. Diya Kohli
hotelWelcomhotel By ITC Hotels, Pine N Peak
A herd of sheep blocks your car that has so far been gliding down the smooth road in Lidder Valley. The fast-flowing river is your constant companion along the turns and bends, ensuring you know the valley is named after it. The two-and-a-half-hour drive from Srinagar to Pahalgam unspools like a primer on Kashmir's greatest hits: mountains so green you’d think someone turned up the saturation; wild horses grazing in meadows; tiny hamlets of wooden homes with carved windows and pitched roofs; and roadside fruit stands with apples piled high. The road winds upward through a pine forest until you reach a hotel that looks like it has quietly grown out of the hillside: the chalet-style Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Pine N Peak. Inside, it feels like Kashmir reinterpreted, with its vaulted ceilings, textured walnut-wood doors, and chesterfield sofas upholstered in local fabrics. The kitchen does justice to Kashmir's culinary grammar across three dining venues that offer a plethora of multicuisine dishes. For guests who want wellness indoors, there is a spa with a range of therapies and a well-equipped fitness centre. However, the real sense of well-being is in the outdoors, whether it’s an early-morning stroll through the gardens that spill into the forest, soundtracked by the rushing river below; an afternoon walk on the forest trails or through nearby villages that ends with a picnic by the Lidder; or an evening back at the property, relaxing by a crackling fire. Shunal Khullar Shroff
Martin Harvey/Courtesy The Oberoi Udaivilas, UdaipurhotelThe Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur
$$$Rising like a great gilded cake from the western shores of Lake Pichola, magnificent Udaivilas is just the spot to wash up after a dusty Rajasthan road trip. This particular pleasure palace is a relatively recent arrival, but, like the 18th-century mansions it overlooks, it was built to showcase the craftsmanship of the Rajput era: marble-carved lotus ponds; glittering thikri mosaics; delicate miniatures painted on pale gold walls hand-plastered with lime, crushed marble, egg white, and tamarind. The spectacular Candle Room contains a dome set with thousands of pieces of mirrored glass. Udaipur’s busy market streets are only a few miles away, but Udaivilas has the luxury of space: 30 acres of what used to be the Maharana of Mewar’s hunting estate, with bird-filled grounds and views of the pretty lake and its floating mansions. All this grandeur could feel cold and overwhelming if it weren’t for the excellent staff. Guests are greeted off the motor boat by doormen with great twirling moustaches, and within minutes everyone knows your name. Small, personal interventions include gifts of a metal-wrought tea light or beaded bag, say, left in your room alongside a handwritten note. In the most romantic city in India, this is the most spectacular place to stay. Pippa de Bruyn
Ahilya Fort Devi MaheshwarhotelThe Ahilya Fort Heritage Hotel Maheshwar
In Madhya Pradesh, the state at India’s heart, this 18th-century sandstone fort on the banks of the Narmada River was restored by the descendants of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, the monarch of the Maratha Empire. Since its partial conversion to a hotel by Prince Richard Holkar in 2000, it’s become a place to sink into the slower, spiritual side of India – on birdsong-filled terraced gardens over-looking the river or in the fort’s 250-year-old Ganesh temple, with its enormous bell suspended from an ancient champa tree. Nineteen rooms are scattered over six buildings and intricate maze-like ramparts. The vivid hues of Maheshwari saris enliven the calming palettes of whites and pastels.
Today’s prince is intimately involved, designing and planting the hotel gardens and insisting on conscious hospitality, from strict rules around plastics and waste water to supporting the local Rehwa Society, which has revived the dying art of Maheshwari hand-weaving, especially for saris. Lunch salads from the organic garden and thali suppers are served in surprising nooks: in the garden, under a lush canopy of vines, or on a rounded rampart. The afternoon tea service, aboard a hand-poled wooden boat drifting along the river, is a treat. Unfailingly gracious staff can arrange magical excursions, from sunset and sunrise cruises to village walks, temple visits and riverside arti prayer ceremonies. Every morning, 11 Brahmin priests perform the ancient Lingarchan Puja, a Hindu blessing ritual, near the covered breakfast mandap – just one of many moments to treasure here. Shunali Khullar Shroff
Villa Palladio JaipurhotelVilla Palladio Jaipur
This boutique hotel, a third Jaipur project by Swiss Italian hotelier Barbara Miolini and her Danish design collaborator Marie-Anne Oudejans, is a riotous ode to Rajasthani craftsmanship and colour, especially hot red. On the outskirts of the city, it is as much a bijou cabinet of curiosities as a retreat, with strikingly white crenellated walls above red awnings and a delicious confection of carved stone trellises, block-printed fabrics, hand-painted walls, and checkerboard-marble courtyards with bubbling fountains. Nine dollhouse-like rooms – including four on grounds dotted with rosebushes and jasmine and palm trees – come richly patterned in red and white with gold accents, each with plush beds, block-printed bathrobes, and soft Jaipuri slippers. Clear blue skies and the forested green hills of the lesser Aravallis are picturesquely framed in the multilobed arches of the breakfast terrace, and candlelit dinners are brightened by starlight. There’s a meditation room, a library, a small two-bed spa offering Tibetan treatments, and the sun-warmed pool with its candy-striped pool house and pavilion bar. At night, the gorgeous dining area overlooking the grounds serves up delicious Indian and Italian dishes. Divya Mishra
Himanshu LakhwanihotelRaffles, Jaipur
