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8/6/2019 Ivy Jean Besana

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India's Top 10 Hotels

so, where r u planning to go in this vacation?

Amanresorts Amanbagh, Alwar

Best Desert Retreat: This ultra-deluxe resort sits on the former site of the Maharajah of Alwar's hunting lodge and personal pleasure

garden. Amanbagh means "peaceful garden" and you'd be hard-pressed to find a more tranquil spot than this soft-sandstone hotel surrounded by

graceful palms, fragrant eucalyptus and frangipani trees and manicured jade green lawns.. The elegant "haveli-style" rooms are among the largestin the country.

Amanbagh sits in isolation amidst the arid Aravalli Hills near Alwar in northern India. The region is rich in early Hindu history, dating to the

dawn of Hindu civilization; awash with legend, the epic Mahabharata tells of the five Pandavas brothers who spent their last years in exile withina few miles of the resort, over two millennia ago. In the more recent past, the area was dominated by a group of warrior clans, the Rajputs, who

controlled this region of India for nearly 1000 years. Raided repeatedly over time by Moghul armies, it was finally conquered in the 17th Centuryby the Emperor Shah Jahan, the famed builder of the Taj Mahal.

The topography of the region consists of sandy plains interspersed with craggy hills and knolls, in stark contrast to the setting for Amanbagh - a

lush oasis. Amanbagh derives its name from the words aman, meaning peaceful' in Sanskrit and bagh, meaning garden' in Hindi. It lies within awalled compound that was once used by the Maharajah of Alwar to site his mobile hunting camps in search of the elusive tigers known to roam

the nearby hills. Long since abandoned, the trees and vegetation continue to thrive due to a reliable water supply drawn from an adjacent lake.The resort is every bit a modern day palace, conceived in the present, but humbly paying homage to the traditional architecture and design thathas prevailed throughout the past.

The resort comprises a main building that rises over three levels. On the first level is the arrival area that leads to the reception hall and onto ashaded court, bordered on one side by the Dining Room and on the other, by the Lounge. Rising from the reception area i s a sweeping staircase

that leads to the Library and an outdoor terrace. Two external staircases lead to the Roof Terrace that is elevated above a canopy of trees andprovides sweeping views over the surrounding landscape.

Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur


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Best Place To Feel Like Royalty: Everything about this breathtaking property, from the arrival by boat on Lake Pichola andthe views of the City Palace, will make you feel as regal as the peacock that wander the property. Many rooms boast private, walled courtyards

with silken parasols and inlaid furniture, as well as private butler service. Upgrade to a suite with its own tented dining facility and infinity pool,or better yet, to the 2,650-square- foot Kohinoor Suite with its courtyard fountains, fireplaces and sauna in the master bedroom. Sorry, no throne.

Picture your arrival: you're met at the airport by a car and driver, guided onto a private boat, then ferried across Lake Picholapast Udaipur's

domed lakefront palacesinto the gardens and fountains of the Udaivilas estate. You're led to your suite, tempered with earth tones. From yourwindow, Udaipur, the city of lakes, carved into the desert landscape by Mewari royals in the 16th century, sparkles in the sun. When sensory

overload subsides, wind your way through sprawling courtyards to a traditional Kashmiri gondola, where champagne and canaps for two await.

Come back to the 30-acre lakeside property another time to receive traditional Meenakari jewelry boxes lined with deep-red velvet and adornedwith enamel flowers, departure gifts given to repeat visitors.

Room to Book: Premiere Lake Views, for their private patios leading to a semiprivate pool. Insider Tip: Wander

through the on-site Bada Mahal, an 18th-century former palace with delicate frescoes. Amenities: Business Centre, Babysitting, Concierge,Dry Cleaning, Gym/Fitness Centre, Handicapped Accessible, Hotel, Laundry Services, Meeting Room, Number of Bars, Parking Available,

Room Service, Spa, Turndown, Valet Parking, Wi-Fi Rooms: 82Suites: 5Restaurants: 2 Bars: 1

Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai


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Best Dining: This 565-room hotel weaves Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles together: It features vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyxcolumns, archways, silk carpets, crystal chandeliers and a cantilever stairway. This diversity is also reflected in the hotel's dining venues, whichhappen to be Mumbai's hottest: the Middle Eastern Souk, Morimoto's Wasabi and the Zodiac Grill, where the menu changes each month to match

the astrological sign.

