Step back in time and book in for a right royal escape at the best palace hotels in India

From boat hotels to hotels in heritage buildings and even hotels created around fictional tribes like what you’ll find at Keemala, we love us a unique place to stay. And what could be more enticing than a palace? An ancient land of kings and queens, India is immensely proud of its rich history and diversity. A country that manages to walk the thin line between the past and the future, it’s one of the world’s most exotic travel destinations, and a holiday here is never without surprises or incredible adventures. For travellers who wish to experience the nation’s larger-than-life past, a stay in the best palace hotels of India is a must.

The best palace hotels in India

1. Rajmahal Palace RAAS | Jaipur

Hotel: Rajmahal Palace RAAS
Location: Sardar Patel Marg, Shivaji Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India
Neighbourhood: Central Jaipur, near the city centre
Rooms: 14 rooms, each named after a famous palace guest
Style: Historic royal palace dating to 1729, with a muted pink exterior and colourful designer wallpapers
Family-friendly: Family stays may be possible; dedicated children’s facilities are not specified
Wellness: Not specified
Pool: Not specified
Dining: 51 Shades of Pink, the hotel’s distinctive pink dining room
Best for: Intimate royal stays, design enthusiasts and couples
Prices starting from: Approximately INR 35,000 per night, depending on room and season

Blindly throw a stone anywhere in the princely state of Rajasthan, and you’ll hit a royal residence. However, Rajmahal Palace, in the heart of Jaipur, the Pink City, is an intimate escape that stands out for its unconventionality, making it one of the best palace hotels in India.

Built-in 1729, it’s a gorgeous retreat still owned by the royal family. The palace’s muted pink façade is humble and often underrated. Its interiors, in complete contrast, feature an assortment of bright and vivid wallpapers that leave guests in a colourful, dreamlike state for the entirety of their stay. The 14 rooms here, named after famous palace guests, have distinct characteristics, promising modern-day conveniences amidst elegant designer furnishings. The hotel’s in-house restaurant, 51 Shades of Pink, carries forth its quirkiness, inviting guests to dine in an animated pink room that challenges the senses while creating a cheerful ambience.

Unsurprisingly, you’ll also find Rajmahal Palace on our list of the best pink hotels across the globe too.

If you’re visiting the Pink City, you’ll love our local’s guide to the best things to do in Jaipur and our curated list of Jaipur’s best boutique and luxury hotels for art and design lovers.

Find out more about Rajmahal Palace RAAS or Book through Booking.com

2. Fairmont Udaipur Palace | Udaipur

Hotel: Fairmont Udaipur Palace
Location: Badi Road, Hawala Khurd, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313011, India
Neighbourhood: Aravalli Hills, overlooking the surrounding landscape
Rooms: 337 rooms and suites
Style: Purpose-built palatial hotel incorporating traditional Indian craftsmanship, scalloped arches, rich colours and intricate patterns
Family-friendly: Yes, with activities including cooking classes and pickleball
Wellness: Spa and wellness facilities
Pool: Swimming pool
Dining: Multiple restaurants serving international dishes and Indian specialities
Best for: Families, resort stays and contemporary palace-inspired luxury
Prices starting from: Approximately INR 25,000 per night, depending on room and season

Perched atop the Aravalli Hills and offering sweeping views of the verdant landscape, Fairmont Udaipur Palace is the ideal place for some serious relaxing. You’ll want for nothing here, with pickleball, cooking classes, a spa, and plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained on site.

This purpose-built hotel may not have the regal history of some of the palaces on our list, but every part of the design is intentional. A group of skilled craftspeople lived near the site as it was being created to ensure that traditional arts and skills were incorporated from the ground up.

Offering 337 rooms and suites, guests will enjoy detailing such as scalloped arches on the balconies and plenty of colour and patterns. When it comes to dining, there’s everything from casual international to indulgent Indian specialities.

Read our full review of Fairmont Udaipur Palace.

Discover more about Fairmont Udaipur Palace or Book through Booking.com Book through Expedia Book through Agoda

3. Taj Lake Palace | Udaipur

Hotel: Taj Lake Palace
Location: Pichola Lake, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001, India
Neighbourhood: Historic lakefront, accessible by boat
Rooms: 65 rooms and 18 suites
Style: 18th-century marble palace with ornate latticework, Indian silks, hand-painted walls and lake views
Family-friendly: Suitable for families; palace butlers can help arrange personalised activities
Wellness: On-site spa
Pool: Not specified in the article
Dining: Three restaurants serving local and international cuisine
Best for: Romantic escapes, heritage experiences and iconic lake views
Prices starting from: Approximately INR 45,000 per night, depending on room and season

Brought to life between 1743 and 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II, this property once served as the summer home for the Mewar Royal family. These days, us mere mortals get to experience what it’s like to live in luxury across the 65 rooms and 18 suites available at the hotel. Each interior is meticulously hand crafted from the ornate lattice work to the Indian silks, and handpainted walls, and many spaces offer views of the lake.

