25 Best Luxury Hotels in India for a Beautiful Escape

Some hotels are simply where the day ends. Others become one of the reasons for taking the trip.

Snow outside a window in Gulmarg. Lake Pichola turning golden in the evening. Mist hanging over a Coorg forest… these little moments are what make luxury hotels in India feel special.

And luxury looks different everywhere. Rajasthan has palaces, Kerala has backwaters, Karnataka has forests and the Himalayas bring mountains and much-needed quiet. The best luxury hotels in India are often those that still feel connected to where they are.

Here are 25 luxury stays in India worth travelling for.

Luxury Hotels in India Worth Travelling For

1. The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Gulmarg

Location: Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir
How to reach: Srinagar Airport and Srinagar Railway Station are roughly 55-60 km away.

Outside is snow, and the inside is warm wood. Here winter is a magical season and summer offers green meadows and better views of the mountains. 

Amenities: Heated pool, spa, restaurants, fitness facilities.
Nearby Attractions: Gulmarg Gondola, Apharwat Peak, Khilanmarg.

One of the most scenic hotels in India for mountain lovers.

2. The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur

Location: Udaipur, Rajasthan
How to reach: Maharana Pratap Airport is around 25-30 km; Udaipur City Railway Station is 6-8 km.

There’s of course, Lake Pichola. Then, the domes, fountains and gardens. As the day winds down, it’s just as beautiful, and it’s just as logical to slow it down. 

Amenities: Pools, spa, fine dining, lake-facing rooms.
Nearby Attractions: City Palace, Lake Pichola, Jagdish Temple.

It continues to be among the best luxury hotels in India for romance.

3. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur

Location: Lake Pichola, Udaipur
How to reach: Maharana Pratap Airport is around 25 km; the railway station is roughly 4-5 km from the boat transfer point.

A palace. In the middle of a lake. Dramatic enough already.

Then guests arrive by boat and the white-marble palace slowly gets closer… quite an entrance! 

Amenities: Heritage rooms, pool, spa, restaurants.
Nearby Attractions: City Palace, Jag Mandir, Jagdish Temple.

One among the most beautiful hotels in India.

4. Wildflower Hall, Shimla

Location: Chharabra, Himachal Pradesh
How to reach: Shimla Airport is around 30 km; Shimla Railway Station is 15-17 km.

Cedar forests. Cold mountain air. In the background, there are Himalayas.

Here somehow feels far away from the bustling Shimla. This is a no-brainer for luxury hotels overlooking nature in India. 

Amenities: Heated pool, spa, restaurants, outdoor activities.
Nearby Attractions: Kufri, Mashobra, Jakhoo Temple.

5. The St. Regis Goa Resort

Location: Cavelossim, South Goa
How to reach: Dabolim Airport is around 35-40 km; Madgaon Railway Station is 15-20 km.

Not all Goa vacations require a timetable. Breakfast, beach and perhaps the pool. The laid-back vibe of South Goa is a perfect fit for this resort. 

Amenities: Beach access, pools, spa, restaurants.
Nearby Attractions: Mobor Beach, Cavelossim Beach, Sal River.

One of the most laid back luxury resorts in India. 

6. Kumarakom Lake Resort

Location: Kumarakom, Kerala
How to reach: Cochin Airport is around 70-75 km; Kottayam Railway Station is 15-17 km.

Coconut trees, traditional villas and Vembanad lake. Rushing to get anywhere doesn’t seem necessary in the mornings beside the backwaters. 

Amenities: Infinity pool, Ayurveda spa, restaurants.
Nearby Attractions: Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.

One of the peaceful luxury nature resorts in India.

7. Taj Madikeri Resort & Spa, Coorg

Location: Madikeri, Karnataka
How to reach: Kannur Airport is around 90-100 km; Mysuru Junction is 120-130 km.

Getting good results will take time.

Next, the woods.

The resort is surrounded by mist, deep valleys and green of Western Ghats. Few luxury resorts surrounded by nature in India feels quite this immersed in their surroundings. 