The property: Built alongside Mumbai's harbor, this imposing 1903 landmark is a mix of Moorish, Asian, and Florentine architecturecapped by a graceful, diadem-crowned tower that was added in 1973.

The property: Its waterfront location means that many of the hotel's 565 rooms and suites have stellar views of the Arabian Sea and thearched basalt Gateway of India.

Rooms to Book: Luxury Grande rooms in the Palace (otherwise known as the old wing) combine old-school ambience (French doors,silk curtains, ceiling fans) with modern conveniences (42-inch plasma TVs and rainfall showerheads).

Don't Miss: The lavish weekend brunch in the Shamiana restaurant; it's a Mumbai institution.

Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur


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Best Tent Accommodations: Built in 1727, majestic Jaipur is also known as "The Pink City" for its oleander-rose buildings,domes and minarets. This smaller luxury hotel about five miles from the city center reflects Jaipur's colors and stateliness. It offers a variety of

courtyard accommodations, from suites to air-conditioned luxury tents with teak floors, Edwardian claw-foot tubs and embroidered interior

canopies. Flashlight not required.

The property: A sumptuous architectural hodgepodge that includes a centuries-old mansion, a recreated Rajasthani-style fortress(containing 54 guest rooms), and a collection of luxury tents and villas.

The location: A 32-acre oasis of sweeping green lawns, landscaped gardens, and lotus-covered ponds five miles outside the city of Jaipur.

RoomstoBook: The 14 Luxury Tentsactually more like opulent pavilionshave polished teak floors, claw-foot tubs, private slatepatios, and even air conditioning.

Don'tMiss: An Ayurvedic treatment at the spa, set in a converted 260-year-old haveli (mansion) where hand-painted frescoes adorn thewalls.

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Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra


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Best Views Of The Taj Mahal: Views of the domed marble mausoleum are clear from practically every window of thisproperty (including some bathrooms!). This hotel features Moghul architecture, terraced gardens and several reflection pools. The 103 rooms aredecked out in rich purples, oranges and yellows.. Their marble bathrooms are stately with their imposing soaking tubs.

The property: An over-the-top fantasia inspired by Moorish and Moghul palaces, this hotel has 102 rooms and suites scattered amongterraced gardens, spouting fountains, reflecting pools, and cushion-strewn lounging pavilions.

The location: A mere 600 meters from the singularly spectacular Taj Mahal.

RoomstoBook: Premier rooms with balconies allow for hours of gazing over the famous Taj.Don'tMiss: A cocktail on the patio barone of the only places where you can toast within view of one of the Seven Wonders of theWorld.

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur


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Best Place For Romance: It's hard to top the setting of this white marble palace which seems to be floating atop Lake Pichola onits four-acre island pedestal. Adding to the storybook effect are the decorative details in the elegant suites: bohemian crystals, ornate glass work,green lotus leaves and cusped arches. The rooms look out on medieval gardens and hilltop fortresses.

The property: A turreted, white-marble 18th-century palacehousing 83 guest rooms and suitesthat seems to float atop the waters ofLake Pichola.

The location: A private island in the middle of the lake; guests arrive by taking the hotel's polished-wood, canopied boat from shore.

Rooms to Book: Luxury Lake Rooms don't just have stunning water views; they also have expansive marble terraces (with sofas and

Oriental rugs) for enjoying them. Splurging?Go for the Sajjan Suitewith intricately painted walls and a marble bath that's bigger than mosthotel roomsor the Khusmahal Suite, where the bedroom walls are inset with breathtaking stained glass.

Don't Miss: A private dinner on the Mewar Terrace, with service by Royal Butlers.

The Four Seasons, Mumbai


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Best Car Service: Driving conditions in India can be a littl e daunting. At the Four Seasons, the newest entrant to the country's luxury-hotel market, a fleet of 20 BMW Series 7s is available for guests--not that they'll need to go far: The glass tower hotel (whose 202 rooms lookstraight at the Arabian sea) is conveniently located in Worli, the city's financial center, obviously targeted to the increasing number of business

travelers flocking to Mumbai.

A sleek icon to the finest hospitality in India, is set in the emerging Worli district, central to everything in the city once known as Bombay.Spacious quarters, many with views of the Arabian Sea, offer unrivalled comforts and service. Anticipate the most pressing demands of business

or pause for see-and-be-seen dining, poolside recreation or ayurveda in the spa.

