Varanasi
Simply gorgeous, this beautifully restored and maintained colonial-style haveli (traditional, ornately decorated residence) overlooking Assi Ghat is…
Must-see hotels in India
Hotel Marasa Sarovar Premiere Tirupati
Telangana & Andhra Pradesh
Really raising the bar in terms of quality in Tirupati, this sleek contemporary hotel is the best in town by some distance and represents fine value. It's…
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
Queen of local boutique hotels is this intimate, six-room 19th-century beauty, sleekly updated by one of Pondy's top French-architect teams. From curved…
Mumbai (Bombay)
A terrific 20-room boutique hotel, stylishly designed with colonial-style and art deco furniture, reclaimed teak flooring and original artwork; the luxury…
Kachchh (Kutch)
Luxurious Rann Riders, near Dasada, offers accommodation in mirror-pattern-studded bhungas (circular huts) or koobas (square huts) with rain showers and…
Karnataka
Set back from the highway, the wonderfully peaceful Heritage Resort has 14 tasteful, airy and spacious rooms and cottages with all mod cons (kettle,…
Jaipur
This nicely presented modern guesthouse, well situated between MI and Station Rds, offers strikingly clean, simple rooms dotted around a quiet courtyard…
Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
Like a serene South Delhi guesthouse, but on a Paharganj backstreet, this unique place has three lovely, well-cared-for rooms, a shared kitchen and a…
Mumbai (Bombay)
The aroma of sweet lemongrass greets you in the lobby at this excellent 18-room boutique hotel with an inviting atmosphere – and a fine location, five…
Tamil Nadu
Stunningly restored and professionally run by a Malayali hotel chain, Visalam is a relatively young Chettiar mansion, done in a fashionable 1930s art deco…
Darjeeling
About an hour's drive north of Darjeeling, this stylish, uberluxury tea estate is a true indulgence for those looking to splurge. The lovely estate sits…
Sikkim
Just a kilometre from Pelling yet with a secluded forest setting, this truly exceptional resort blows visitors away with its artfully understated blend of…
Jaipur
Madhuban has bright, antique-furnished, spotlessly clean rooms, plus a private enclosed garden for alfresco meals. The vibrantly frescoed restaurant…
Delhi
The Lodhi is one of Delhi’s finest luxury hotels, with huge, lovely rooms and suites. Each room has a balcony, and the enormous deluxe rooms are the only…
Delhi
A rambling bungalow with a colonial-era feel, surrounded by verandahs and hanging lamps, this family-run guesthouse has a wonderful garden, with lawns,…
Karnataka
Dhole’s Den offers contemporary design in lovely pastoral surrounds. Stylish rooms and bungalows are decked out with art and colourful fabrics, plus…
North Goa
One of the original backpacker hostels in North Goa, Jungle brought the dorm experience and an international vibe to Vagator and has expanded to three…
Gujarat & Diu
This romantic 16th-century heritage palace has been painstakingly rebuilt at its lofty hillock location. Inside are manicured lawns, a mosaic-tiled pool…
Puducherry (Pondicherry)
Mango-yellow Les Hibiscus has just a handful of fabulous high-ceilinged rooms with antique beds, coffee makers and a mix of quaint Indian art and old…
North Goa
Mandala is a very peaceful and beautifully designed eco-village with a range of huts and a couple of quirky air-con rooms in the ‘Art House'. Pride of…
North Goa
The pretty huts here are peppered around a palm-filled lane leading to the beach; at night, lamps light up the place like a palm-tree dreamland. Huts…
Manali
Four-storey Johnson Lodge offers big, bright pastel-hued rooms with a contemporary yet homely air, as well as luxurious two-bedroom duplex apartments (…
Hyderabad
On the fringe of the Banjara Hills district this landmark hotel has exceptionally lush tropical gardens and one of the nation's nicest hotel pools, 40m in…
Vrindavan
Run by the Hare Krishna financial endowment and used mostly by followers, but open to all, this relaxing, pleasant guesthouse has the feel of a campus,…
Guwahati
This charming 1950s house on Manik Chandra (MC) Rd was built by a celebrated Assamese scholar and has lots of antiques and memorabilia strewn across its…
Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh
Offering exceptional value for money, the Hansa Heritage is a budget boutique hotel with mud-and-grass-daubed walls stencilled in bright colours, antique…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
A top central choice for hip, upmarket accommodation. Modern rooms are snug and feature snazzy decor, while hidden to the rear of the 1st floor is a trio…
Ranthambhore National Park
A very professional place that caters to tour groups but can still provide great service to independent travellers. It has immaculate, well-appointed…
Assam
A highlight of Jorhat is the delightful Puroni Bheti, set amid lush tea gardens 7km west of the town centre and run by a super-hospitable planter and his…
Karnataka
On a grassy embankment overlooking scenic Kabini Lake, Waterwoods is a stunning lodge. Most rooms have balconies with wonderful lake views, swing chairs,…
North Goa
A lush, plant-filled garden leads the way to this gorgeous family-run guesthouse, located off Fort Aguada Rd. The eight light-filled suite rooms are…
Chandigarh
One of Chandigarh's best boutique addresses, the Icon justifies every penny it charges (though with discounts the rates are very reasonable) in the form…
Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Tastefully renovated, Casa Piccola has a personalised brand of hospitality that has garnered it a solid reputation. Its atmospheric rooms, with tiled…
Parvati Valley
This magnificent collection of stone-and-wood villas and two 'machan' tower houses is quite unlike anything else in the valley, combining luxury and…
Karnataka
A wonderfully atmospheric lodge with rustic-chic cottages scattered around a large, grassy plot. The attention to detail is evident in the chunky wooden…
Ladakh
One of Ladakh's best homestays. The host family is delightful, there's garden seating and the new block of modern rooms comes with attached bathrooms …
Nagaland
A 1940s family home thoughtfully converted into a guesthouse, Razhü Pru packs a diverse array of Naga heirlooms and artefacts into its wood-panelled…
Kodagu (Coorg) Region
The friendly owners market their delightful homestay as 'perfect for the pleasure of doing nothing at all', but if you do want to shake a leg you'll find…
Thanjavur (Tanjore)
This gorgeous boutique-heritage hotel has an elegant, uncluttered look inspired by and incorporating traditional local arts and crafts. Of the 38 rooms,…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Artful evening floodlighting brings out the best of the Astor’s solid 1905 architecture, while inside walls are lavished with B&W photos of old Kolkata. A…
