These hotels won the Best-in-Class awards at Tatler Best India 2026

Situated within Patiala’s historic 18th-century Qila Mubarak complex in Punjab, Ran Baas The Palace represents a major landmark in Indian heritage restoration. Originally built as the royal residence for the Maharaja’s court, conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah converted the historic palace into an intimate retreat, restoring original features like gilded wall frescoes, hand-carved teak furnishings, polished marble flooring, and crystal chandeliers that echo the historic opulence of Malwa-region royalty. The property has 35 suites, each with silk carpets, local crafts and private access to lush courtyards or garden terraces. Beyond its structural restoration, Ran Baas integrates modern amenities within its fortified walls, with a full-service spa and an outdoor pool surrounded by pink ruins that consistently goes viral on Instagram. 

Dining centres on Neel, an on-site restaurant serving refined regional Punjabi fare inspired by royal archives, alongside The Patiala Bar, which offers signature cocktails in an ambient, wood-panelled setting. Guests can engage in high tea on the Sunset Terrace overlooking the silhouette of Qila Androon, take private cooking classes with resident chefs, or explore the surrounding bazaars of the Old City. 

Situated on the shores of Lake Pichola, the unapologetically opulent Oberoi Udaivilas was built in the style of a local palace, complete with fountains and courtyards. Its rooms and suites recreate the stately ambience of a royal residence, with fine Indian textiles and handcrafted furniture, views of the City Palace and the Aravali Hills, and lavish marble bathrooms with freestanding bathtubs that overlook private courtyards. Some rooms have direct access to the hotel’s semi-private pools, accessed via a dreamy terrace with sun beds, bright yellow parasols and a wall draped in flowers. The Oberoi Udaivilas has two restaurants, including Udaimahal for traditional Rajasthani fare, and picnic lunches aboard a private gondola.

Behind the scenes, low-impact water recycling systems, solar power, and low-impact lake protection measures to safeguard the delicate marine ecosystem of the lake, keep things green. The property also adjoins a small wildlife reserve where peacocks, wild boar and deer roam.

Spread across 11 acres against the dramatic backdrop of the Aravalli hills, The Leela Palace Jaipur captures traditional Rajasthani design by marrying classical Rajputana geometry with Mughal architectural flourishes. The property's structure features hand-carved white marble facades, grand chhatris (elevated domes), and complex jaali stone screens that double as passive cooling systems for the public spaces.

Indoors, the interior design acts as a living showcase of regional artisan crafts. This includes detailed Thikri mirror work—most strikingly displayed in the signature Mohan Mahal restaurant, which is lit exclusively by candles to create a flickering visual effect—and extensive silver foil inlays throughout the corridors. Guest suites and private villas feature hand-tufted wool carpets, polished Araish plaster finishes, and private courtyard pools laid with local yellow Jaisalmer stone. The design succeeds by utilising native, sustainably sourced materials alongside precise historical proportioning, ensuring that every arcade, courtyard, and fountain feels both authentic to royal Rajasthani heritage and adapted for modern expectations.

Mughal-era opulence meets the modern world at Amanbagh—which translates to “peaceful garden” in Sanskrit—with its manicured courtyards, musk-hued walls and palatial domed structures. On the outskirts of Jaipur, Rajasthan, Amanbagh emerges like an elegant mirage shrouded by palm, fruit and eucalyptus trees. Its rooms combine the understated Aman aesthetic with a regal Indian flourish. Think intricate archways, ornate wood panels and a huge bathtub carved from a single slab of Udaipur green marble. All rooms are spectacular, but the Terrace Haveli Suite, with a private terrace overlooking the pool and gardens, will have you feeling like royalty.

The property maintains an unusually high staff-to-guest ratio, allowing intuitive service to operate seamlessly without feeling intrusive or overly formal. Rather than adhering to set timetables, daily guest itineraries are customised—whether that's a sunrise trek through nearby medieval ruins or spontaneous cultural excursions with resident expert guides. Housekeeping staff and dedicated personal hosts track subtle guest preferences without formal requests, managing room preparation, climate settings, and dining requirements with quiet precision.

A must-do? Organise a private candlelit dinner in the gardens under ancient banyan trees, on the Library Terrace or in the ruins of an old chhatri, an elevated domed pavilion.

Inaugurated in 1936, The Imperial New Delhi bridges colonial history, Victorian architecture, and Art Deco styling directly in the heart of the capital city. The property functions as a museum-quality venue, displaying a private collection of over 5,000 original 17th- and 18th-century Indo-European prints, paintings, and statues lining its wide, marble-paved corridors.

Accommodation layouts range from high-ceilinged Deco Suites to extensive heritage rooms decorated with rosewood furnishings, polished brass fixtures, and woven Persian rugs. Beyond its historical aesthetic, the property features versatile urban resort facilities: an expansive outdoor reflection pool, a dedicated Ayurvedic spa, and restaurants like The Spice Route—renowned for its hand-carved South Asian woodwork—and the historic 1911 Bar. By insulating guests from the chaotic pace of the surrounding city while keeping them steps from major cultural sites, the hotel serves as a tranquil, convenient urban escape.

Good things come to those who wait, and it took almost a decade to transform this 700-year-old Rajasthan fort into Six Senses Fort Barwara, a 48-suite hotel and the luxury brand’s first outpost in India. It’s impossible not to be enamoured by the setting of the ancient fort and desert landscapes, and it’s only 30 minutes from Ranthambore National Park, so a day spotting wild tigers is within easy reach. To stay here is to experience what it’s like to be Rajasthani royalty—it was a royal home, after all.

