My hotel recommendations in India
The stasis imposed on our lives by the pandemic during the past two years has made us value travel unlike ever before. Exploring new places, meeting new people, learning about new cultures and savouring local cuisines is what feeds our soul and nourishes our minds. To travel is to experience life like one is born again.
Where you stay makes all the difference to how you experience a destination. This then is a list of some of the finest Indian hotels I’ve stayed at that have made my travels truly memorable
1. Glenburn Tea Estate, Darjeeling
A stunning piece of history surrounded by plantations, the Glenburn tea estate just outside of Darjeeling is easy luxury served in a teacup. Read More
2. Rajmahal Palace RAAS, Jaipur
There’s no better way to experience Jaipur like royalty than a stay at the Rajmahal Palace. With its opulent interiors, vibrant wallpaper and liveried staff that treat you like a princess, Rajmahal makes Jaipur impossible to leave. Read More
3. The Glenburn Penthouse, Kolkata
A shangri la of sorts, this luxurious boutique property that’s perched high above the historic parts of the city is Calcutta’s best-kept secret. I almost didn’t want to mention it here. Read More
4. Taj Umaid Bhavan Palace, Jodhpur
This magnificent heritage hotel at Jodhpur has since long been the pride of Rajputana India. It was once home to the city’s royal family and chances are that a stay within its golden sandstone interiors will delude you into believing you’re a royal too. Expect champagne and a rose petal shower on arrival, meals fit enough for Maharajas and strutting peacocks for company. Read More
5. Suryagarh, Jaisalmer
Located in Jaisalmer, this elegant hotel evokes memories of Rajasthan’s imperial past and recreates the grandeur of a lost era. Suryagarh is built like a traditional palace and set in the middle of a shimmering desert. With its traditional music and dance performances, rich Mewari cuisine and luxurious collonaded interiors, the hotel is a perfect oasis you never dreamed of. Read More
6. The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
It’s on every top hotel list in the world and with good reason. Every room of the Mughal era inspired resort overlooks the white-domed wonder that is the Taj Mahal. India is well known for its hospitality but the Amarvilas Agra sets a benchmark that’s hard to match when it comes to mehmaan navazi. Read More
7. Rokeby Manor, Mussoorie
This is a boutique hotel located in the heart of Landour near Mussoorie and while it doesn’t quite make it to the category of luxury hotels, it is a quaint heritage property that deserves to be experienced for its extraordinary colonial ‘hill station’ charm. Built by the British, the cantonment, the church and the ancient cemetery nearby, harkens back to the quiet mountain outpost life of a bygone era. Read More
8. JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resorts and Spa
If meditation, long mountain treks, farm to table eating and watching the sun disappear behind the mountains is your idea of a vacation then this sprawling hotel property is the place for you. Located just outside of Mussoorie, it’s also home to the very first book club in the mountains. I cannot think of a better destination for lovers of Garwhali and Kumaoni food. Read More
9. Wildflower Hall, An Oberoi Resort, Shimla
The former residence of the erstwhile commander in chief of the British army, Wildflower Hall is nestled between the woods that are surrounded from all sides by the towering Himalayan range. Being a mountain lover myself, I cannot think of a grander and more romantic setting to rejuvenate mind and body in. Read More
10. The Lalit Grand Palace, Srinagar
Formerly the palace residence of the Maharaja of J&K, the sprawling lawns of the Lalit Grand Palace overlook the tranquil waters of the Dal Lake. The palace counts among its guests Lord Mountbatten and Mahatama Gandhi. Wazwan cuisine, rides in the shikaara and chardonnay under its centuries-old trees, a stay in at this expansive property is an experience one will savour for years. Read More
11. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Formerly the palace residence of the Maharaja of J&K, the sprawling lawns of the Lalit Grand Palace overlook the tranquil waters of the Dal Lake. The palace counts among its guests Lord Mountbatten and Mahatama Gandhi. Wazwan cuisine, rides in the shikaara and chardonnay under its centuries-old trees, a stay in at this expansive property is an experience one will savour for years.The iconic Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai is one of Mumbai’s grandest landmarks and a gateway to experiencing Indian luxury at its finest. Like a sentinel watching over the city’s harbour, this seafront hotel with its red domed roof, its tall onyx columns, impossibly shiny flooring and alabaster ceilings is a fine example of Moorish, Oriental, Tanjore, Rajput and Edwardian styles that all come together to form a perfect architectural symphony. From GB Shaw to Somerset Maugham, the Beatles to Barack Obama, Yoko Ono to Madonna, this historic hotel has played host to some famous guests from around the world. My favourite thing to do here, however, is to gaze at the boats in the harbour and enjoy afternoon tea at the Sea Lounge, the utterly charming tearoom on the first floor of the property. Read More