While it might be among the smaller hotels in the brand’s portfolio, Raffles Jaipur is replete with a sense of place and an inherent sumptuousness that is a throwback to its first outing in Singapore in 1887. Ensconced amid a luxury mile in Kukas village on the outskirts of Jaipur, which houses big hitters like Leela, Taj, and Le Meridien, the property’s size plays to its advantage in a city crowded with sprawling destination wedding hotels and larger-than-life palaces. The rooftop is a wide open space with an infinity pool lit by giant mashaals and feels like the royal baths of yore. The adjacent bar and dining area have several enclosed chattri-style domes. Tucked into a niche, a stylish cigar lounge offers a space to retreat with a book and a snifter of fine cognac. The rooms and suites across eight categories fan out around long verandahs, each a private oasis with a balcony facing away from the main road and an outdoor tub or private pool.
The food across the hotel is a mix of global and Indian flavours along with local Rajasthani fare including street food classics like the mirchi bada, laal maas, and more. And then of course there's the Raffles signature, the gin sling, with every property around the world adding local flavours to the tropical tipple. Here is includes a hibiscus infusion and a generous dash of Chandrahas, a local brew with a regal lineage that combines over 80 herbs. The result: a terracotta pink cocktail that matches the walls of its home city. Diya Kohli
hotelThe Leela Palace, Chennai
One of the originals of the Leela group, The Leela Palace Chennai is spot-on for so many reasons. For starters, it nails the location. Set in nearly five acres of prime seafront in the heart of the city, the hotel offers proximity to business and leisure destinations as well as the feeling of being away at a seaside resort. The designers have made every use of the setting and provided a significant number of sea-facing rooms. Restaurants China XO and Jamavar – the former serving Cantonese-focused fare and the latter dishes from India’s north and south – are easily among Chennai’s best. Even if gold isn’t your colour and over-the-top opulence is not your style, you’ll still love the thoughtful and impeccable butler service that has me returning time and time again. Prasad Ramamurthy
AMIT PASRICHAhotelRaffles Udaipur
Set on a 21-acre island on Udai Sagar Lake and surrounded by the Aravalli Range, the first Raffles outpost in India is all about taking it easy: Think long breakfasts over multiple cups of French-press coffee, massages at the sprawling spa, and custom cocktails at the Long Bar. Plus, it has the kind of service that warrants repeat visits. (This is Raffles, after all.)
The 101 guest rooms and suites come with private gardens or pools (or both). If you’re a) a sucker for views and b) a fan of peace and quiet, you should book a room on an upper floor, facing the south. They may not have pools, but you’ll have views of the lake, its avian population (including flamingos that are the hotel’s unofficial mascot), and the hills folding away into the distance. Plus, you’ll be insulated from the cacophony of Indian weddings, which the hotel is a popular venue for. Don't miss the nearly 12,000-square-foot spa, offering Ayurveda and aromatherapy-centric treatments with products from Australian brand Subtle Energies. The all-natural, cruelty-free products use ingredients like Kashmiri lavender, 24-karat gold, crushed pearls, neem, and wild turmeric. I particularly loved the de-stressor massage – the staff was well-trained, asked all the right questions, and left me with an overall feeling of wellness when I left. Prasad Ramamurthy
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Rahul Kizhakke VeettilhotelMementos by ITC Hotels
Breakfast by the lake, yoga under the stars, bird watching, nature hikes, outdoor movie screenings – no demand is too high at Mementos by ITC Hotels. The hotel, which is the first under ITC’s Mementos brand, promises mental souvenirs you’ll be tapping into days after your vacation. The hotel is situated 50 minutes from central Udaipur, but therein lies its charm. It’s a perfect alternative for travellers looking to spend time in the countryside, away from the thick of the throng yet within easy access to the historic centre. The 117 villas and suites start from 500 square feet and, depending on the category, come with either terraces, gardens, private plunge pools, or all of the above. All rooms offer a view—some overlook the valley, while others the lake. They are sumptuously decorated with golden accents simmered by a muted colour palette. Some bathrooms come with Victorian-style bathtubs that sit under sunroofs or the warm glow of a chandelier. For meals, there’s the ITC signature Royal Vega, where your silver thali gleams with recipes from the kitchens of maharajas of the past. At Kebabs & Kurries, feast on perennial favourites such as galouti kebabs, dal Bukhara, and nihari. But before you settle down in one of these restaurants, note that sunset drinks are de rigueur by the infinity pool at the Rock Bar. Shradha Shahani
Himanshu LakwhanihotelSitara Himalaya
At an altitude of 8,200 feet, 14 miles below the Rohtang Pass and on the way to the ancient Buddhist valleys of Lahaul and Spiti, Sitara Himalaya is a glorious showcase for the Good Earth aesthetic. The splendour of the interiors is immediate. Nothing here is standard issue. Tibetan rugs, ornamental blue and white china, a bold brass work by Vikram Goyal, hand-painted murals of hummingbirds and mountain passes, vases of flowers, and the earthy smell of juniper berry incense. On one wall, two embroidered Chamba Rumal panels, sewn by local women, depict scenes from the story of Krishna. A beautiful, dedicated library space is painted in homage to Buddhist monasteries. Wake up in the morning to a view of a glacier on one side, a waterfall on the other and behind you the very spot where it is believed thousands of years ago the great Indian sage Rishi Ved Vyas meditated for 12 years before inscribing the eternal cosmic wisdom into the four Vedas.