The resort incorporates two ancient palaces and two historic temples within its massive, fortified stone walls. Its 48 suites feature contemporary Rajasthani artwork, custom local woodwork, hand-carved stone switchgear, and private plunge pools or terraces that overlook the surrounding village and countryside. The property operates on a strict eco-conscious philosophy, utilizing on-site water bottling, solar energy efficiency measures, and extensive organic gardens that directly supply its farm-to-table dining venues. The integration of a 20,000-square-foot wellness center within historical ramparts offers a comprehensive resort experience, providing guests with state-of-the-art thermal suites alongside traditional wellness therapies in a setting that feels completely isolated from the modern world.

Situated on a 100-acre Maharaja's Palace Estate in the Himalayan foothills of Northern India, overlooking the sacred Ganges River and the spiritual town of Rishikesh, Ananda in the Himalayas' surrounding landscapes are as healing as its holistic approach to wellness. Personalised programmes begin with a consultation with qualified Ayurvedic doctors to determine the guest’s dosha (body constitution). Treatments rooted in Ayurveda range from rejuvenating Abhyanga and Shirodhara to intensive, long-term Panchakarma detoxification. As the retreat is located near the birthplace of yoga, guests can attend daily Hatha yoga, Pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation in serene, open-air pavilions, as well as Vedanta classes, which are spiritual discourses designed to foster mental clarity. 

Wellness Cuisine is central, with menus following Ayurvedic dietary principles and tailored to each guest's dosha. Meals are prepared with fresh, organic produce—some sourced from the on-site garden—and are entirely free of added salts, artificial colors, and preservatives.

Dedicate time to the expansive 25,000 sq ft spa’s hydrotherapy circuit, which includes a Kneipp foot bath, sauna, steam rooms, and cold plunge pool. 

Floating in the middle of Lake Pichola in Udaipur, Taj Lake Palace was built by Maharana Jagat Singh II in the 18th century as a winter getaway. It was then occupied by a succession of rulers for 200 years before it was transformed into a lavish hotel in 1963. Since then, it has been a magnet for celebrity guests including members of the British royal family. Today, the white marble palace continues to serve as a regal retreat, retaining its air of old-world glamour with vintage car and speedboat transfers—we love a grand entrance—sunset cruises on the lake, manicured courtyards and exquisite suites. 

The property preserves its heritage architecture through elaborate glass mosaic work, detailed wall frescos, carved stone arches, and central open-air courtyards filled with lotus ponds and jasmine trees. Guests receive personal butler service trained in traditional royal protocol, curated heritage tours of the island's secret chambers, and access to floating private dining platforms towed out onto the lake.

The Johri is an intimate boutique hotel housed in the restored 19th-century Lal Haveli in Jaipur’s historic Johri Bazaar. This former family home has just five suites, each a unique expression of Rajasthani heritage and design. The restoration, a nine-year labour of love, was led by New York-based designer Naina Shah. The design preserves the original courtyard layout, incorporating Rajasthan-sourced antique furniture, hand-painted floral murals, and custom block-printed textiles throughout. Each of the eight suites is uniquely named and styled around a specific precious gemstone, with distinct colour palettes and ambient lighting to reflect the neighbourhood's gem-cutting heritage.

The restaurant serves a seasonal vegetarian Indian menu focused on local, organic produce, and The Pukhraj Lounge with hand-painted murals transforms from a high-chai spot in the afternoon to a cocktail bar by evening. We especially love the small on-site Ayurvedic massage room and a private temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha, which maintains a 100-year-old tradition of daily worship.

Take advantage of the hotel's location by walking just a few minutes to the Hawa Mahal and City Palace. For a sensory experience, visit the nearby Phool Mandi (flower market) early in the morning and take a rickshaw back. 

Formerly the principal residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur, Rambagh Palace offers an expansive, secure resort environment well-suited to multi-generational family travel. Spread across 47 acres of manicured gardens, the property provides ample outdoor space—keep an eye out for the gorgeous resident peacocks who roam the hotel grounds—complemented by rich historical features.

It offers tailored family-friendly amenities like vintage car rides across the estate grounds and interactive cultural performances. Children can take part in heritage hunts, pony rides and outdoor sports like croquet, while flexible multi-room family suites accommodate multi-generational groups without compromising privacy. The resort has two swimming pools—our personal favourite is the heated indoor pool within a restored marble hall—and multiple restaurants that easily cater to varied dietary needs. 

In a world of super-modern resorts, there's something charming about the rustic nature of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa in South Goa. Spanning 56 acres of Mediterranean-inspired gardens along Benaulim Beach, its tile-roofed villas, wide verandas and sun-dappled courtyards capture the easygoing charm of the region. Guest rooms and private pool villas blend traditional Goan-Portuguese architecture with dark wood accents. The resort certainly has range, allowing guests to stay active with an eight-hole golf course and central swimming pool, or relax completely at the flagship J Wellness Circle spa.

The spa focuses on authentic Indian therapies, combining classic Ayurveda with broader holistic wellness practices. Treatments take place in private therapy pavilions set within secluded tropical grounds, making spa time extra serene with ocean breezes and garden views. Signature offerings include specialised aromatherapy massages using custom botanical oils, traditional herbal body wraps, and guided yoga sessions in open-air wooden salas. The facility includes extensive hydrotherapy suites, treatment rooms, steam facilities, and on-site trained Ayurvedic practitioners who tailor-make your wellness journey based on personal consultations. The depth of clinical wellness offerings combined with the calming, coastal tropical environment makes it an exceptional destination for deep rest and restoration.

Dining is exceptional—most notably fresh, locally caught seafood at the oceanfront Lobster Shack. 

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