When it comes to food, guests will want for nothings with a selection of local and international dishes available across three different restaurants. There’s a spa onsite, plus the Palace Butlers are always on hand to help create bespoke activities for guests.

Discover more about Taj Lake Palace or Book through Booking.com

4. ITC Grand Chola | Chennai

Hotel: ITC Grand Chola
Location: 63 Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032, India
Neighbourhood: Guindy, near the city’s business district
Rooms: 522 rooms and 78 service apartments
Style: Grand palatial architecture inspired by the Chola dynasty, with Dravidian pillars, carvings, traditional motifs and expansive interiors
Family-friendly: Yes, with spacious accommodation and multiple dining options
Wellness: Kaya Kalp – The Royal Spa and fitness facilities
Pool: Swimming pool
Dining: Ten dining options, including Indian, Asian and international restaurants
Best for: Business travellers, families and large-scale luxury stays
Prices starting from: Approximately INR 15,000 per night, depending on room and season

While not exactly a royal abode, ITC Grand Chola is a mammoth palatial hotel located in Chennai with an impressive 522 rooms, 78 service apartments, and ten dining options. Influenced by the ancient kingdom of the Cholas, the hotel’s aesthetics and design elements exemplify majestic grandeur. Inside, Dravidian pillars, striking motifs, carvings, large open spaces, and subtle yet luxurious colour tones remind visitors of the temples built during the Chola period.

The tradition of the hotel extends into the guest bedrooms, where the use of wood, fine linen, carpeting, mood lighting, comfortable beds, and en-suite bathrooms create spaces that quickly become a home away from home. Adding a unique and contemporary component to these exclusive abodes is the possibility to control most of the room features with an iPad.

Find out more about ITC Grand Chola or Book through Booking.com

5. Tijara Fort Palace | Rajasthan

Hotel: Tijara Fort Palace
Location: Tijara Fort Palace, Tijara, Alwar district, Rajasthan 301411, India
Neighbourhood: Hilltop heritage property overlooking the surrounding countryside
Rooms: Individually designed rooms featuring works by different artists; exact room count not specified
Style: Restored 19th-century hilltop fort with Afghan-Indo architecture, antique furniture and distinctive elephant motifs
Family-friendly: Suitable for families interested in heritage stays; dedicated children’s facilities are not specified
Wellness: Not specified
Pool: Pataal Kund swimming pool
Dining: One restaurant serving buffet dinners
Best for: Heritage enthusiasts, art lovers and atmospheric countryside escapes
Prices starting from: Approximately INR 12,000 per night, depending on room and season

Maharaja Balwant Singh of Alwar started building Tijara Fort in 1835. Unfortunately, his death in 1845 resulted in the abandonment of the palace mid-construction. In ruins for over 150 years, the fort opened its majestic doors as a heritage hotel in 2016. Although never an imperial residence, it became a blank canvas for artists in its new avatar, with famous painters individually designing different rooms.

Perched on top of a hillock, the hotel celebrates the region’s antiquity, highlighting the original Afghan-Indo architecture with an unmissable elephant theme. Among other noteworthy buildings in the complex are the Mardana Mahal – the King’s work area; Rani Mahal – the queen’s palace; Qawa Mahal – a separate site for cultural activities; Pataal Kund – a rather large swimming pool; and the Hanging Gardens. Antique furniture adds nostalgia to the guest rooms that have air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms but no televisions. Evenings at Tijara are a time for guests to mingle over cultural performances and buffet dinner at the retreat’s only restaurant.

Find out more about Tijara Fort Palace or Book through Booking.com

6. Umaid Bhawan Palace | Jodhpur

Hotel: Umaid Bhawan Palace
Location: Circuit House Road, Cantt Area, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342006, India
Neighbourhood: Chittar Hill, overlooking the Blue City
Rooms: Guest rooms and suites, including the expansive Maharani Suite
Style: Living royal palace built from golden sandstone between 1928 and 1943, with Art Deco interiors and elegant furnishings
Family-friendly: Yes, with spacious suites and personalised hotel services
Wellness: J Wellness Circle, offering Indian treatments, massages, body scrubs, wraps and yoga classes
Pool: Outdoor swimming pool
Dining: Pillars for garden dining and Risala for Indian cuisine inspired by royal recipes
Best for: Royal experiences, historic architecture and exceptional luxury
Prices starting from: Approximately INR 45,000 per night, depending on room and season

Live like royalty at Umaid Bhawan Palace, a living royal palace with family members still residing in their own wings of the property. Perched over 26 acres and offering exquisite views of the Blue City, the palace was created from Golden Sandstone between 1928 and 1943.