Amenities: Pools, spa, restaurants, nature activities.
Nearby Attractions: Raja’s Seat, Abbey Falls, Madikeri Fort.

8. The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort

Location: New Chandigarh, Punjab
How to reach: Chandigarh Airport is around 35-40 km; railway station is 25-30 km.

Occasionally, staying for two quiet days in the countryside is enough. Sukhvilas is perfect for it, as the forests are close by and the attitude towards wellness is prominent.

Amenities: Spa, pool, fine dining, wellness experiences.
Nearby Attractions: Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden, Pinjore Gardens.

9. Taj Falaknuma Palace

Location: Hyderabad, Telangana
How to reach: Hyderabad Airport is 15-20 km; Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station is 8-10 km.

This isn’t a new hotel trying to look royal. It really was a palace!

Chandeliers. Grand staircases. Ornate halls. In India, only a handful of 5 star hotels can match this history. 

Amenities: Palace rooms, pool, spa, fine dining.
Nearby Attractions: Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace, Mecca Masjid.

10. Taj Green Cove Resort & Spa

Location: Kovalam, Kerala
How to reach: Thiruvananthapuram Airport and railway station are roughly 12-15 km away.

Greenery first. Then a lagoon. Beyond it, the Arabian Sea.

Not much to complain about that setting! 

Amenities: Infinity pool, spa, restaurants.
Nearby Attractions: Kovalam Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Vizhinjam.

A lovely name among scenic hotels in India.

11. Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa

Location: Benaulim, South Goa
How to reach: Dabolim Airport is 25-30 km; Madgaon Railway Station is 8-10 km.

Broad lawns open up to Benaulim Beach and ample space to just chill. It’s not uncommon for breakfast to last until eleven o’clock! 

Amenities: Beach access, pool, spa, restaurants.
Nearby Attractions: Benaulim Beach, Colva Beach, Margao.

12. The Tamara Coorg

Location: Coorg, Karnataka
How to reach: Kannur Airport is 110-120 km; Mysuru Junction is 130-140 km.

A garden of coffee plants in front of the cottage. Birds are located somewhere in the trees. No traffic noise.

If you are looking for the best luxury resorts in India for those who wish to have some quiet, then The Tamara is one of the best places to be. 

Amenities: Spa, pool, restaurant, plantation walks.
Nearby Attractions: Coffee estates, waterfalls, trekking routes.

13. Evolve Back, Kabini

Location: Kabini, Karnataka
How to reach: Mysuru Airport is 80-90 km; Mysuru Junction is around 90 km.

The alarm goes off at a very early time at Kabini. With elephants, deer and perhaps a large cat lurking in the woods, however, it’s not all that bad to get up early. 

Amenities: Pools, Ayurveda centre, restaurants, wildlife experiences.
Nearby Attractions: Nagarhole National Park, Kabini backwaters.

One of the best luxury nature resorts in India.

14. Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa

Location: Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
How to reach: Jolly Grant Airport is 45-50 km; Yog Nagari Rishikesh is 30-35 km.

The Ganges below.

Himalayan slopes above.

In some cases, this is enough to understand why a place is going to be successful. It is definitely one of the luxury hotels with scenic views in India. 

Amenities: Pool, spa, restaurants, yoga.
Nearby Attractions: Rishikesh, Ganges, Neer Garh Waterfall.

15. Ananda in the Himalayas

Location: Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand
How to reach: Jolly Grant Airport is 35-40 km; Yog Nagari Rishikesh is 25-30 km.

You don’t need to use a sightseeing checklist. Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, a slow meal… maybe nothing else. 

Amenities: Ayurveda, spa, yoga, pool, wellness cuisine.
Nearby Attractions: Rishikesh, Narendra Nagar, Himalayan trails.

Best Luxury Resorts in India for Nature, Wildlife and Heritage

The experience varies on a per-hundred kilometre basis. Forts are in Rajasthan, backwaters are in Kerala, forests and tea gardens are in the hills. It’s this diversity that makes luxury hotels in India fascinating. 

