20 Lavish Boutique Hotels to Consider for Your Next Trip to India

Boutique hotels in India offer tourists the opportunity to get an accommodation experience completely different from a typical stay in a more ‘westernized’ hotel. These boutique hotels include the likes of villas, treehouses, palaces, camps, bungalows, cottages, and forts. These properties also derive their uniqueness from their location. They are usually located far-flung from the hustle-bustle, thus allowing guests to experience the tranquillity. Here’s the list of 20 best boutique hotels in India that you can consider for your next trip.

Jamtara Wilderness Camp, Madhya Pradesh

Located in the outskirts of Pench National Park, Jamtara Wilderness Camp gives sleeping under the stars an entirely different meaning. The camp includes 10 luxury tents. All the tents are airy and light and offer a view of the jungle. The staff also organizes an outdoor bed on the tent’s veranda on demand. The stunning Star Bed experience sets this hotel apart from other boutique hotels. This experience takes guests to a nearby field where a stilted platform is erected. This platform has a four-poster bed with mosquito nets and soft linen.

Privacy at Sanctuary Bay, Muhamma, Kerala

Privacy at Sanctuary Bay has two separate bungalows. One of these bungalows has a single suite while the other one has two double rooms. There are mammoth sliding screens that give onto verandas and bamboo blinds and offer magnificent vistas across the lake. It makes for a unique accommodation and lists it among the best places to stay in Kerala. The suite here is thatched, air-conditioned and has a living room, a dining room, and two bathrooms. The pool is a shared one. The lush interiors of this property are stunningly minimalistic.

Panchavatti, Corjuem Island, Goa

Set in a picturesque Goan backdrop, Panchavatti boasts landscape comprising a 40-meter-long veranda amidst the sweet aromas of frangipani and jasmine. The hotel features plush decorative touches including the likes of copper pots, cane lampshades, and bowls of floating flowers. The property has warm and hospitable staff. In the building of the property, only traditional materials have been used such as high wooden ceilings, laterite stone, and tiled roofs. All the bedrooms of Panchavatti have a private balcony and are wrapped around an inner courtyard.

Casa Susegad, Loutolim, Goa

Norman and Carole’s 700-year-old house Casa Susegad, is located among the coconuts in the fringes of one of the prettiest villages in Goa– Loutolim. The property boasts a Jodhpur-blue exterior and beautiful lights cascading from terracotta, making this hotel easily recognizable from afar. It is a wonderland of color, affluently embroidered Rajasthani antiques and upholstery, and magnificent local and international art. Snooker table and a collection of jewelry share equal importance in the garden space. This lush property has four meticulously designed bedrooms facing out on the pool.

Casa Colvale, Taliwado, Goa

Casa Colvale includes two chic villas offering views that are breathtaking in every sense. These villas are located off the beaten track in North Goa. Tourists are taken to the terrace with a sundowner at the time of arrival, making them lap up the regal backdrop. Infinity pool offers vista that is jaw-dropping. Guests can also move downhill for a barbecue under the stars. All the rooms in this lavish and family-friendly accommodation option boast a sit-out space overlooking the river or the islands. The dark stone floor of the villas has bright linen and rugs. There are two pools in Casa Colvale. Guests can also join the yoga session on the terrace.

The Manor, Friends Colony West, Delhi

Designed meticulously by the Japanese architect, The Manor is a luxury boutique hotel with an acre of garden. The hotel was founded in the 1950s and presently reflects luxury experience at its highest. The Manor boasts all characteristics of a plush luxury address and exudes royalty with its lovely wall hangings in the corridors and regal mosaic flooring. The sumptuous Indian and fusion food and the serene green area are the other feathers in the hat. Guests are also served with a revitalizing massage.

Chapslee, Elysium Hill, Himachal Pradesh

Located far-away from the hustle and bustle, Chapslee relaxes guests’ minds with unparallelled serenity undisturbed by internet, TV, or cellphones. The property is in one of the oldest houses in Elysium Hill and was once the summer residence of Raja Charanjit Singh of Kapurthala. His grandson is the present owner of Chapslee. The walls of the hotels are adorned with Raj-era swords, embroideries, and paintings. Lush bedrooms of this accommodation option are of first-rate quality and the suite is highly sumptuous. Stay in this property takes guests back to the royalty of the princely era. In all senses, the hotel can be considered among the best boutique hotels in North India.

Shreyas Yoga Retreat, Santoshima Farm, Nr Bangalore, Karnataka

Shreyas Yoga Retreat welcomes guests with a marigold garland by warm and hospitable white-robed staff. Guests are asked about their mental and physical health. The property is unique in itself as the stay of guests is planned in terms of treatments and diet. Few of the prime reasons to book are scrumptious food, Ayurvedic massage, revitalizing spa, hatha yoga, and pukka Ashtanga sessions. One can also come here just to sunbathe by the pool and to soak up the serene atmosphere.

Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh

Ahilya Fort is a plush hotel located high above the Narmada River. It boasts exquisitely restored dark timbers, pale stone floors, and ancient shuttered doors. The driving force behind this fort, Richard Holkar, belongs to the family of the kings of Indore. The hand weaving, which was once famous in this era, is again flourishing due to the Holkar Trust. Guests can visit the handloom center located near the fort. Luxurious bedrooms of Ahilya Fort have meticulously woven fabrics and offer magnificent views. There is a terrace restaurant in the hotel.