Inside, guests stay in a selection of rooms and suites, each designed with Art Deco touches and plenty of luxe touches including pillow and bath menus, local art pieces, and exquisite soft furnishings. Book into the Maharani Suite and you’ll have sweeping views of the gardens as well as your own living room, dining room, and private kitchen.

When it comes to dining, Pillars is the place to be for al-fresco delights in the garden, while Risala focuses on Indian cuisine with many dishes favoured by the royal family being served.

Those looking for rejuvenation or relaxation should make a beeline to J Wellness Circle. A selection of Indian treatments, including massages, scrubs, and body wraps are on offer along with a selection of yoga classes, and a stunning outdoor pool.

Learn more about Umaid Bhawan Palace or Book through Booking.com

7. Taj Falaknuma Palace | Hyderabad

Hotel: Taj Falaknuma Palace
Location: Engine Bowli, Falaknuma, Hyderabad, Telangana 500053, India
Neighbourhood: Falaknuma, atop a hill overlooking the city
Rooms: Palace rooms and suites, including the Nizam Suite with a private pool; exact room count not specified
Style: Former Nizam residence built in the 1890s, combining European influences, grand staircases, ornate furnishings and royal artefacts
Family-friendly: Suitable for families seeking a heritage experience; children’s facilities are not specified
Wellness: Spa and wellness treatments; details not specified in the article
Pool: Private pool in the Nizam Suite; other pool facilities not specified
Dining: Grand dining room featuring a 108-foot table with seating for 101 guests
Best for: Royal heritage, special occasions and memorable dining experiences
Prices starting from: Approximately INR 35,000 per night, depending on room and season

Built during the 1890s, Falaknuma Palace is an idyllic location to enjoy memorable sunsets. Taking inspiration from The White House and Buckingham Palace, the Nizam of Hyderabad’s former residence overlooks the city from a 2000-ft-high vantage point atop a hill. Spread over 32 acres, it’s home to a 108-feet-long dining table that seats 101 guests. Royalty radiates from every nook and corner of what is presently one of the best palace hotels in India. Interestingly, rather than displaying royal artefacts such as the Nizam’s desk and an ivory snooker table as museum pieces, the staff encourages guests to involve themselves in the palace’s culture by touching and using these ancient treasures.

Every regal stay at the hotel begins with a ride in a horse-drawn carriage followed by a rose-petal welcome. The palace rooms epitomise indulgence with four-poster or canopy beds, rain showers, hand-painted wall motifs, and every possible modern-day amenity one can imagine. The suites come with balconies promising panoramic views, whereas the Nizam Suite has a private pool.

Learn more about Taj Falaknuma Palace or Book through Booking.com

8. Oberoi Grand Kolkata | Kolkata

Hotel: The Oberoi Grand
Location: 15 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata, West Bengal 700013, India
Neighbourhood: Chowringhee, central Kolkata
Rooms: Guest rooms and suites; exact room count not specified
Style: 19th-century neoclassical architecture with colonial-style furniture, miniature paintings and contemporary comforts
Family-friendly: Suitable for families; dedicated children’s facilities are not specified
Wellness: Spa and fitness facilities
Pool: Central outdoor swimming pool
Dining: ThreeSixtyThree°, serving Indian, Japanese, Asian and European cuisine
Best for: Heritage architecture, city exploration and classic luxury
Prices starting from: Approximately INR 12,000 per night, depending on room and season

The 19th-century neoclassical building of the Oberoi Grand occupies an entire block in Chowrangee, Kolkata’s most iconic address. Initially the home of Colonel Grand and then a boarding house, the present-day hotel is a stylish abode with a firm finger on the city’s traditional ethos. The highpoint of any stay at Oberoi Grand is savouring delectable preparations at ThreeSixtyThree°, famous for plating Indian, Japanese, Asian, and European cuisine. A refreshing dip in the centrally located swimming pool is a close second.

Guestrooms at this impressive hotel amalgamate the classic with the innovative. Miniature paintings, ottomans, and colonial-style furniture seamlessly merge with comfort-providing amenities. Backed by exemplary service that is now an Oberoi hotel trademark, a stay here further alleviates the experience of exploring the “City of Joy.”

Find out more about Oberoi Grand Kolkata or Book through Booking.com

But wait, there’s more…

• Book in at the best eco-friendly hotels in Bali
• Discover Sri Lanka’s best boutique hotels
• These are the best restaurants in Delhi, India, from a local