Indian Hotels Shine At The Michelin Key Awards 2025

In the lore of Indian luxury hospitality, the guest is king. But besides that, luxury in this country has always worn a loud suit: palaces, spices, silk, marble, history, drama. The tales live in our walls, in the thread counts of our cotton duvets, and the rogan josh we scarf down in mahals.

Through the year, the country’s hotels have gotten nods of global recognition. But now, suddenly, Michelin has finally decided that hotels deserve their own awards. Yes, the same Michelin that decides which pasta is worth paying $600 for.

Why should we care? Aren’t the five star ratings on goibibo or travel forums enough? Well, apparently, no. Because the Michelin Key isn’t about thread count or spa menus—it’s about how staying somewhere can actually feel like an event. And if there’s one thing India proved in 2025, it’s that our hotels can do that in spades.

In these coveted “keys”, ‘One Key’ is a very special stay, ‘Two Keys’ an exceptional one, and ‘Three Keys’? That rarefied realm where the hotel itself becomes an event in itself.

And this year, 36 Indian hotels were mentioned in the Michelin Key Awards. 36!

India’s Three Keys

Only two properties bagged three keys this year: the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur and the Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad. I mean, we already knew they’re the gold standard in India, but a Michelin nod is a special win!

The 18th century Taj Lake Palace is literally a floating palace, marooned on Lake Pichola. You arrive by boat, which is either romantic or slightly ridiculous depending on how hungover you are from your last stop. Inside, you find silk drapes, marble fountains, and carved balconies in the middle of the city of lakes. You’re in a palace, and it’s absurd and beautiful, and a fever dream of Rajasthani opulence.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad’s Taj Falaknuma Palace, is perched on a hill just outside the city. Sixty rooms only, yet each one tells a different story through French tapestries, Venetian chandeliers, and English-inspired floorings. There are horse-drawn carriages that still exist here, and why not? The point here is to relish in what once was.

India’s Two Keys

Several Indian properties received Two Keys, marking them as exceptional stays with character. Think of these hotels are the cool kids at the global hospitality table.

Aman i Khas in Ranthambhore and Sujan Jawai in Bisalpur were spotlighted for their immersive wildlife experiences—safari drives, remote lodges, while also offering luxury.

Amanbagh in Ajabgarh, Six Senses Fort Barwara in Sawai Madhopur, and Sujan Jawai in Bisalpur all follow a similar script: rooted in place, exquisitely designed, yet bold in their understanding of luxury.

Meanwhile, Senses Fort Barwara in Sawai Madhopur and Amanbagh in Ajabgarh combine heritage architecture with eco-conscious design, turning centuries-old forts and palaces into contemporary retreats. Raffles Udaipur, The Leela Palace Jaipur, and The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, mix local culture, architectural audacity, and that indefinable sense of occasion. Meanwhile, the Leela Palace New Delhi was mentioned for its service and hospitality.

India’s One Key

Then there were the One-Key tier: the mavericks, the intimate, the revolutionaries we love.

Hotels like The Kumaon in Almora were spotlighted for their fabulous architecture and the jaw-dropping mountain views. Meanwhile, RAAS Devigarh in Udaipur and The Johri in Jaipur are known for transforming heritage properties into design-forward experiences.

Here are all the hotels that were mentioned in the One-Key tier:

• The Kumaon, Almora
  

• RAAS Devigarh, Udaipur
  

• Taj Mahal, New Delhi
  

• Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand
  

• Six Senses Vana, Dehradun
  

• Taj Usha Kiran Palace, Gwalior
  

• Villa Palladio Jaipur
  

• Taj Mahal Tower, Mumbai
  

• The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur
  

• The Johri, Jaipur
  

• Rajmahal Palace RAAS Jaipur
  

• The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore
  

• Soho House Mumbai
  

• Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
  

• The Leela Palace Chennai
  

• The Oberoi, Gurgaon
  

• Taj Nadesar Palace, Varanasi
  

• Taj Devi Ratn Resort & Spa, Jaipur
  

• SUJAN Sher Bagh, Sawai Madhopur
  

• The Lodhi, New Delhi
  

• Narendra Bhawan, Bikaner
  

• Ran Baas The Palace, Patiala
  

Thirty-six Indian hotels, scattered from Rajasthan’s deserts to Uttarakhand’s mountains, from Mumbai’s slick towers to Hyderabad’s royal hilltops, are on the Michelin Key list. And it’s not just a pat on the back—it’s a signal flare to the world: India’s hospitality is taking lead. They seduce, amuse, surprise, and occasionally unsettle.

For the world, it’s a revelation. For India, it’s validation: that here, luxury can be theatrical, precise, historic, playful, and above all, unforgettable.