The 15 Best Luxury Hotels in Rajasthan

In Rajasthan every one of the 15 hotels in this selection has a pool – the real question is whether you want one of your own.The Oberoi Rajvilas Jaipur · PoolPrivate pools are available at several hotels, including two 5-star hotels in Jaipur. For couples we recommend The Leela Palace Jaipur: its Royal Villas have a private plunge pool with a Jacuzzi. At The Oberoi Rajvilas Jaipur private pools come with selected rooms, tents and villas, and all guests can use a temperature-controlled 21-metre pool with elephant water spouts. At Suján Sher Bagh the Royal “Sher” and the Imperial “Raj Bagh” suites each come with a heated private plunge pool.The Oberoi Udaivilas Udaipur · PoolFor all guests the main pools are often the picture that stays with you after a trip through Rajasthan’s luxury hotels – above all in Udaipur, with views of the water. The Oberoi Udaivilas Udaipur, a 5-star hotel on Lake Pichola, has a temperature-controlled main pool in Mughal style and, next to it, an adults-only spa pool. Raffles Udaipur offers a temperature-controlled outdoor pool with a pool bar on the island and an infinity pool on the lake in the Lakeshore wing. At the Taj Lake Palace Udaipur mango trees line the outdoor pool by the water.

Two more luxury hotels in Rajasthan have indoor and outdoor pools, both with a kids club and so our tip for families: the Rambagh Palace Jaipur and Six Senses Fort Barwara Rajasthan. The Fairmont Udaipur Palace also has a kids club, along with the Ivory Pool with its pool bar, an infinity pool and an event pool.

Many spas in Rajasthan make use of the spaces their buildings come with. Our tip for a large spa: the Six Senses Spa at Six Senses Fort Barwara Rajasthan occupies the Zanana Mahal, the former women’s palace, and including the gym covers around 2,800 m², with a steam bath, sauna, cold and relaxation pools, Ayurveda programmes and an aerial yoga pavilion. At the Taj Lake Palace Udaipur the J Wellness Circle even includes a spa boat on the lake.Six Senses Fort Barwara Rajasthan · SpaYou can relax under canvas in two places. The Jungle Spa at Suján Sher Bagh stands beneath old peepal trees and offers Ayurvedic therapies and massages with natural oils; Tatler lists it among its 101 Best Spas. At The Leela Palace Udaipur Tishya by The Leela has five therapy tents with silk, linen and thikri mirror work, separate tents for yoga and meditation, and therapy suites with a private pool and views of Lake Pichola.

If you are looking for Ayurveda, book in Udaipur or Jaipur. The Raffles Spa at Raffles Udaipur has six treatment rooms including a couples’ suite and focuses on Ayurveda-inspired treatments. Aujasya by The Leela at The Leela Palace Jaipur draws on ancient Indian healing traditions.

Both Oberoi hotels, two 5-star hotels in Rajasthan, run Asmi by Oberoi: at The Oberoi Udaivilas Udaipur with an adults-only spa pool and private yoga sessions, at The Oberoi Rajvilas Jaipur with yoga and meditation in the gardens – there for hotel guests only and bookable 24 hours in advance.

For heat and cold in turn: the Fairmont Udaipur Palace has a spa of around 1,100 m², with cold plunge pools, a steam room, sauna and indoor Jacuzzi. The Raffles Spa at Raffles Jaipur measures around 620 m², with hot and cold mineral pools, and at the Fairmont Jaipur the Ruhab Spa has a hammam and a hot-spring bath.

The selection starts at 92 € at the Hyatt Regency Jaipur Mansarovar and goes up to 728 € at Suján Sher Bagh. Seven of the fourteen luxury hotels with a current rate start below 250 € a night; for The Leela Palace Udaipur our travel advisors will quote you the rate on request.

What’s included at all 15 luxury hotels: daily breakfast for two – at the Taj Lake Palace Udaipur in Jharokha, at The Leela Palace Udaipur in the restaurant The Dining Room – and an upgrade subject to availability.The Leela Palace Udaipur · Rooms & suitesUpgrades and check-in: at three hotels, including The Leela Palace Udaipur, the upgrade is confirmed at booking, though at the two Hyatt hotels not from a room to a suite. At 13 hotels early check-in and late check-out are possible subject to availability. Only the Alila Fort Bishangarh has a minimum stay of two nights. Everywhere else the benefits apply from the first night.Hyatt Regency Jaipur Mansarovar · Rooms & suitesA hotel credit of 100 US dollars awaits you at ten luxury hotels, for example at Raffles Udaipur and The Leela Palace Jaipur. At four hotels you get a meal for two instead, such as lunch at The Oberoi Udaivilas Udaipur or lunch or dinner at the Taj Lake Palace Udaipur.

Airport transfers are worth a closer look. The Leela Palace Udaipur takes you to and from the airport free of charge. The Taj Lake Palace Udaipur picks you up in selected categories for stays of two nights or more, not combinable with promotions, and the Rambagh Palace Jaipur does so in selected suites.

Plus a few extras you only get once: 15 percent off spa treatments at the Taj Lake Palace Udaipur; at the Umaid Bhawan Palace a walk through the palace with a glass of sparkling wine at the bar, and butler service. A welcome gift awaits you at eleven hotels.

Points and status are part of the benefits at 14 of the 15 luxury hotels. The programmes: ALL (Accor) at four hotels – both Raffles and both Fairmont –, I Prefer at both Leela hotels, Oberoi One at both Oberoi hotels, World of Hyatt at both Hyatt hotels, Taj InnerCircle at the Taj Lake Palace Udaipur and IHG One Rewards at Six Senses Fort Barwara Rajasthan.

How long to stay: whether palace, fort or 5-star hotel in Rajasthan’s cities, plan two to three nights per stop – say three in Jaipur, three in Udaipur and two at Ranthambore National Park or in one of the forts. That leaves time for the palaces, the lakes and the safari.