Best of the Best: 10 Indian Hotels Offering Unique Experiences You Don't Want to Miss

India’s newest hotels that merit your attention for thoughtful design, world-class experiences, and food that reflects the place. It’s been a promising 12 months (mid-2024 to mid-2025) for hotel openings in India. From popular destinations such as Jaipur to the under-explored village of Turtuk in Ladakh, travellers have a slew of new choices to pick from.

We’ve filtered through over 150 new hotel openings—from Indian and international hotel chains to independent operators—and drawn up a list that’s worthy of your attention. A key trend that links them all is a focus on experiences that go beyond basic to connect you—the curious traveller—to the sites outside hotel walls as well. Go ahead—have a great holiday.

Raffles Jaipur, Rajasthan

The 50-key Jaipur outpost of the Singapore totem is a study in calibrated opulence. But then it is meant to mimic a queen’s quarters that were sanctuaries away from the hullabaloo of courtly life. Think king-sized canoy beds, floor coverings by Jaipur Rugs, and sunken bathtubs with forest views. Then there’s the mix of design elements: traveller’s palms, leopard prints, intricate stone jaalis, sparkling chandeliers and frescoed walls. In keeping with the high-life theme, high tea and Champagne are served in the atrium at Safir Tea & Champagne Lounge and elevated editions of Rajasthani staples at Arkaa. There’s also a cigar den and the signature cocktail Jaipur Sling that spotlights a local liquor made from over 80 herbs at the Writer’s Bar. Starts from ₹65,000 for double occupancy.

KARA Fort Kochi, Kerala

Kara houses over 30 artworks by artists including Manjit Bawa, M.F. Husain, and K.G. Subramanyan, showcased within twin structures designed by star architects Götz Hagmüller and Bijoy Jain on a site occupied by the Portuguese East India Company’s mint back in the 17th century. If you’re looking for a hotel that screams art, culture, and history—this is it. The eight-suite property champions all things local: regional Kerala cuisine uncommon to restaurants, Carnatic music concerts in the garden, and walks that introduce you to the 20-plus communities that call Kochi home. The art gallery attached to the hotel offers a variety of programmes including book readings and craft workshops. Starts from ₹13,500 for double occupancy.

Padmaa, Jaipur, Rajasthan

A heritage haveli built in the early years of Jaipur’s founding, it now houses 15 suites dressed in jewel tones, vintage accents, and modern accoutrements. The tonal choice is a subtle nod to the haveli’s role as the lapidary, where seven generations of the Shah family of Umrao Jewels also lived. An atrium where the family gathered for meals is now a restaurant and the rooftop, the site of many a kite-flying session, is now an all-weather pool. The true jewels in Padmaa’s showcase are its service and location: it’s a brisk walk from City Palace, Johri Bazaar, and Bapu Bazaar. Though, you may not have to bother walking down at all, given that the staff is happy to deliver street-food specialities from popular eateries such as Puran Ji Kachori Wala. Their chefs, too, conjure up magic such as gatte ki subzi and ker sangri. Starts from ₹16,000 for double occupancy.

Rambha Palace Chilika Lake, Odisha

this 16-suite property on the banks of Chilika, Asia’s largest brackish water body, channels more European chalet than Indian palace. Probably because it was built by the British and later changed ownership to the King of Khallikote. A six-year restoration effort by architect Channa Daswatte, a Geoffrey Bawa student, has given the 200-year-old property a 21st-century refit. Expect Art Deco furniture, terrazzo floors, and free-standing bathtubs. But also highspeed wi-fi, pillow menus, and Nespresso machines. The kitchen, too, strikes a local-global act with dishes made from fresh marine produce and international fare including Japanese, Thai, and Mediterranean cuisines. But Rambha’s true allure lies in the outdoors: spot dolphins, chase fishing cats, and sight birds. The region is home to over 200 avian species and is an important wetland for migratory birds. Starts from ₹23,000 for double occupancy.

Ran Baas The Palace Patiala, Punjab

When you think of Patiala, images of the heavily bejewelled Bhupinder Singh, the former Maharaja of Patiala, come to mind. Now, imagine that opulence in a contemporary hotel, and you get a sense of what Ran Baas is like. After all, it’s been fashioned out of a section of Qila Mubarak, the erstwhile royal family’s fortified home, by conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah. Her adaptation, which includes rebuilding decrepit sections using traditional artisanship, won the property a UNESCOsupported Prix Versailles recognition, as one of the World’s Most Beautiful Hotels for 2025. The hotel attempts to balance the old and the new, with a restored fountain and intact frescoes juxtaposed with contemporary additions, including artworks by Sikh artist Gurjeet Singh and jhumka-inspired lights by Klove Studio. Speciality restaurant Ath showcases Punjabi regional cuisine. The Patiala, the hotel’s bar, serves cocktails that are as stiff as its name suggests. Try the Old Fashioned. A visit to the phulkari ateliers nearby is highly recommended. Starts from ₹48,000 for double occupancy.

