India’s Top 10 Boutique Luxury Hotels

Author: 

Anuja Pradhan

 

This holiday season, indulge in opulence unknown to most. Our travel experts, Parveez and Sonila, have picked out their Top 10 Luxury Boutique Hotels in India for an unforgettable holiday experience!

1. Wildflower Hall, Shimla

Image © Wildflower Hall

Set amidst lush Himalayan slopes filled with pine and cedar trees is the luxury resort, Wildflower Hall. This resort is a perfect amalgamation of adventurous activities and opulent recreation. A place of scenic tranquillity, the aristocratic structuring of the Wildflower Hall will most certainly take you back in time. The luxuriously furnished rooms overlook a manicured garden or the mountains and valleys beyond. Add a little romance to your stay here by booking a private dinner at the gazebo or a secluded picnic lunch in the beautiful forest.

2. Amanbagh, Alwar

Image © Amanbagh

East of Jaipur, nestled in a cascade of greenery is Amanbagh Resort. Dubbed as a modern day Mughal Palace, Amanbagh’s location was once used as a site for tiger hunting camps by the Maharaja of Alwar. A luxury resort today, Amanbagh rests on the foothills of the Aravalli Hills and thrives on the region’s rural and cultural heritage. The hotel's domed cupolas and private courtyards interspersed with Haveli Suites and Pool Pavilions create a fairytale setting for the perfect romance!

3. Taj Mahua Kothi, Bandhavgarh

Image © Taj Mahua Kothi

Located in the resplendent surroundings of the Bandhavgarh National Park is Mahua Kothi, a Taj Safari Lodge. The safari drives here are in specially designed 4x4s and feature sightings of sloth bears, jungle cats, endemic birds and much more. When you’re not out in the wild, indulge in a relaxing massage, take a dip in the pool or browse the safari shop for curious. With accommodation comprising 12 cottage suites, Taj Mahua Kothi ensures the most personal care at all times.

4. Tree House Hideaway, Bandhavgarh

Image © Tree House Hideaway

Take a pick from one of the five luxury tree houses that overlook Bandhavgarh Fort and Tiger Reserve. Tree House Hideaway had been expertly fashioned with regularised wood in order to blend with the surroundings. Here’s your opportunity to be with nature as you venture out on safaris and nature walks or take up a workshop with bamboo weavers. This is an ideal getaway for couples looking for privacy.

5. Samode Haveli, Jaipur

Image © Richard Moross

The most luxurious way of unwinding presents itself in the form of Jaipur’s Samode Haveli. This heritage hotel, more than 175-years-old, has scores of historical stories emanating from its palatial walls. The well-maintained design and architecture depicted in the vibrant mosaics is what makes the resort itself fascinating enough to explore thoroughly. Here you can enjoy Rajasthani music and dance shows or step out to explore the old city’s bazaars teeming with traditional arts, crafts and jewellery.

6. Raas, Jodhpur

Image © Raas

Raas, Jodhpur’s very first boutique hotel, is an indisputable reflection of the walled city itself. A blend of ancient and contemporary architecture Raas is sleek and minimalistic in its appearance. In addition to the three new structures added to the hotel’s collection, the original four buildings include the Haveli, built at the end of the 18th century and the multi-purpose open pavilion, Baradari, built around 1850.

7. Kanha Earth Lodge, Kanha National Park

Image © Kanha Earth Lodge

Spread across 16 acres of natural forest, Kanha Earth Lodge comprises 12 bungalows built in the Gond tribe’s style of architecture. Apart from being the perfect Kanha safari accommodation, the lodge is an ideal base for activities like nature walks, birding and cycling. Kanha Earth Lodge also arranges visits to the weekly local market as well as a chance to observe workshops of Gond woodcarvers, potters, and painters.

8. The Glasshouse on the Ganges, Rishikesh

Image © The Glasshouse

Experience nature’s tranquillity and resounding silence at The Glasshouse on the Ganges. Nestled in lychee and mango orchards of the Maharajas of Tehri Garhwal, this hotel is ideally situated giving its guests the best views of the holy River Ganga lapping the shores as it turns around and flows north towards its source. So put up your feet and enjoy The Glasshouse’s tropical gardens, colourful butterflies and lively birds that call Rishikesh home.

9. Glenburn Tea Estate, Darjeeling

Image © Glenburn Tea Estate

If you find yourself relishing the aroma of tea wafting through the air while feasting your eyes on the towering ice-capped Kanchenjunga mountains, you are most certainly at the Glenburn Tea Estate and Boutique Hotel. Here you can learn about the art of pruning, tasting and various other processes carried out in the tea factory. This is, of course, in addition to other activities that include hiking, river rafting, cookery classes as well as massage treatments.

10. Brunton Boatyard, Cochin

Image © Brunton Boatyard

The result of a blend between Dutch and Portuguese architecture, Brunton Boatyard Hotel was re-built from the scraps of a Victorian shipyard. While each of its 22 rooms face the meandering Arabian Sea, it’s the rich history and vivid style of local life that draws its guests to the museum-like Brunton. The delectable line-up of Arabic, Portuguese, Jewish and British cuisines only adds to Brunton Boatyard’s reputation as one of the most luxurious resorts in the South.

Our travel experts can design custom holidays to these hotels and many others. Get in touch today! Did we miss out on your favourite luxury hotel?

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