What makes an extraordinarily enchanting vacation?
We’ll let you into a little secret. Even the most luxurious guests of ours regularly tell us one thing.
They are seeking accommodation that are something different away from the usual international standard norm. It is not about the budget – they are happy to spend less, as well as more for the experience.
They favor quirky and full of charisma over the bog standard amenities.
They wish to be surprised and inspired, and they don’t mind going off-the-beaten path to visit such hidden gems.
Enchanting Travels is proud to present a first of its kind, with our new best of accommodation awards, which are assessed on our most popular properties, guest feedback, in addition to our team’s regular quality testing.
Congratulations to all our Award Winners!
Top 10 North India Boutique Hotels Award Winners
Voted by Enchanting Travels – your private travel experts in North India!
1. Jaisalmer Suryagarh
Tucked away in the rolling desert dunes of Rajasthan lies an extraordinary property. It’s the type of experience that will immediately have you humming Sting & The Police’s Desert Rose in your head.
“I dream of rain
I lift my gaze to empty skies above
I close my eyes, this rare perfume
Is the sweet intoxication of her love
I dream of rain
I dream…”
This immense sand-colored property harmoniously sits palatially and imposingly in the Thar Desert, like a modern day fort, with its sharp edged architecture, fused with turrets, arches and colonnades. An immense amount of space invites traditional decor of intricate carvings and vibrant colors that perfectly embrace the Rajasthani culture, while giving you a sense of freedom and harmony.
You can relax in the property’s central courtyard or in a lovely lakeside garden. This luxurious experience is an ideal gateway for exploring the desert, or simply unwinding with restful spa treatments and in fine dining experiences.
2. Samode Palace
Located in the friendly rural village of the same name, Samode Palace is an extraordinary feat of almost 500 year old traditional Indo-Saracenic architecture, with its grand courtyards, open-air halls with glittering mirrors, golden gilded adorned ceilings, and a beautiful landscaped garden.
The backdrop is the harmonious Aravali Range – ideal for dreaming, especially from the lovely open air swimming pool.
3. Rohetgarh Fort Hotel
Rohetgarh Heritage Hotel is simply stunning. Located in rural Rajashtan on the banks of a lake, this 375 year old property is still lived in by members of a regal family, who are hospitable hosts with a warm, welcome and excellent service. Horse enthusiasts can discuss the passion for the local Mewari horses, a breed unique to the region.
The hotel is bursting with relics from the past, from mural paintings to Persian carpets, with a vibrant, colorful scene of frescoes and texture. Peacocks roam the hotel’s gardens, to add an extra touch of grandeur.
If you do choose to step outside, there is plenty of wildlife to enjoy within the hotel’s environs, where you can also interact with the friendly locals of this sleepy village.
4. Jaipur Samode Haveli
Samode Haveli is the more central boutique hotel of Samode Palace, just a 15 minutes drive from the Jaipur city center. This haveli was once a mansion to a bourgeois family and was a welcome retreat for former rulers of the region The haveli has kept much of its character, while providing an understated opulence.
A hand painted hall that has been renovated with love is a wonderful space to enjoy a typical Rajasthani meal, while the open courtyard is b the perfect al fresco meal by candlelight.
When you are not venturing into the famous pink city of Jaipur, while away your days in the daybeds by the beautifully tiled swimming pool with superb service on hand. After all, shouldn’t every vacation have some relaxation time?
5. Fatehgarh
Head to where one of the world’s sexiest swimming pools is, with its proudly standing marble buddhas overseeing your refreshing dip – with views overlooking the City of Lakes!
Resting high on a hill, Fateh Garh is a reconstructed palace, made from pieces of a former palatial site, with all the elements of grandiosity and tranquility in the fresh style decor and architecture.
The regal owners have an impressive collection of vintage cars, some friendly thoroughbreed dogs on hand, and a wonderful amateur knowledge of astrology that allow you to navigate the night skies.
6. Deogarh Mahal
Deogarh Mahal is probably what you imagine when you think of a fairytale palace – and a former royal family from times gone by still reside and act as your friendly hosts. With its somewhat topsy-turvy-looking turrets, this restored boutique palace is a fabulous and impressive building to roam around and get lost in, with plenty of balconies for looking over the village of Deogarh.
When you exit the grand gates, you can meet the friendly villagers, and we highly recommend you go on a rural ramble in a vintage jeep to explore the surprisingly green countryside with its glittering lakes.
Staying in, it has all the amenities one would expect – including a swimming pool, indoor gym, and tennis courts – as well as evening Rajasthani entertainment of dancers and musicians. who often perform impressive pot and sword dancing.
7. Khem Vilas
Khem Villas is a unique boutique hotel in North India. This lodge is on the outskirts of Ranthambore National Park, a popular stop between Agra and Jaipur to go on a traditional wildlife safari, where if you are lucky you can spot a tiger!
The hotel is luxurious in understated simplicity – allowing the verdant green and tall grasses surrounding the property, thatched roofs and traditional teak and rattan furniture to add natural decor. As well as the cottages, you can opt to stay in a luxury tent.
There is a wonderful, therapeutic spa to unwind in after your morning and evening jeep safaris into the jungle, and yoga classes are also available.
An ecologically conscious resort, Khem Villas serves only vegetarian food for its meals, which are lovingly whipped up from its own organic vegetable garden.
8. Jas Vilas
Jas Villas is a warm and welcoming homestay, run by a friendly couple who oversee every guest’s stay. The rooms are relatively simple, and affordable for those not seeking opulence, yet are brimming with history. This heritage hotel is ideally located in the suburbs of bustling Jaipur, far enough away from the crowds to enjoy a peaceful stay.
The sparkling outdoor swimming pool is a focal point of the property, surrounded by a lovingly-tended tropical lawn garden. You can spend much time relaxing here after a morning of sightseeing. Evening meals are served al-fresco under romantic candlelight by the pool.
9. Ajit Bhawan Palace
Ajit Bhawan Palace Hotel is a beautifully restored heritage property in the heart of the blue city of Jodhpur.
Oozing with charm, there is Rajasthani regality on display in an elegant array, with many glorious artifacts, however a touch of modernity has also sprung in with consideration into the rooms, making it a homage to the past and present.
You will adore the sprawling outdoor swimming pool that envelopes the property in its own fanciful manner.
A spacious courtyard overlooks a delightful tropical garden. Oh, and not to be outdone by other palatial stays, there is also a fabulous vintage car collection on display.
10. Shahpura House
Shahpura House is a delightful and ever so quirky boutique palace, located in the pink city of Jaipur. With its many nooks and crannies, brimming with resplendent Rajasthani relics of time gone by, its many domes, frescoes, arches, hand painted murals and gold gilded furniture, you will be in for a real treat.
The rooms are similarly vibrant, with their own particular color scheme to add a splash of color to the white bedsheets and four poster teak beds. The rooftop is an ideal location to enjoy al fresco dining, while a dip in the swimming pool is the perfect way to cool off after a day’s sightseeing.
Congratulations again to all our Award Winners
Would you agree with our Top 10 North India Boutique Hotels? Any you think that should have been on the list? Let us know in the comments below or by contacting us.
Enchanting Travels regularly reviews all our hotels to ensure they are quality tested for your comfort and safety.
Find your own inspiration with our sample North India tours
Discover North India