Fairmont Udaipur Palace, Rajasthan

If udaipur’s your top pick for a Bollywood-style destination wedding, then this hotel’s made for a magnum opus. The 18-acre, 327-key hotel is purpose-built for it with over 1,40,000 square feet of opulent banquet spaces and thoughtful details such as golf carts to ferry the elderly and the disabled. The rooms and suites—a few include pools, terraces, and forest views—are well thought out, with amenities including steamers that can de-wrinkle sherwanis in a jiffy. Zaika, the all-day diner, is another bright spot for its mix of cuisines. While the hotel’s principal bar Dahaad that translates to ‘roar’ may appear misnamed for its mascot: the leopard (which saws), it does get its drinks spot-on, including inventive mixes that smoke, foam, and crystallise their way to your table. The curious visitor might want to pick from their roster of experiences; I, for instance, enjoyed a guided horse safari through the woods nearby. Starts from ₹25,000 for double occupancy.

The Leela Hyderabad, Telangana

This 156-key gilded landmark, in the city’s tony Banjara Hills neighbourhood, sits alongside a zone where you’ll find chic cafes and upscale retail venues. From a welcome that includes ittar fragrances to the artwork by the late M.F. Husain hanging above the reception, and the chintz print, inspired by kalamkari from the city of Machilipatnam that covers the wall at tea and champagne lounge, The Wild Teapot—there are several nods to local craft and culture right across the property. The ones you might savour the most are in the Dakhani dishes at Adi, the hotel’s flagship restaurant dedicated to regional cuisine. But a key differentiator might well be the four-storeyed, NILA Wellness Centre that offers a range of experiences, including yoga and pilates, red LEDlight facials and cryotherapy (the use of extremely cold temperatures for healing and wellness). Starts from ₹18,000 for double occupancy.

The Lotus Palace Chettinad, Tamil Nadu

in a region known for its heritage hotels housed in eye-catching architecture, The Lotus Palace brings a sophisticated aesthetic that feels more contemporary than its competition. This nowness extends from having effective air conditioners in rooms (summers are scorching) to a bar, 1795—a nod to the property’s age—that whips up cocktails using local ingredients. Then there are the experiences: bathing in village wells, learning to play local board games, and guided visits to Chola-age forts and temples that appear straight out of the Mani Ratnam flick Ponniyin Selvan. Do try the high tea. It’s served in a whimsical space lit red; sip on champagne while sampling regional nibbles such as thathai (a savoury, deep-fried snack made of rice and lentils) and vengaya vadai, which is a fried onion and lentil cutlet. Starts from ₹18,000 for double occupancy.

The Oberoi Vindhyavilas Wildlife Resort Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh

the newest 21-key African-style safari lodge in tiger country offers safari excursions in souped-up Mahindra 4x4 SUVs and guided birding walks that introduce you to the many bird species that roost around the property. Between these excursions, soak in the infinity pool and get a massage at Asmi, the Oberoi’s holistic wellness spa . You cannot venture elsewhere for a meal, so it’s a boon that the restaurant serves a changing daily menu of Indian and international cuisines. Think: roasted butternut squash with cashew cream, Neapolitan-style pizzas, and Bagelkhandi jungli maasa specialty from Bagelkhand, the region of MP where Bandhavgarh is located. A cute twist are the cocktails inspired by characters from The Jungle Book, which Rudyard Kipling is said to have set in the jungles of central India. The Rock Python, for instance, is a tequila-based drink that aims to channel Kaa. Starts from ₹60,000 for double occupancy.

Virsa Baltistan Turtuk, Ladakh

here’s an all-weather hotel that’s designed as a doorway to this under-explored part of Ladakh, home to the Balti Muslim community. Within the 14-key hotel, the region’s unique crafts are showcased around the lobby. The all-day dining restaurant serves authentic Balti cuisine that is largely plant-based and skews towards goat meat. Meals are prepared using regional and seasonal produce. There’s also an excellent Japanese restaurant helmed by a Japanese chef who serves omakase tasting menus. Outside, owner Rashidullah Khan’s itineraries—picnics in apricot orchards, hikes in the hills, and atmospheric dinners— immerse guests in local culture. The onset of summer when apricot trees are in bloom, is the most picturesque time to visit. It’s akin to Japan’s cherry blossom season. Starts from ₹13,500 for double occupancy.