India is a delightful destination to visit, offering a plethora of travel experiences. Stretching from the mighty peaks of the Himalayas in the north to the tropical beaches in the south, India’s expansive borders encompass an incredible range of contrasts, landscapes, cultures, and religions.
The country is home to many UNESCO World Heritage sites, from the 7th wonder of the world Taj Mahal to majestic palaces and forts that were built hundreds of years ago, still standing upright to narrate the testimony of time of India’s rich culture and history. The nation also features vast wilderness areas, national parks and nature sanctuaries that are home to exciting wildlife, such as elephants, lions, and tigers. Here’s my roundup of the 12 most amazing hotels in India, where you can stay in lavish luxury.
Ram Bagh Palace,
India’s first hotel-palace Ram Bagh Palace that is located in Jaipur, the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan in the Northern part of the country.
When approaching to this architectural splendor, you will drive into the magnificent huge garden with oval flowerbeds and sculptured cropped fruit trees: papaya, mango and oranges and Lalique fountain on the lawn.
Most rooms in this palace-hotel are royally luxurious: oak door mirrors cover in gold, marble tables and red-yellow-green benches with mountains of hand-made embroidered pillows. Here you feel not like a guest of the hotel, but like a guest of a huge famous palace.
Taj Palace, Udaipur
Located in Lake Pichola, Taj Lake Palace Udaipur is one of the most romantic and luxurious hotels in the world. So, if you’re looking to be spoilt with luxury and want an experience of a lifetime, then you must stay at the Taj Lake Palace.
Taj Lake palace lets you experience royalty from the beginning with its grand welcome. As soon as you get off the boat at the Sadar Ghat, you will be showered with rose petals and a plate of refreshments. Later you’ll be escorted by the guards, and you will enter the palace in style under the shade of an umbrella.
The rooms are so grand and royal filled with paintings, stonework, inland stones, and carved arches. Taj Lake Palace has about 66 rooms and suites each of which offers a breathtaking view of the lake. The highest suite category is the Grand Presidential Suite offering exceptional luxury, royal glory, and a design that mixes the best of Rajasthani and British era charm.
The Leela Palace, Delhi
The Leela Palace, one of the most luxurious hotels in In the heart of Delhi’s leafy diplomatic enclave, is designed exactly as a modern day Indian maharaja would wish. The hotel sits amid a sea of greenery that is far from the bustling, busy image that many have of Delhi. And at around thirty minutes to the airport, it is an ideal base for any short city trips.
The rooftop temperature controlled pool and bar area makes for a welcome afternoon escape after a day of exploring the streets of Old Delhi.
The 260 rooms and suites are considered to be the largest in the city. Decorated opulently in rich creamy shades, heavy silks and mahogany furniture. Everything is controlled from an iPod and the heavy windows make for a perfect nights sleep.The marble bathrooms are equally spacious with walk-in showers and a separate bath, complete with its own TV screen.
Oberoi, Mumbai
Located right on the Marine Drive, The Oberoi is actually attached to the Trident hotel (which shares the same owners), so guests can also enjoy the facilities there, which include a playground on a lawn and a more impressive pool. It is undoubtedly the premium most hotel you can stay in South Bombay.
Overlooking the Arabian Sea ‘Eau Bar' has live jazz band performances in the evenings while just off the lobby the ‘Champagne Lounge' serves a range of champagne and teas for guests.
A rooftop swimming pool and spa complete the facilities.
A rooftop swimming pool and spa complete the facilities. The rooms are furnished and are filled with light and offer panoramic views of the city or the sea with dark oak wood floors and deep walnut furniture which contrast with the brilliant colours of silk cushions and specially commissioned oil paintings.
Oberoi Amar Vilas, Agra
The Oberoi Amarvillas in Agra is the only hotel with unobstructed views to India’s most iconic landmark, where you can watch the colours of the Taj Mahal change from sunrise to sunset from your own private balcony. Golf carts continuously transport guests to the Gate entrance so you can be first in line for the sunrise shot.
The enormous swimming pool is set within beautifully cascading, landscaped garden where the domes and arches continue the Mughal palace design. The Oberoi Amarvillas deserves to be one of the jewels in all of India.
All of the rooms and suites have unrestricted views, complete with private balconies, to the spectacular Taj Mahal. Elements of Indian craftsmanship are woven into the design of the rooms; traditional teak Indian bed frames, hand knotted rugs, marble bathrooms. The eye is inevitably drawn to the large windows that serve as a perfect frame for the Taj Mahal, a view that would be very hard to beat.
Taj Lands End, Mumbai
With magnificent views of the Arabian Sea, and less touristy than its more famous sibling, the Taj Lands End offers beautifully appointed rooms and suites, excellent dining options, and of course the legendary Taj hospitality. We believe this hotel is an excellent base to explore Mumbai since it's located in Bandra, a city famous for its Bollywood connections.
Very popular with the locals, especially at sunset, take a walk along the promenaded to get a feel of what Mumbai offers visitors.
With over 400 rooms, including 33 suites, the Taj Lands End is one of the largest hotels in Mumbai. Its central location allows easy accessibility to the domestic and international airports, the local business districts including the Bandra-Kurla complex, and the spectacular Bandra Worli Sea-Link bridge.