Food here follows a journey through the Himalayan ranges: tender tandoors and chargrills from the Khyber, decadent Wazvan from Jammu and Kashmir, Anglo-Indian dishes from the hill stations, and Dham Thali from Himachal Pradesh. For a deep and immersive well-being retreat, the ‘Svasthi’ area, set at the highest point of the property with astounding views of the Himalayas, is an authentically designed hideaway rooted in the concepts of the Vedas. The gorgeous hot water plunge pool is scented with Himalayan Deodar, the infrared sauna with pretty walls made of bricks of Himalayan salts, detoxifies and relaxes the central nervous system and the steam room is energised with rock crystals. Daisy Finer
hotelAnopura Jaipur
Anopura offers a peek into life in rural India. Expect open fields, cobbled paths, dairy farms, and cattle sheds, against a stark landscape and hugged by the Aravalli mountains. Comforts of modernity – think private pools and air conditioning – blend seamlessly into the rustic setting of the villas with uneven flooring, thatched roofs, and antique home accessories. Each of the older villas is unique in its design, but the architecture harks back to traditional homes in the region. Complete with thatched roofs, courtyards, and private pools by which charpoys are reimagined as daybeds, the villas are filled with antiques that Baheti has collected over the years. The vibe is of a Jai Wolf single, an easy blend of simplicity and sophistication without the soulless manicured experiences of large hotel chains. If leopard safaris, countryside hikes or birding walks aren’t your scene, you can entertain yourself (or your little ones) with a pottery or weaving class within the estate. The resort also encourages you to explore its dairy farm and livestock sheds where they’ll nudge you to milk the cows or hang out with the goats but also remind you that they’re pets and not food. Abhishek Mande Bhot
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Hajra Ahmad/Shakti HimalayashotelThiksey House, Shakti Himalaya
Your aircraft will likely loop a few times before it is cleared to land at Leh, one of the highest commercial airports in the world. But you won’t complain; the view out of the window is one to behold – white, crumpled peaks that eventually give way to a camel-coloured mountain desert. There's a local Ladakhi saying: “Where the road ends, the Shakti home begins.” And while that is somewhat of an exaggeration, it paints a fairly accurate picture. The Thiksey House was added to Shakti’s circuit of homes in Ladakh in 2023. Each house in Ladakh has a name, and this one is called Togar. It has been kindly leased from a local Ladakhi family, who built it in the 1980s. With poplar for beams and willow and hay on the roof, it retains the original bones. In the true spirit of a home, each house is reserved for one set of guests at a time.
The four rooms are all on the first level, accessed through a flight of stairs. In the foreground is farmland dotted with cattle and horses. In the background are the trans-Himalayas, snowcapped from November through May. All rooms bring you these scenes – but the prized ones are the two that frame the Thiksey Monastery like a 15th-century work of art. The interiors offer few distractions: no Nespresso machines or mini bars, no gaudy petit fours, no televisions, no freestanding baths – in fact, there are no tubs at all. All of this is perhaps to hint that your gaze should be way beyond, or deep within. The kitchen at Thiksey House is headed by Chef Yeshi Lama, a monk who traded his robes for an apron, and now makes some of the best aloo parathas around. The menu skews continental during the day (salads, pastas, and pies), and turns Indian at night. Guests usually spend some part of their time outdoors – hiking or biking – which is where the picnic hampers roll out. One day, you're enjoying warm chickpea falafel under the pink blossoms of an almond tree; the next you could be enjoying a home-cooked casserole on the slopes of a hill. Salil Deshpande
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