Rajmahal Palace RAAS Jaipur
Showcasing an arresting art deco exterior in light pink, Rajmahal Palace is the former home of Jaipur’s queen, Maharani Gayatri Devi. The property features 13 suites, two apartments, two restaurants, a bar, and an outdoor swimming pool. The hotel houses art and decor pieces from the royal family’s personal collection and bespoke wallpaper with motifs of peacocks, carnations and Mughal miniatures. Guests can indulge in a Champagne High Tea at the Upper Lawns, have a private dinner at the Maharani Suite, dine at the poolside restaurant Baradari, or go on an insider’s tour of Jaipur.
Aman-i-Khás
Situated near Ranthambore National Park, Aman-i-Khás offers guests a magnificent camping experience. The hotel’s 10 tents are evocative of Mughal design and provide unparalleled vistas of the surrounding natural landscape. Visitors can choose to have breakfast at the retreat’s guava farm, swim in the traditional stepwell-inspired outdoor pool, go for a wildlife safari with Daulat Singh, the expert guide, or partake in private cooking classes at Aman-i-Khás’ Dining Tent. Housing palatial interiors and state-of-the-art fixtures, the hotel is the perfect venue to unwind at after a day of wildlife safaris. Don’t miss the property’s delicious Rajasthani thalis.
Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra Kovalam
A Relais & Châteaux property, Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra is a seaside resort featuring quaint Keralite heritage cottages. This spectacular 32-acre cliff-top retreat is in the village of Pulinkudi, eight kilometres south of Kovalam. The opulent property provides guests with panoramic vistas of the Arabian sea. Visit this retreat for its wellness offerings, such as traditional ayurvedic therapies and yoga, meditation and pranayama sessions. The hotel’s Café Samsara, an all-day multi-cuisine restaurant, and Essence, a lively southeast Asian and seafood eatery, come highly recommended.
Ananda in the Himalayas
A celebrity favourite, this regal property is located near Rishikesh amidst picturesque Sal forests. Ananda in the Himalayas is renowned for its impeccable service, aesthetically pleasing interiors and surreal location. The sumptuous hotel is particularly well-loved for its award-winning ayurvedic, yogic and international wellness programmes that are tailor-made for individual guests’ health goals. Moreover, the property’s expert team curates personalised experiences such as nature safaris, river rafting and guided tours of age-old temples and monasteries.
Six Senses Fort Barwara
Located against the backdrop of the majestic Aravallis, this hotel is a restored 14th-century fort. The property comprises the 30,000-sq-ft Six Senses Spa and fitness centre, 43 guest suites and five marquee suites. The spa’s treatments and customised wellness programmes are based on the preventative principles of Eastern medicine. Recently, Six Senses Fort Barwara collaborated with well-known sleep expert Michael J. Breus to develop the ground-breaking ‘Sleep with Six Senses’ programme. As part of this plan, guests have a sleep tracker, the results of which are interpreted during a consultation with a wellness expert who recommends personalised lifestyle changes and treatments.
