India's Best Hotels For A Slow Getaway
When the only thing on your to-do list is to do nothing at all
Today, in a world obsessed with selling bucket-list adventures, some of the most sophisticated hotels are redefining indulgence. They offer something rarer than grandeur or adrenaline: they offer a sense of retreat.
These are places that let you take a step back, where mornings unfold to the sound of rustling palm fronds rather than the insistent buzz of an alarm and true luxury isn’t about excess but about intentional subtraction.
This curated selection of India’s finest luxury getaways isn’t just about five-star service and scenic views, but about immersive relaxation. Some take you to the verdant hills of the Aravalli, while others let you journey through forts that are more than a thousand years old. Whether it’s a Rajasthani fort-turned-hotel with a 30,000-square-foot spa or a lakeside retreat where flamingos are the only distractions, these properties embody the art of slow living.
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Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan
Six Senses Fort Barwara is a 14th-century fort turned into a sanctuary that serves as a beautiful blend of history and luxury. While the 30,000-square-foot spa—once the women’s palace—offers world-class wellness therapies, this retreat is more than just massages and meditation. Within the ancient ramparts, you can enjoy dinners with farm-to-table Rajasthani fare, explore temples, or set off on a jungle safari at Ranthambore National Park. Whether you’re lounging in regal courtyards or sipping cocktails as the sun dips behind the fort’s stone walls, every detail here invites you to slow down.
Amanbagh, Rajasthan
Hidden in the quiet folds of the Aravalli Hills, Amanbagh channels the elegance of Mughal-era architecture with an unwavering focus on rejuvenation. The Ayurshala Centre is a deep dive into Ayurveda’s apothecary traditions—think bespoke herbal treatments and traditional medicine retreats. But beyond wellness, the resort is a lesson in languid living: private courtyards for reading, candlelit baths in green marble tubs, and slow afternoons by the infinity pool with a cup of saffron-infused chai.
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The Oberoi Sukhvilas, Punjab
Encircled by an 8,000-acre forest reserve, this hotel is all about retreating into nature without sacrificing on luxury. Whether you opt for a week-long Ayurvedic cleanse or simply spend your days floating in your private pool, the focus here is on relaxation. The architecture—a fusion of Mughal and Rajputana styles—sets the tone for unhurried living, as does the resort’s signature experience: starlit dinners in the middle of the forest, where bonfires and gourmet North Indian cuisine make for an unforgettable evening.
Raffles Udaipur, Rajasthan
Raffles’ first outpost in India takes the concept of seclusion to a new level – set on a 21-acre private island in Udai Sagar Lake, this resort is a place where flamingos outnumber humans. Here, relaxation has many forms: indulging in massages at their sprawling spa, drinking French-press coffee with some lakeside yoga, or spending your evening at the Long Bar.
Taj Madikeri Resort & Spa, Coorg
Set within the UNESCO-listed Western Ghats, Taj Madikeri is more rainforest retreat than resort. The resort’s architecture is woven into the rainforest, ensuring that not a single tree was felled during construction. Mornings here start with the sound of Malabar whistling thrushes, and afternoons are best spent soaking in the amphitheatre or dining under towering canopies in the Buddha Garden. The infinity pool, seemingly suspended over the hills, is where you’ll want to while away the hours. But the real magic happens at dawn, when mist rolls over the coffee plantations, turning the landscape into a dreamscape of soft blues and greens.
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The Oberoi Vanyavilas Wildlife Resort, Ranthambore
For those who love the wild, The Oberoi Vanyavilas is a luxurious gateway to Ranthambore National Park. This tented retreat offers the best of both worlds – thrilling tiger safaris by day and quiet candlelit dinners by night. The resort’s luxury tents, inspired by colonial-era hunting lodges, are a masterclass in ‘glamping’ with their canopied ceilings and freestanding bathtubs.
Taj Guras Kutir Resort & Spa, Gangtok
Taj’s high-altitude sanctuary in Sikkim is as close to the clouds as you can get. Named after the region’s iconic rhododendrons, this resort is set in Pangthang forest with views of the snow-capped Kanchenjunga. The absence of a pool is intentional—you’ll find tranquillity in the property’s private waterfall instead. The philosophy here is simple: let the mountains dictate your pace.