Let’s talk luxury — Indian style.
India is no ordinary country but an experience. It is a land steeped in centuries-old history, culture, and an impressive streak of grandeur that simply cannot be ignored. So, for that in-your-face luxury experience, look nowhere but its luxury hotels.
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Beyond the usual 5 star hotels, one is talking about erstwhile palaces turned royal retreats, boutique hotels that are also art galleries, and experiences that include everything from handcrafted regional cooking to soul-enriching spa therapies.
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Whether looking at snow-covered Himalayas or watching the golden desert evening of Rajasthan, India's luxury hotels are oneself an experience beyond mere places to stay.
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So if your mind is running through ideas for the next outing, here is your Lonely Planet guide to indulgence — the irrefutable luxury hotels to know across India.
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Set against the tranquil backdrop of Lake Pichola, The Oberoi Udaivilas is an image of Mewar style of architecture. With intricate domes, hand-painted frescoes, and vast courtyards, this hotel gives an experience of a palace, just like the regal charm Udaipur is known for. Luxury suites come with their own private pools, and the spa is designed to offer wellness experiences based on Ayurveda.
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Rising above the Narmada River, it was the perfect location for such a concentration of history and hospitality. It was formerly a home of the Holkars. This boutique hotel consists of suites dating back centuries, garden courtyards, and riverfront views. Intimate and immersive, this suitability is for the heritage traveler.
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For lovers of all things design, Villa Palladio is a flamboyant nine-room hotel painted entirely in shades of red, with Italian-Rajputana meets Art Deco influences. Hidden in the Aravallis, this ostentatious hideaway offers a highly curated experience: think of antique bathtubs, handwoven textiles, and alfresco dining beneath bougainvillea canopies.
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Where modern design meets traditional opulence... Poised on an urban coast in Chennai and overlooking the Bay of Bengal by a stretch of marble-laden interiors, the hotel also has oceanfront suites and one of the best Japanese restaurants in the country—Megu.
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Once the royal residence of the Maharajas of Jammu & Kashmir, The LaLiT Grand Palace Srinagar is an imposing property set against a backdrop of the valley's raw natural splendor. The property is flanked by Chinar trees and the Zabarwan mountains and is perched on the banks of the seminal Dal Lake, with every suite flaunting a view right out of a postcard!
The rooms are regal yet comfortable, furnished with antiques and traditional Kashmiri style and decor while incorporating modern comforts. The hotel spa, Spiceology, provides luxury wellness using Himalayan therapies, whereas The Chinar Restaurant offers local and global culinary delights.
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Set on a private island on Udai Sagar Lake, Raffles Udaipur is among India’s newest and most luxurious hotels. With manicured gardens, white-marble interiors, and Raffles’ unparalleled service, it is an oasis of elegance. The rooms have balconies overlooking the lake, while the spa offers wellness rituals-from local to international.
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The 19th-century palace, now functioning as a hotel, is a riot of marble and Venetian chandeliers. The splendid glory of the palace includes guests arriving in horse-drawn carriages and a shower of rose petals cast on their arrival. Durbar Hall and Jade Room in the palace are treasures from times gone by, while a fine-dining menu is inspired by Nizami cuisine.
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Hidden in a former royal hunting ground, Amanbagh is a quiet retreat in Rajasthan, with luxury kept understated. Mughal-style gardens, sandstone views, and Ayurvedic treatments invite slow living and purposeful indulgence. Yoga, meditation, and organic dining nurture the soul.
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Breaking away from traditional five-star formulas, The Postcard Hotel in Goa is modern, minimalist, and very local. Here, guests are allowed to wake up without an alarm, eat whenever they want, and truly switch off. Each property in Goa is unique-there is a restoration of a Portuguese mansion on one; a beachside retreat on another.
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An 18th-century palace reincarnated with contemporary flair, RAAS Devigarh merges historic charm with sleek design. White marble suites overlooking Aravalli vistas; hot-stone massages in ancient havelis; and poolside cocktails beneath a fort-lit sky-this is what modern minimalism means to Rajasthani royalty.
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Luxury accommodations in India are so varied that each site comes with some or the other intriguing features: royal palaces or pure modernism with a calm demeanor. These hotels allow Indian hospitality to go to an even more elevated plane, be it wellness, arts, cuisine, or simply extravagance. Given that they have such an immense presence, The LaLiT Hotels are still acutely aware of their societal responsibilities and try to balance aesthetic luxury with social intent.
Maybe it's time to plan your next excursion and indulge in the free-wheeling spoiling that India has to offer.
Step into supreme luxury at the best hotels across India, where age-old mayhem rested against contemporary extravagance. This Editors' Choice listing of The 10 Best Luxury Hotels in India comprises premier names such as Oberoi Udaivilas, Raffles Udaipur, The Leela Palace, and the oldest and grandest LaLiT Grand Palace Srinagar. Five-star butlers, funky palace suites, spas, cooks, and the best of everything for the worldly traveler: each hotel is a universe of its own. Sited either on the lap of the Himalayan snow ranges or on the banks of royal lakes, these 5-star retreats stand for timeless grace with a study in finest Indian hospitality.
Q1.Which luxury hotel in India is the number one choice?
A. Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, is frequently considered the best because of its lofty architecture, lake views, and impeccable hospitality.
Q2.Which luxury hotel in India gives its guests the feel of a heritage palace?
A. LaLiT Grand Palace Srinagar, Taj Falaknuma Palace Hyderabad, and RAAS Devigarh Udaipur provide true palace stays with royal heritage.
Q3.Are there LGBTQ+ friendly luxury hotels in India?
A. Yes, few. LaLiT Hotels embrace the most ahead-of-its-time practices vis-à-vis gender-neutral hiring across all its properties, and stand with the LGBTQ+ cause.
Q4.Spa and wellness villa facilities are to be found in which top luxury Indian hotel?
A. Spiceology Spa, Grand Palace The LaLIT Srinagar and wellness beyond imagination at Amanbagh, Alwar.
Q5.A good mix of modern and heritage for luxury Indian hotels is?
A. Villa Palladio Jaipur and The LaLiT, New Delhi are the way to go since they juxtapose heritage elements with contemporary design.
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