Hotels in India

India is not one destination but dozens stitched together: the glass towers of Mumbai, the Mughal monuments of Delhi, the desert palaces of Rajasthan, the palm-lined backwaters of Kerala, the beaches of Goa, and the Himalayan hill stations of Himachal Pradesh. The country's hotel scene mirrors that variety, ranging from converted maharaja residences and floating houseboats to colonial bungalows, beach shacks, and sleek business towers. Choosing where to stay is half the journey.

Mumbai and Delhi: the urban gateways

Most international visitors land in either Mumbai or Delhi, and both reward at least a couple of nights. Mumbai's hotels cluster around Colaba and the Gateway of India for heritage and harbour views, around Bandra for nightlife and a younger crowd, or in the Bandra-Kurla Complex for business travellers. Iconic addresses like the Taj Mahal Palace sit alongside modern luxury towers, while mid-range options near Marine Drive give you the Arabian Sea on your doorstep.

Delhi splits between New Delhi, with its wide avenues and embassy district around Lutyens' bungalows, and Old Delhi, where boutique havelis tucked behind Chandni Chowk put you steps from the Red Fort and Jama Masjid. Aerocity, near the airport, has become a hub for international chains and works well for short stays or layovers.

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Rajasthan's palace hotels

If there is one experience that defines Indian hospitality, it is sleeping inside a former royal residence. Rajasthan's three jewel cities each offer their own version. Udaipur, ringed by lakes, is home to the legendary Lake Palace seeming to float on Lake Pichola, alongside countless heritage havelis along its ghats. Jaipur, the Pink City, mixes grand palace-hotels like Rambagh Palace with elegant mid-range havelis in the old walled town. Jodhpur, dominated by the cliffside Mehrangarh Fort, offers the Umaid Bhawan Palace as well as blue-painted guesthouses in the lanes below.

Even if your budget does not stretch to a maharaja suite, many palace-hotels welcome non-guests for afternoon tea or sunset drinks, which is a fine way to experience the architecture without the room rate.

Kerala: backwaters and Ayurveda

Down on the southwest coast, Kerala runs at a different pace. The backwaters around Alleppey (Alappuzha) and Kumarakom are best experienced from a converted rice-barge houseboat, drifting past coconut groves and waterside villages. For something more grounded, Fort Kochi has heritage hotels in old Dutch and Portuguese buildings, while the hills around Munnar offer tea-estate bungalows with cool mornings and misty views.

Kerala is also the heartland of Ayurveda, and many beachside resorts near Kovalam and Varkala build full wellness programmes around traditional treatments, yoga, and vegetarian cuisine. Two-week retreats are common, but even a three-night stay gives you a taste of the rhythm. Travellers continuing south often pair Kerala with hotels in Sri Lanka for a similar coastal-and-hills combination.

Goa: beach time, north and south

Goa's two halves serve different crowds. North Goa, around Baga, Calangute, and Anjuna, is busier, livelier, and home to most of the state's nightlife, beach clubs, and party-oriented resorts. South Goa, from Palolem down to Agonda and Patnem, is quieter, with palm-lined sands, boutique eco-resorts, and the kind of barefoot pace that suits longer stays. Portuguese colonial heritage shows up in many properties, with whitewashed villas, tiled roofs, and shaded verandas.

Himachal and the Himalayan foothills

When the plains heat up between April and June, the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh fill up. Shimla, the former British summer capital, has colonial-era hotels along its Mall Road and pine-forested ridges. Manali, further north, is the base for trekking, river rafting, and onward travel into Spiti and Ladakh, with everything from log-cabin lodges to riverside resorts. Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj, home to the Tibetan government-in-exile, offer guesthouses with mountain views and a quieter, contemplative atmosphere. Travellers heading further into the Himalaya often combine these stays with hotels in Nepal.

When to go and what to budget

The main tourist season runs from October to March, when temperatures across most of the country are pleasant and rainfall is minimal. Rajasthan and Kerala are at their best in this window, though it is also when prices peak. Monsoon season (June to September) brings discounts but also closures, particularly for backwater cruises and Himalayan trekking routes. Summer is the time for hill stations.

India offers some of the best hotel value in Asia. Clean, well-located mid-range rooms often run well under what comparable cities in the UAE would charge, while five-star heritage stays cost