Are you one of those intoxicated by the dream of staying in a heritage hotel and celebrating New Year in regal style? If so, India is perfectly placed to offer you the places to stay at and celebrate New Year.
In India, Rajasthan is a class apart for heritage hotels. The best heritage hotels in Rajasthan that were formerly grand palaces, or luxury residences, will transport you to the bygone era of royalty. Likewise, if you’re looking for the best place to stay in Jaipur, there are some fabulous traditional hotels in Jaipur; and vintage heritage hotels near Jaipur.
Best Of Heritage Hotels To Stay
Here are eight of the finest heritage hotels that are worth the money to stay on New Year and welcome 2023.
Umaid Bhawan Palace, Heritage Hotel Jodhpur
When it comes to the best heritage hotel in Rajasthan, there are fewer better ones than Umaid Bhavan Palace in Jodhpur. Perched atop Chittar Hill, Umaid Bhavan, named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, and set amidst 26 acres of lush canopy of garden greenery inhabited by beautiful peacocks, is a classical type of heritage hotel.
Built in 1943 in art-deco style, Umaid Bhavan has a 105 feet dome with the architecture based on Renaissance style and the towers inspired from Rajput tradition. In 1972, a part of the sprawling stately palace was converted into a heritage hotel after it was taken over by Taj Hotels, with over 64 stately and elegant rooms and suites; two luxurious swimming pools; several recreational facilities including libraries; a whispering gallery and spa; a variety of restaurants and bars; a sprawling garden; and several lovely terraces that give a stunning view of the city below.
Voted in 2016 as the world’s best hotel by TripAdvisor users, Umaid Bhavan, among the best heritage hotels in Rajasthan, is an ideal heritage hotel to stay, soak in the festivities of New Year, and welcome it in grand style with sunset cocktails from Chittar Hill.
Taj Lake Palace, Heritage Hotel Udaipur
Built in 1746 as the summer palace of the prince of Udaipur Maharaja Jagat Singh of the Mewar dynasty, the Taj Lake Palace is a stunning picturesque hotel perched atop a rock formation in the middle of Lake Pichola. What makes it one-of-a-kind architectural structure is its built edge-to-edge that seems like its floating on the lake. Over the years later it lost its luster and faded away. But thanks to its present owner Taj Hotels, it has been painstakingly restored to its former glory. Today, it is rated as among the best heritage hotels in Rajasthan and India.
The stunning white marbled structure has over 65 fabulous stately decorated rooms and 18 royal suites, with several beautiful landscaped courtyards; and breathtaking views. Everything about this hotel is done in royal style, from the rose petals thrown at guests upon arrival to the fairy tale settings of the rooms and suites; exceptional guest service; and more.
Featured in the popular James Bond movie of the 1980s, ‘Octupussy’ starring Roger Moore, Taj Lake Palace true to its status as among the best heritage hotel in Rajasthan, is worth the money to spend and stay on New Year in India.
Rambagh Palace, Heritage Hotel Jaipur
No discussion on traditional hotels in Jaipur can afford to bypass the name of Rambagh Palace.
Built in 1835 as the home for the then queen’s favorite handmaiden, it later became a hunting lodge, and then the private residence of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and his wife Maharani Gayatri Devi. In 1972, it was taken over by the Taj Hotels and converted into a heritage hotel. Today, it is rated as among the best places to stay in Jaipur.
Resplendent in its look and regal in its aura, it has 78 stately guest rooms (both traditional and modern) furnished in true Taj style with hand-carved latticework, and sandstone balustrades. The rooms and suites are all spacious, well air-conditioned and equipped with elegant carpets, handcrafted furniture, hand-painted wall motifs, flat-screen television and other modern essentials gadgetries, spacious sitting areas, modern bathrooms with walk-in shower and separate bathtub, and other perks of luxurious accommodation.
There are around five restaurants and bars that serve both traditional Indian and modern continental cuisine. There is also a café called ‘Verandah Cafe’ that offers an array of cocktails, teas, and light meals. Aside from this, the heritage hotel also has well-manicured Mughal style gardens and courtyards; wellness facilities inclusive of two pools – indoor and outdoor, fitness centre, full spa services, and a nine-hole golf course. Guests can also have access to Yoga centre and practice yoga with experienced gurus or exercise at the well-equipped gym in the hotel.
All guests are welcomed in royal style with a parade of decorated camels, elephants, and horses; and feted like royalty. No wonder, it is rated as among the best places to stay in Jaipur on New Year; and welcome it in royal style.
Samode Palace, Heritage Hotel Jaipur
Perched atop a rocky hilltop with breathtaking views of the rustic terrains below, Samode Palace is one of the finest heritage hotels near Jaipur.
