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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A luxurious hideaway from the bustling streets of Delhi, The Oberoi, New Delhi has established itself as a destination for the world’s most discerning guests from presidents to global CEOs and celebrities over the past fifty years. The Oberoi, New Delhi features 220 rooms, including 34 suites which are spacious and luxurious with an abundance of natural light. The hotel’s enviable location in the heart of New Delhi, offers striking views of the 16th century Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the 18-hole Delhi Golf Course, India’s oldest golf course’s vast greenways. Oberoi’s signature design aesthetic of height, light, water, and space can be seen throughout the hotel. Diners can sample Michelin-star cuisine at two of the hotel’s restaurants in partnership with acclaimed Chef Andrew Wong of the famed “A. Wong” Chinese two Michelin-star restaurant and Michelin-star chef, Chef Vineet Bhatia MBE, the first Indian chef to be honoured with a Michelin star. Dhilli by Chef Vineet Bhatia opened its doors earlier this year as the city’s newest culinary hotspot. Diners can explore an exquisite mix of Chef Vineet’s signature recipes and legacy cooking traditions passed on through generations. From the rich culinary heritage of Old Delhi’s pulsating lanes to Rajouri Gardens and everything in between. The rooftop bar, Cirrus9, offers specially curated beverages and panoramic views overlooking the Golf Course, perfect for sundowners in the evening and to enjoy the warm evenings. The Oberoi Pâtisserie & Delicatessen is India’s first exclusive gourmet store which offers a wide range of desserts and cakes, high-quality delicatessen items, freshly baked bread, homemade single-origin chocolates, cheeses, and condiments to eat-in or takeaway.

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.

The nearby palaces and traditional Mewari architecture served as the inspiration for Nimish Patel, as she designed this grand lakeside property from scratch. It spans 50 acres teeming with birdlife, featuring pastel-coloured and gilt domed pavilions housing 87 rooms, a spa and several restaurants. The decor provides an old-world elegance, while staff offer an attentive first-class service with personalised and lavish attention to detail. Dine alfresco by candlelight beside a lily pond, relax next to your private plunge pool beneath a mustard-hue fringed parasol, book some Ayurvedic treatments, take a yoga class and spend some time reading in the library.

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.

The height of this skyscraper ensures its roof terrace — home to the funky Hype Bar with live DJs — boasts panoramic views. The Far Eastern connections of this chain are evident in touches such as staff uniform design and spa treatments. Dine with all the family any time of the day, in the Asian and continental B Café with its show kitchens and enormous breakfast buffets. Then there’s Caprese for Mediterranean food, Yataii for some of the best sushi and kaiseki dinners for miles, Ssaffron for local flavours and the Shang Palace signature Chinese restaurant.

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.