16. The Oberoi Vanyavilas Wildlife Resort

Location: Ranthambore, Rajasthan
How to reach: Jaipur Airport is 150-170 km; Sawai Madhopur Junction is 5-10 km.

Safari at sunrise. Breakfast afterwards. Swim during the afternoon.

That could easily be the whole plan. 

Amenities: Luxury tents, pool, spa, dining.
Nearby Attractions: Ranthambore National Park, Ranthambore Fort.

17. Taj Bekal Resort & Spa

Location: Bekal, Kerala
How to reach: Mangaluru Airport is 70-75 km; Kasaragod Railway Station is 15-20 km.

Backwaters are seen everywhere here, as are palms and the Arabian Sea. The pace? Appropriately slow.

Amenities: Pool, spa, restaurants, villas.
Nearby Attractions: Bekal Fort, Bekal Beach, Kappil Beach.

18. The Leela Palace Udaipur

Location: Udaipur, Rajasthan
How to reach: Maharana Pratap Airport is 25-30 km; railway station is around 5 km.

Lake Pichola really doesn’t get boring. As evening falls, Udaipur starts to illuminate and suddenly no one is keen to go back inside.

Amenities: Pool, spa, fine dining, lake-facing rooms.
Nearby Attractions: City Palace, Lake Pichola, Jagdish Temple.

One of the most beautiful hotels in India.

19. Taj Wayanad Resort & Spa

Location: Wayanad, Kerala
How to reach: Calicut Airport is 85-100 km; Kozhikode Railway Station is 80-90 km.

Water. Hills. Forest.

The Banasura Sagar landscape is even more green after rains and everything feels fresher.

Amenities: Infinity pool, spa, restaurants.
Nearby Attractions: Banasura Sagar Dam, Pookode Lake, Edakkal Caves.

20. The Postcard Hideaway, Netravali

Location: South Goa
How to reach: Dabolim Airport is 60-70 km; Madgaon Railway Station is 45-50 km.

Goa?

Yes, but not the crowded one! Netravali is a forest area, with quiet roads, and very little of the usual beach-town rush. 

Amenities: Pool, restaurant, wellness experiences.
Nearby Attractions: Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, Savri Waterfall.

A rather different luxury nature resorts in India experience.

21. Taj Corbett Resort & Spa

Location: Ramnagar, Uttarakhand
How to reach: Pantnagar Airport is 90-100 km; Ramnagar Railway Station is 15-20 km.

Morning Safari. Evening at Kosi River. Something in between: nothing much should occur.

Amenities: Pool, spa, restaurants.
Nearby Attractions: Jim Corbett National Park, Kosi River, Garjiya Devi Temple.

22. Six Senses Fort Barwara

Location: Chauth Ka Barwara, Rajasthan
How to reach: Jaipur Airport is 120-130 km; Sawai Madhopur Junction is 30-40 km.

Ancient fortifications and contemporary well-being. Strange mix up on paper.

In fact… it works great! 

Amenities: Spa, pools, restaurants, yoga.
Nearby Attractions: Ranthambore National Park, Chauth Mata Temple.

A distinctive choice among luxury stays in India.

23. Taj Chia Kutir Resort & Spa

Location: Kurseong, West Bengal
How to reach: Bagdogra Airport and New Jalpaiguri Station are around 45-50 km away.

The hills are covered with tea gardens. Then the mist comes and some of them slowly fade away. 

These are the kind of mornings that makes hill holidays memorable.

Amenities: Indoor pool, spa, restaurants, tea experiences.
Nearby Attractions: Makaibari Tea Estate, Kurseong, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

One of the peaceful luxury resorts surrounded by nature in India.

24. Storii by ITC Hotels Amoha Retreat

Location: Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh
How to reach: Kangra Airport is 15-20 km; Pathankot Railway Station is 85-90 km.

Well, most of this work is done by the Dhauladhar mountains. That’s all that is needed except something hot to drink and that view. 

