From ornate palaces to lakeside villas, take a look at some of the most expensive hotels in India.
India is a land rich in contrasts. In the north, you’ll find the ice-capped Himalayas, in the west the deserts of Rajasthan, and in the south the beaches of Goa. The diversity of India’s landscapes is awe-inspiring.
The luxury hotels in India are equally as jaw-dropping, ranging from former Prince’s palaces to sophisticated villas with private pools. Take a look at our list of the most expensive hotels in India.
The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur – an opulent property on Lake Pichola
This 50-acre property borders the shores of tranquil Lake Pichola. It’s a vast complex of interconnecting domes, black-and-white tiled courtyards, and sun-dappled corridors. There’s also a large outdoor pool surrounded by sandstone columns and elephant-shaped fountains. This intricate layout is supposed to resemble Udaipur itself, a city of seven lakes linked by canals.
The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur has three restaurants and provides a wide range of bespoke dining experiences. Eat lunch on a boat as you cruise across Lake Pichola or savor an intimate candlelit dinner under an intricately carved dome by the poolside. The Oberoi Udaivilas also offers a wide range of unique cultural experiences, including a tour through Indigenous tribal villages and a class in miniature painting at the Mewar School of Art.
The most expensive accommodation at Oberoi Udaivilas is the luxurious Kohinoor Suite, which is spread over 2650 square feet. Inside, you’ll find a master bedroom, twin bedroom (both with ensuites), dining room, living room, and powder room. The suite is decorated with gold-domed ceilings, elaborate mirror mosaics, and intricately carved marble screens. Outdoors you’ll find a large private pool framed with fragrant frangipani trees, miniature wall paintings, and sun loungers.
Kohinoor Suite – prices starting from 20,658 USD
Raj Palace, Jaipur – where you’ll live like a king
The Raj Palace in Jaipur is one of the top luxury hotels in India,
Bedrooms are sumptuously decorated with rich brocade, silk furnishings, and original antique furniture. But the pièce de résistance is the Maharajah’s Pavilion, a four-story, 16,000 square foot apartment. You’ll find four bedrooms here, including Thakur Sahib’s personal sleeping chamber, which has gold-painted walls, gilded furniture, and a private museum displaying the former throne. The suite has a private library, bar, and dining room. The fourth floor was once the pleasure pavilion, and now boasts a pool, Jacuzzi, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. You’ll definitely feel like royalty staying here.
Maharajah’s Pavilion – prices starting from 15,000 USD
Taj Rambagh Palace, Jaipur – a royal welcome
The extravagant Rambagh Palace, originally built in 1835, is the former residence of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. It maintains its princely splendor with an exterior of cupolas, sandstone balustrades, and hand-carved marble latticework. Stroll through beautifully landscaped gardens, swim in the outdoor pool or visit the Jiva Grande Spa, which offers a long list of ancient Indian wellness therapies.
The hotel is also renowned for its fine-dining restaurants, especially Suvarna Mahal, which serves cuisine from the princely states of India, including Rajasthan and Punjab. Personal butlers are on hand to cater to your every whim and can help you arrange vintage carriage rides around the grounds in the evenings.
The palatial experience continues in the hotel bedrooms. The Grand Presidential Suite has a large lounge overlooking the garden, a dining room, and a red marble-lined bathroom with a Jacuzzi. The master bedroom boasts a large four-poster bed with gold brocade curtains. There’s even a bath butler who will help you customize your bath with rose petals and exquisite aromatherapy oils.
The Grand Presidential suite – prices starting from 17,135 USD
The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra – a luxury resort with a view of the Taj Mahal
The Oberoi Amarvilas was voted Best Resort in India in Travel + Leisure’s World Travel Awards in 2018, beating stiff competition from other five-star hotels in India. It’s located just 600 meters from the Taj Mahal, with each room offering uninterrupted views of the iconic landmark. This vast hotel complex is comprised of sun-dappled courtyards decorated in gold frescoes, cascading fountains, lush gardens, and a large outdoor pool.
Relax at the spa, which offers a range of treatments from around the world, or sip on a champagne cocktail in the old-world bar. There are two restaurants, but we recommend indulging in the private dining experience on the terrace, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Taj Mahal.
Treat yourself to a stay in the Kohinoor Suite, which is lavishly decorated with marble elephants, gold-domed ceilings, and mirrored walls. The wall-to-ceiling windows mean you can see the Taj Mahal from every room. The bathroom boasts a large standalone bathtub and a glass-paneled walk-in rain shower, which leads out onto a private sun terrace.
Kohinoor Suite – prices starting from 19,830 USD
Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur – a former pleasure palace
The Taj Lake Palace was built as a Prince’s pleasure palace on a secluded island in the middle of Lake Pichola. This gorgeous structure of white marble domes, columns, and archways can only be accessed by boat. It was used as the villain’s lair in James Bond’s “Octopussy” and is now a popular venue for fairytale weddings and honeymoons. Dial up the romance by booking an exclusive couple’s treatment on the spa boat, or enjoy a dinner for two overlooking the lake, savoring sumptuous delicacies from a menu you can design with the chef. Or simply relax by the pool, which is surrounded by marble archways and offers spectacular views of the lake.
