The best palace hotels in India
India’s palaces are invitations to step into living history. Far from relics of a bygone era, these regal residences have today transformed into immersive stays, treating discerning adventurers to the country’s renowned warmth and hospitality, paired with indulgent flourishes.
If you’ve ever dreamed of being escorted by butlers in colourful turbans, walking beneath ceremonial umbrellas, being welcomed with garlands of marigolds or dining inside grand, mirrored rooms, make a palace stay part of your journey to India.
Ananda in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand
Overlooking the sacred Ganges River near Rishikesh, Ananda in the Himalayas sits on the former estate of the maharaja of Tehri Garhwal. Today, it’s one of the world’s leading destination spa resorts. Echoes of its royal past linger in the palace wing, with its vintage furnishings and impressive artwork, while modern comforts unfold across the estate’s 40 hectares of manicured gardens that house guest rooms and a state-of-the-art spa.
Mornings begin with yoga, followed by wellness therapies and lectures that offer insights into Hindu philosophy and spirituality. For a deeper cultural connection, venture into nearby Rishikesh to witness the nightly Ganga Aarti, a sunset ceremony of light, music and chanting on the riverbank.
Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan
Centuries ago, Rajasthan was brimming with palaces and forts; today, many are making a comeback. After the decade-long restoration of a 700-year-old warrior fortress, the first Six Senses venture in India now ranks among the country’s most prized palatial venues. Set in the small temple town of Chauth Ka Barwara, Fort Barwara covers more than two hectares in the Aravalli Hills.
Landscaped with towering cacti, the property is just 30 minutes from Ranthambore National Park, a notable sanctuary of the Bengal tiger. Sections of the fort, including the spa and temple, were preserved, while the rooms were built to align with its architectural roots. Inside, carved wooden furniture, mirrored walls and arched hallways evoke a distinctly royal atmosphere.
Ran Baas The Palace, Punjab
If your idea of palatial living comes with high-spirited Punjabi hospitality, head to Ran Baas The Palace . After decades lying empty, the former residence of queens and consorts is now under the Relais & Chateaux umbrella. The property sits within the larger Qila Mubarak complex in the town of Patiala, built in the 18th century and famed for maharajas who led extravagant lives.
A visit today offers a lens into Sikh royal architecture and craftsmanship: decorative lime plasterwork, intricately painted ceilings, Aleppo-mirrored panels and gilding all speak to the wealth of the Patiala kings. Sign up for a historical walk of Qila Mubarak with the hotel’s resident historian.
The Leela Palace Jaipur, Rajasthan
If an abundance of historical palaces wasn’t enough, India also boasts contemporary ones. The Leela Palace Jaipur is a prime example. It comes with all the trappings of older royal residences – peacock-clad walls, monumental fountains, marble elephants and the Mohan Mahal restaurant, also known as the “palace of mirrors”.
A short drive from Jaipur’s walled city in the resort town of Kukas, The Leela Palace Jaipur is ideally placed – removed from the city’s cacophony yet offering easy access to myriad architectural treasures, including the City Palace, Amber Fort and old bazaars.
Raffles Udaipur, Rajasthan
The aristocratic life is alive and well at Raffles’s first foray into India – an 8.5-hectare resort on a private island in Udaipur, India’s serene City of Lakes. It may be a newly built property, but with baroque gardens, marble fountains and rolling hills, it offers a slice of European opulence. That’s paired with Indian maharaja-style pampering thanks to the group’s signature “the butler did it” experience, where baths are drawn ready for you to have a soak and breakfast preferences remembered. In the mood for an aperitif? Get comfy in an armchair at The Writers Bar and order the Udaipur Sling, a local spin on the iconic Singapore Sling.
Rambagh Palace, Rajasthan
In the heart of Jaipur, Rambagh Palace reimagines the glory of a maharaja’s life. The Taj Hotels group operates several historic properties across India but, as the country’s first luxury palace hotel, Rambagh remains the most coveted.
From 1835, it served as the home of the queen’s favourite handmaiden before it became a hunting lodge, guesthouse, official residence of the maharaja of Jaipur and, eventually, Taj Rambagh Palace. Strutting peacocks, marbled corridors lined with period portraits, colonnaded verandas and Mughal-style gardens – here, your royal expectations are exceeded.
Fairmont Udaipur Palace, Rajasthan
Most of Udaipur’s luxury stays hug the lakes of the city, but Fairmont Udaipur Palace is surrounded by the Aravalli Hills. Opened last summer, it’s the city’s latest palatial property that’s notable for its design – a microcosm of princely aesthetics beneath a frescoed dome. Guests can saunter through ceremonial gateways past vintage cannons or pose on ornate balconies.
The newly built property takes palace living seriously, infusing big-cat symbolism – a particular fascination for many maharajas. At the Panther Patio, a giant bronze sculpture presides, with a leopard as the hotel’s emblem – a nod to the real ones that still roam the hills after dusk.