Amenities: Spa, restaurant, recreation spaces.
Nearby Attractions: McLeod Ganj, Norbulingka Institute, Dharamshala.

25. Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Andamans

Location: Swaraj Dweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
How to reach: Fly to Port Blair, followed by a ferry to Swaraj Dweep.

It is not easy to get here.

Then, Radhanagar Beach.

The trip seems quite insignificant in the presence of white sand, clear water and tropical forest. 

Amenities: Villas, pool, spa, restaurants, beach access.
Nearby Attractions: Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach, Kalapathar Beach.

Among the best luxury resorts in India for a resort getaway to the island.

Which Stay Suits Which Trip?

Luxury is personal. There are those who want palaces when they travel. Some wants forests. There are other people who would be happy to go to a quiet beach and do nothing. 

• Mountains: The Khyber or Wildflower Hall
• Royal stays: Taj Lake Palace or Taj Falaknuma Palace
• Romance: Oberoi Udaivilas or The Leela Palace
• Beaches: St. Regis Goa or Taj Exotica Andamans
• Wildlife: Oberoi Vanyavilas, Evolve Back or Taj Corbett
• Wellness: Ananda or Oberoi Sukhvilas

The most memorable 5 star hotels in India are typically the ones that remember the place. For those seeking a nature getaway, stay options are available on Solis Nature for travellers to explore. 

Before Booking

Even the best luxury hotels in India needs a little planning.

Confirm driving times, organise transfers to remote locations, hire a wildlife safari and confirm ferry times for the Andamans. Other closures may be caused by weather or seasonal conditions on mountain roads and national parks.

Airport distances and railway distances above are approximate and may need to be reconfirmed prior to travel. 

Conclusion

Chandeliers and a big suite are not the only signs of luxury. It’s sometimes a cup of coffee as Coorg vanishes into the mist, the quiet evening at Lake Pichola or when it snows outside a Gulmarg window.

The best luxury hotels in India get it that location outside the hotel is of significance too. So that’s the reason why luxury resorts in India are so diverse. There is no one definition of luxury here, from palaces to forests, from beaches to wildlife retreats.

In the list of 5 star hotels in India, the ones which are left in the memory are the ones which make travellers fall for the destination too. 

FAQs 

1. Which are some of the best luxury hotels in India?

Some of the best luxury hotels in India include The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, The Oberoi Udaivilas, Taj Lake Palace, Wildflower Hall and Taj Falaknuma Palace. The best choice ultimately depends on whether the trip is about mountains, beaches, wildlife, wellness or heritage.

More traveller recommendations can be found on Quora: Which are the best luxury hotels in India?

2. Which luxury hotels in India are best for a honeymoon?

The Oberoi Udaivilas, Taj Lake Palace and The Leela Palace Udaipur are lovely choices for couples, while The Khyber works well for a mountain honeymoon.

For more Rajasthan recommendations, see this Quora discussion on luxury honeymoon hotels in Rajasthan.

3. What are the best luxury resorts in India surrounded by nature?

Taj Madikeri Resort & Spa, The Tamara Coorg, Evolve Back Kabini, Taj Wayanad and Taj Chia Kutir are good options. These luxury resorts surrounded by nature in India offer easy access to forests, plantations, hills or wildlife landscapes.

4. Which 5 star hotels in India offer scenic views?

The Khyber in Gulmarg, Wildflower Hall near Shimla, The Oberoi Udaivilas and Taj Rishikesh are some 5 star hotels in India known for beautiful mountain, lake or river views.

5. Which luxury resorts in India are good for wildlife holidays?

The Oberoi Vanyavilas near Ranthambore, Evolve Back Kabini and Taj Corbett Resort & Spa are three strong options for combining wildlife experiences with a luxury stay.

6. Are there luxury nature resorts in India for a peaceful holiday?

Yes. Kumarakom Lake Resort, The Tamara Coorg, Taj Madikeri and The Postcard Hideaway Netravali are some luxury nature resorts in India suited to quieter, slower holidays.