Each room epitomizes luxury, decorated with teak furniture and shimmering Indian silks. But if you want to go all out, book The Shambhu Prakash Suite. This palatial suite consists of a bedroom, dining room, living room, and bathroom with high curved ceilings and ornate columns, which are decorated with rich silks, brocades, chandeliers, and traditional paintings. It also has a library stocked with handpicked literary classics and a balcony where you can watch the sunset over the lake.
The Shambhu Prakash Suite – prices starting from 7024 USD
Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur – a contemporary heritage hotel
Umaid Bhawan Palace has two claims to fame – it was the last palace to be built in India, in 1943, and it’s constructed from the same palm court marble used for the Taj Mahal. The palace is perched on a hilltop overlooking Jodhpur, and its 26 acres is favored by peacocks, who regularly strut through the tropical gardens. Inside the palace, you’ll find an underground pool and vast domed lobbies. There are two restaurants offered at the palace, one dishing up authentic Rajasthani cuisine and the other serving Mediterranean classics on a colonnaded veranda.
The palace boasts 64 rooms and suites, decorated in Art Deco style. Lighten your pockets with a stay at either the Maharaja or Maharani Suite. The former is decorated in earth tones and adorned with exotic murals, flaming chrome torches, and a mirrored bar, while the latter has a softer color palette of neutrals and pinks. Both suites offer marble bathrooms, living rooms, and spa rooms with a Jacuzzi and steam room. The Maharani Suite also has a private yoga room and terrace with garden view.
The Maharaja Suite/ The Maharani Suite – prices starting from 7024 USD and with its boastful list of amenities, it is no wonder why this is one of the most expensive hotels in India.
The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai – India’s first luxury hotel
The Taj Mahal Palace is the oldest and most well-known of the luxury hotels in Mumbai, India. Having first opened its doors in 1903. This iconic terracotta-domed building is located in the center of Mumbai, overlooking the majestic Gateway of India. It’s a renowned dining destination among the city’s elite, who rave over its Japanese restaurant, Wasabi by Morimoto, and the delectable Sichuan cuisine at Golden Dragon.
Be like the Obamas and book the stunning Tata Suite, a 15-room complex boasting a 12-seat dining room, private spa, gym, ensuite master bedroom, and intimate study. The Suite combines Florentine, Oriental, Colonial, and Mughal influences – design features include mahogany floors, regal patterned carpets, mother of pearl tables, and chairs made of sterling silver and white ash. The private bar is stocked with limited edition cognacs, rare whiskeys, and Dom Perignon champagne. In the center of the Suite stands an antique grand piano, which guests can play. The Suite can’t be booked online and prospective guests must book directly with a hotel representative.
The Taj Mahal Palace offers an atmosphere of luxurious serenity in one of India’s most populous and busy cities. Make sure you maintain this feeling as you travel from the airport to the hotel and vice versa. Book a stress-free Mumbai airport
Pricing on request.
The Leela Goa, Cavelossim – an upmarket villa complex by the beach
The Leela Goa scores top points for location. Pastel-colored villas are nestled in 75 acres of tropical gardens, bordered on one side by a lagoon and on the other by a private beach. There’s a lot to do here, including enjoying a few rounds at the seafront golf course, visiting the spa, playing tennis, or taking a sunset boat cruise. Or you can spend a lazy afternoon relaxing by the large pool.
If you’re feeling flush, book a few nights in one of the Presidential Villas. Perched on the edge of the lagoon, these vast 4842 square feet Villas offer elegant accommodation with traditional Goan touches, such as high ceilings and dark wood furniture. The Villa consists of a master bedroom, two adjoining bedrooms, living room, dining room, and kitchenette. You’ll also enjoy the benefit of a terrace with your own pool and Jacuzzi. A 24-hour butler service is on hand to take care of your every need.
Presidential Villa – prices starting from 2806 USD
SUJÁN Rajmahal Palace, Jaipur – a boutique palatial retreat
There are numerous boutique hotels in India, but few are as carefully thought-out and well designed as SUJÁN Rajmahal Palace, an oasis of tranquillity in the bustling city of Jaipur. This pastel-pink palatial mansion was once a royal residence, and over the decades has hosted Queen Elizabeth II, The Duke of Edinburgh, and the Shah of Iran. Hey, if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us.
The hotel has been meticulously refurbished by Indian designer Adil Ahmad. While original features such as a sweeping marble staircase and family antiques are preserved, you’ll also find playful twists on the building’s history. One of the dining rooms is painted hot pink, in honor of Jaipur’s nickname, “the Pink City”. Guests are treated to afternoon tea of
sandwiches and cakes on the lawn – a historical legacy from the times of British occupation.
There are 14 rooms and suites, each meticulously and individually decorated. The former royal quarters comprises of a two-bedroom apartment with an elegant living area, dining room, and a drawing room with a bar that opens out onto a private terrace. The main bedroom dials up the luxury with red velvet armchairs, a black marble floor, and a chandelier. A stay in The Maharajah’s Apartment also gives you access to a private butler around the clock, and complimentary chauffeur service to and from Jaipur airport.
The Maharajah’s Apartment – prices starting from 14,063 USD
Disclaimer: Hotel rates have been converted into USD from INR and are based on the rates listed on each hotel’s website. These prices do not include taxes. Prices are subject to variation according to season, availability and exchange rate.
Dani Redd
Dani Redd is a freelance food and travel writer based in Bangalore. She has bylines in National Geographic Traveller India, Intrepid Magazine, Ethos, Culture Trip and more.