Over 475 years old, Samode Palace, about 40 kms from Jaipur, shimmers with intricate details of the Indo-Saracenic architecture. Blessed with 43 opulent accommodations uniquely decorated in royal Rajasthani style; each with four poster beds, elaborately carved furnishings, regal Indian fabrics, shimmering antiques and fine art, and a welcoming rose-petal filled bath, the guests are treated like royalty and feted like a rock-star. There is also a sprawling regal swimming pool area with a great courtyard restaurant, ayurvedic spa centre, and yoga centre.
If you’re looking to stay in one of the heritage hotels near Jaipur and welcome New Year in the countryside, then there is no better place to do that than Samode Palace.
Taj Savoy Hotel, Heritage Hotel Ooty
A part of the famed Taj Hotels Palaces & Resorts Gateway Hotels venture, Taj Savoy Hotel, located on the western edge of Ooty, is another of those magical heritage hotels in India.
Built in colonial style between 1834 and 1865, Taj Savoy Hotel is spread over two and a half hectares of well-manicured lawns and rolling hills. Made up of 40 charming, cream-colored cottage-like rooms that are strung around gardens dotted with daisies, and swinging benches, Taj Savoy Hotel is one of the original Raj—era hotels.
The guests can enjoy all the trappings of the colonial-era style with afternoon high tea, ayurvedic spa and luxury massage sessions, croquet on the lawns, single malts by the fireplace, and a regal taste of local cuisine or a mix of authentic Badaga and Anglo-Indian dishes in an in-house colonial-style restaurant. If this is not sufficient, the guests can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities like trekking, fishing, horse-riding, bird-watching, and more.
More economical and affordable compared to other Taj Hotel properties, Taj Savoy Hotel steeped in history, is a quality heritage hotel to stay on New Year and welcome it in vintage style.
The Imperial, Heritage Hotel Delhi
Built in 1931, The Imperial was designed by the renowned British architect D J Blomfield, in a host of styles – Art Deco, Colonial, and Victorian. Early on it used to be a meeting place for great political leaders of India’s freedom movement, later it was converted into a heritage hotel where guests can enjoy true colonial elegance with service delivered to the finest detail.
All of the rooms and suites are set in lavish style, equipped with rosewood furniture, post-therapeutic spring mattresses, marbled bathrooms, and so on. There are some award-winning restaurants, an atrium tea lounge, and a holistic spa centre. Aside from this, the hotel also hosts a large number of colonial and post-colonial art and artefacts.
Steeped in old-colonial style era, The Imperial Hotel makes everyone who stays there feel like royalty. So, if you’re in Delhi for the New Year, make sure to stay at The Imperial Hotel to welcome it in grand colonial style.
Taj Mahal Palace Heritage Hotel, Mumbai
Among the most acclaimed heritage hotels in India is Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, built at the start of the 20th century.
With its elaborate European and Islamic style architecture set in a combination of Florentine, Moorish, and Oriental styles and grandeur, the hotel offers 600 majestic rooms and suites decorated with antique furniture and paintings and Indian inspired decor; nine top-class restaurants and bars – 10 in all; top-grade traditional and contemporary wellness facilities including spa; luxury boutique shops selling brands like Dior, Louis Vuitton, etc; swimming pools; and more.
With the backdrop of the iconic Gateway of India and the simmering-blue Arabian Sea, the famed heritage hotel set in the heart of Colaba – home to some of the finest colonial architecture and interesting sights of Mumbai -, is a great place to stay on New Year and welcome it in style.
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Heritage Hotel Hyderabad
Taj Falaknuma Palace Hotel in Hyderabad, once the prime property of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, is in every sense a true epitome of grandeur and luxury that promises true royal stay experience in signature style.
What makes it a standout experience is its utter lavishness that will leave even the most hardcore of tourists speechless. The hotel offers 60 swanky regal rooms and suites that reek of Nizami splendor, segregated into Grand Royal Suites, Historical Suites, Palace Rooms, Royal Suites, and the Nizam Suite, all providing a fabulous city, courtyard, and lawn view. Every room and suite equips with a flat-screen TV / DVD player; iron board and hair dryer; tea/coffee maker; en-suite bathrooms with bathrobes; and more. There is also a multi-cuisine restaurant – ground and terrace; a poolside Hookah Lounge where guests can treat themselves to an array of flavors; wellness facilities including spa; and more.
This New Year, stay at Taj Falaknuma Palace and welcome it in royal celebrity style with a special horse-drawn carriage or a live lively qawwali performance that will transport you back to the Nizam era.
Conclusion
India’s famed heritage hotels assure not only a fabulous stay on New Year but also assure grand New Year celebrations to be cherished for years to come.
Whatever your choice, is regarding heritage hotel across India, they all accommodate even the most demanding of your needs to make your stay and celebrate New Year, truly memorable.