Fitness facilities: Re-invigorate at the Hotel's spacious health club, with its state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength trainingmachines. Relax in the juice bar and melt away tension in the steam rooms. Or uplift and enlighten the body, mind and spirit in daily awakeningsessions with the resident yoga guru.

The Imperial, New Delhi


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Best Common Spaces: Built in 1936, the landmark Imperial Hotel, with its parade of palm trees, glossy Italian marble floors, teakfurnishings and high ceilings, will make you feel like you should have arrived on elephant, sword on hip. But don't worry; the spacious rooms--

the Deco suites are particularly stunning--have all the modern conveniences. Ask the resident curator to guide you through the hotel's hangingcollection of British art.

The property : An ornate 1931 landmark that blends Victorian and Art Deco elementsboth in its architecture and in the dcor of its274 rooms and suites.

The location : Right in the heart of the capital city, near the shopping district of Connaught Placebut set on three acres of elegant,palm-shaded gardens that provide a welcome sanctuary.Rooms to Book : Imperial rooms are a great value (particularly Nos. 22, 23, 40, and 41, which overlook the lawns). Heritage rooms,however, are almost twice the size; many have beautiful parquet floors.

Don't Miss : Taking a guided tour of the property's extensive art collection, which contains India-inspired works by famed British artistslike Thomas and William Daniells, William Simpson, William Hodges, James Ferguson, J.B. Fraser, and Emily Eden.

The Leela Palace Kempinski, Banglore


9/10

Best Business Hotel: Bangalore, India's third-largest city, has morphed into a hip, global technology center, attracting CEOs fromGoogle, Yahoo!, IBM, Honeywell, and, of course, Bill Gates. The Leela Palace offers great accommodations and dining (at the lovely Jamavar)

plus superior conference facilities. Expect to rub elbows with local r esident Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Biocon president and India's richest woman.

Devi Garh, Delwara Near Udaipur


10/10

Sexiest Design: From the outside, Devi Garh, an 18th-century Rajput palace-fort, looks just like so many of the majestic edificesthroughout Rajasthan. But step inside and you'll find a totally reinvented minimalist dcor. In one room, a sunken marble tub sits alone in a roomlooking at the Aravali Hills through floor-to-ceiling glass. Each of the 39 suites is embellished with marble and semi-precious stones. The hotel

has a spa and can arrange camel rides. About Devi

Garh Resort:Devi GarhResort IS nestled in the aravali hills, the 18th century Devi Garh palace in the village of Delwara, forms one of the

three main passes into the valley of Udaipur. Devi Garh, is ready for visitors after years of restoration and rebuilding. The Fort palace wasconceived as a place where the past meets the future.This all suite luxury hotel comprising of 39 suites with an emphasis on design and detail,using local marbles and semi-precious stones.The contemporary design showcased within this spectacular heritage property, complemented by

personalised and intimate service, creates a new image of India for the 21st century. Accomodation at Devi Garh Resort: Devi Garh

Suits,TheDevi Garhsuite and the Palacesuite, which together form The Devi Garh Complex, share a common black marble swimming pool.

The two bedrooms are available together or individually. The larger, Devi Garh suite has its own private sun deck and Jacuzzi.The Devi Garh Suite Complex explores the concept of Shiv and Shakti the male and female energies, embodied in Shiva, the Hindu God ofdestruction in conjunction with Shakti, his consort, who personifies the divine power of femininity.

Aravali Suits: The AravaliSuites are the most spacious, bright and tastefully designed suites at Devi Garh.

They offer complete privacy and have a spectacular view of the Aravali hills, which can be enjoyed from balconies or large bay windows.One ofthe Aravali Suite is a duplex spread over two levels; a loft-like space accommodates the bedroom and bathroom above, while the lower houses

the dining and sitting areas. Palace Suits: The palacesuites are each individually designed gems - literally, for their

decor uses semi-precious stone inlay. Marble combined with semi-precious stones, such as malachite, mother of pearl, jasper and lapis lazuli,

lends an aura of luxury and quiet elegance to the rooms. The patterns of the furniture are reflected and replicated in the white terrazzo forming thefloor. GardenSuits: The Gardensuites at Devi Garh each have their own private lobby, gardenand tented terrace, and overlook a vivid rectangular field of flowers. Features:Landscape

& Courtyards, Guest Facilities, Hotel Recreation, Local Sightseeing, SpaWellnessTreatments

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