Oberoi Raj Vilas, Jaipur
In the inner sanctum of Oberoi Raj Vilas Jaipur, you will find 54 deluxe rooms and villas (villas have private heated pools) and 14 luxury tents. If camping makes you cringe, think again: imagine clawfoot free-standing bathtubs, your own private garden, alfresco breakfasts, butlers, king-size beds, Burmese teak floors, embroidered interior canopies, rose petals and candles. A tent fit for a king.
Perfectly positioned in the centre of their grounds, as a blessing itself, is a centuries-old temple, where Aarti (a Hindu religious ritual) is held twice a day. When you think of True Luxury, Oberoi Raj Vilas should be on the top of your mind.
The hotel offers traditional fabric printing activities for children, as well as classes on how to create the most elegant decorations with petals floating on water, as seen in the finest hotels and spas. The hotel offers a leisurely elephant ride through a local village and the surrounding countryside, which culminates with a gourmet picnic at the magnificently restored Naila Fort, a private property owned by the Oberoi family.
Leela Palace, Udaipur
Set on the banks of the beautiful Lake Pichola, The Leela Palace Udaipur has 80 luxurious rooms and suites with captivating views of this romantic heritage city and the surrounding majestic Aravalli Mountains. Renowned architect Bill Bensley and interior designer Jeffrey Wilkes have created a modern palace recalling the grandeur of Udaipur’s historic past. The design is contemporary with traditional elements of Rajasthani artistry.
Experience the fairy-tale setting and authentic royal treatment of this stunning luxury hotel, featuring a luscious courtyard, lakeside pool, opulent spa, and alfresco fine dining.
Guests are ferried to the hotel in delicately adorned private boats and check in takes place directly in the room. With a personalised butler on every floor to cater to your requirements, this modern palace leaves no stone unturned to ensure that you have a grand royal experience.
Taj Falaknuma, Hyderabad
Recently coming into the limelight as the venue that hosted one of the most glittering and star-studded Bollywood weddings in recent times viz. The Taj Falaknuma Palace. The opulence of the Nizams certainly knew no bounds. The erstwhile rulers of the princely state of Hyderabad left their legacy behind as true patrons of art and culture, but it was their love for Palaces that has truly given people a glimpse into their extravagant lives. They owned quite a few palaces in Hyderabad alone, including the elegant Chowmallah Palace, but the Falaknuma Palace is definitely the most stunning of them all.
Falaknuma Palace is a hotel that combines a rich history and grandeur, an unforgettable location, world-class service, beautiful rooms, an indulgent spa, delicious local food and the best arrival to any hotel. There are so many things that make Falaknuma Palace the magical place like the magical horse ride entry and much more.
Taj Theog, Shimla
The Indian Hotels Company Limited introduced the Taj brand to Himachal Pradesh with the opening of Taj Theog Resort & Spa, Shimla. Located under the snowy peaks of the Himalayas in northern India, the new property marks the company’s first mountain resort.
The hotel offers 99 rooms, each with spacious balconies looking out over the mountains. Guests here have access to an expansive spa, a temperature-controlled pool with a deck and an assortment of specially designed local experiences. Situated amid a thick cedar forest, the five-acre property also provides a system of pathways for visitors looking to wander its apple orchards and terraced gardens.
While the design and architecture echoes colonial charm reminiscent of hill station appeal, the 99 key resort is the quintessential luxurious home in the hills. The mastermind behind the design of Taj’s first hospitality project in Himachal Pradesh, takes into account the scale of the spaces created by the New Delhi based architectural firm Pradeep Sachdeva Design Associates(PSDA). ET Hospitality World caught up with Ankur Choksi, Principal at the Studio Lotus, that has designed the public spaces, to know about the whole process his team went through to bring out the best of Tajness.
Oberoi Cecil, Shimla
Oberoi Cecil of Shimla is a finest luxury resort. This is barely 1O km walk from Shimla railway station and 1.3km from the mall road. This is a landmark colonial hotel and was constructed in 1884. You will enjoy your stay here as the rooms are made up of teak wooden floors and houses colonial style marble floors. The rooms are also adorned with period antiques.
The Oberoi Cecil, Shimla offers genuine, regal style accommodation, an in house restaurant, a sky lit relax bar, a spa, pool, convention rooms and a children’s commotion centre.
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Shimla’s only heated swimming pool and guided walks around the city’s famous sights. The Oberoi Cecil features a magnificent entrance hall and a colonial ballroom cum restaurant.
Wildflower Hall, Shimla
Wildflower Hall is a gorgeous property. If you are a fan of The Himalayas, age-old Colonial architecture and chandeliers, pine trees, cedar forests, wild strawberry trail, you will definitely love this place. Wildflower Hall is located amidst the cedar forest of Mashobra, Shimla and is situated at 8,250 feet above sea level facing The Himalayas surrounding you by the best of nature.
Wildflower Hall Oberoi has a huge indoor temperature controlled pool. The best part is their jacuzzi facing The Himalayas. The chilly weather and hot jacuzzi is an enthralling experience.
The resort offers leisure facilities like trekking, mountain biking, archery, billiards and more. Holistic treatments are provided to the guests based on Ayurvedic Asian and Western therapies to rejuvenate. The large open air terrace offers panoramic view to exude.
If you like this blog of ours, please share with your friends and family who'd be interested to visit the hotels and for the best deals, contact Akkshay Jain at Penina Experiences. They're Corporate Partners with all leading 5 star properties pan India and can genuinely give you unmatchable rates due to the volume of work they do.
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