Chhatra Sagar, Nimaj, Rajasthan

Chhatra Sagar, located in Nimaj area of Rajasthan, boasts thirteen tents and is home to over 250 species of migratory birds. One can also witness antelopes grazing on the bank of a 100-year-old reservoir. The bedrooms of this topnotch and kids-friendly accommodation property are smartly contained within the white canvas and are furnished in classic Rajputana style. Guests can enjoy scrumptious food and listen to village lore.

Shahpura Bagh Palace, Shapura, Rajasthan

Shahpura Bagh is a beautiful and luxurious hotel located in Rajasthan. Rajadhiraja Nahar Singh, the former king of the region, once mortgaged the jewels to gather money for building earth dams. This resulted in the construction of beautiful pastures, evergreens, and mustard crops. These things take the beauty of this hotel to an entirely different level. Bedrooms are situated at the top of the house and are characterized by cool walls and bathrooms with old claw-foot tubs. The hospitable family of the king entertains guests with the anecdotes of the state’s famous historical characters.

Cardamom House, Athoor, Tamil Nadu

Famous for its warm hospitality services, Cardamom House is located at the foot of a steep hill and offers magnificent views from the pretty garden across the lake to the Western Ghats. The bedrooms of this plush accommodation property boast tiled floors, solar-powered showers, white linen, and fresh flowers on the bedspread. There is a unique sense of serenity that can be felt during the stay at this beautiful boutique hotel in South India.

Glenburn Tea Estate, West Bengal

Located in Darjeeling, Glenburn Tea Estate is effortlessly stylish accommodation property. The hotel is located in the luxuriant hillside amidst cool climate. Sundowners on the terrace and pristine lawns add to the beauty of the property. The bedroom suites of Glenburn Tea Estate are among the loveliest in East and Northeast India. Guests can dine by the moonlight on scrumptious food and can also camp out at a lodge located in proximity to the river.

Abode, Mumbai

Adobe is no less than a hidden gem in the commercial capital of the country. The hotel is located in Colaba and is luxurious boutique property in an antique building near Indigo Deli. It boasts 20 rooms with restored vintage furniture and original artworks. The flooring of the rooms is original Burma teak. Interestingly, one can also buy the furniture used in the hotel, making it a unique accommodation choice for travelers traveling to Western India.

Nimmu House, Ladakh

Nimmu House is an excellent place to get a dose of culture and history in the imposing hills of Ladakh. The property is spread in more than 13,000 square feet and features 30 rooms. It belonged to a noble family related to the former king of Ladakh. The hotel is a cultural getaway, and culture and history lovers can be assured of having a great time. Guests can walk through the on-site fruit orchards, breathe in some clean air and go cycling and rafting.

Primrose Villas, Chikmagalur

One of the newest resorts in Chikmagalur, Primrose Villas is located at about three and a half-hours drive from Bengaluru. All the villas on the property are spacious and boast about 20 feet high ceilings. Guests can feel a sense of opulence and fulfill their quest for luxury travel in India while trying something different at the same time. Coffee plantation tours, mountain treks, and a trip to Bhadra Tiger Reserve can be enjoyed while staying at these villas. Guests can enjoy magnificent views of the Western Ghats from the room.

Sukoon Houseboat, Srinagar

Kashmiri houseboats have a romantic feel like nowhere else, not even in the top brand hotels in India. The cedar-wood-made Sukoon was built in 1979 and boasts 5 guest rooms. It also has its own speedboat that takes guests for joy rides. The rooms are spacious and also has Wi-Fi as an amenity. Autumn is the ideal season to enjoy the stay here.

The Corner Courtyard, Kolkata

The Corner Courtyard is a former home-turned boutique hotel with seven rooms. All these rooms are spacious and portray a different aspect of Kolkata through colors. For example, Cadmium pays tribute to the city’s taxis and Indigo tells about the East India Company’s love for the dye. Its large restaurant and white exposed brick walls are the prime attractions. The hotel offers tourists visiting India with an experience of the young and hip side of Kolkata.

The Machan, Lonavala

The Machan is a wonderful tree resort house that uses renewable energy for power consumption. The resort boasts five distinct tree house accommodations – Canopy Machan, Heritage Machan, Jungle Machan, Forest Machan, and Sunset Machan. All these tree houses cater to a different sensibility. Also, there are cabins available for those who prefer to stay on the ground. The property also has a seasonal dam that fills up during the monsoon and guests can swim in it.

Savista Retreat, Sanjharia, Rajasthan

Savista Retreat is an old house that is cooled by the breeze. Guests can enjoy staying in the midst of serenity, acres of wheat fields, beautiful gardens, twittering birds, and swinging hammocks- together adding a lot to the incredible India experience. There is a well-stocked gym and a library. Bhanwar and his wife, the hosts at the property, encourage guests to share a car and buy locally. The pool set among the palms in the property is an irrigation resource for the area.

By staying at a boutique hotel during their vacation in India, tourists can feel like a king in a state-of-the-art hillside fortress, get up close with nature in a treehouse, unwind themselves at a private beach, and do much more. In a nutshell, these hotels are perfect for those who want to witness India’s rich culture and natural beauty by trying something different from the archetypal accommodation options.