There are still some misperceptions among some travelers about the quality of the tourism infrastructure in India – especially regarding hotels. The past decade has seen drastic improvements in the quality of infrastructure in India, this can be seen in places such as Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport which is now one of the world’s best airports. The improvement in the availability of hotels has also been impressive with the opening of international brand name hotels across all major cities and tourist centers in India.
The Indian government’s push to increase tourism through it’s hugely popular e-Tourist Visa program, which allows travelers to apply for their visa online instead of having to apply at an Indian consular office will only help tourism grow in the country. Long time visitors to India sometimes fret that some of the unknown jewels of the country are now being discovered by the masses and that will of course change the dynamics of travel. Nowhere is this more true than with India’s own home grown luxury hotel brands – the Oberoi and Taj chains.
Seasoned travelers to India have long known and enjoyed two of the best hotel brands on earth. Every year when the international rankings for hotels are released, the Oberoi and Taj chain hotels are at the top of the global rankings. The Oberoi chain began in 1934 and operates 30 ultra luxury hotels in India and another five countries in the Middle East and Asia. The Oberoi hotels offer unparalleled service in the world, each guest is treated as royalty. Some of the outstanding ways in which the chain differentiates itself includes the fact that there is no check-in desk at the hotel, the check-in is done in the guest’s room; a butler helps you unpack your clothes and place them in the wardrobe; no tips are allowed, if you are happy with the service at the end of your stay you can leave an envelope in a dedicated box with your tip; the setting of the Oberoi hotels is magical, the Oberoi Amarvilas is located in front of the Taj Mahal and the guest bedrooms have unobstructed views of one of the world’s most iconic buildings.
The Taj hotel chainluxury04 also offers some majestic properties in India. Some of the ultra luxury properties this hotel chain operates include former palaces of the Maharajas. Among the most spectacular properties are the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, an 18th century palace built for his highness Maharana Jagat Singh of the Mewar royal dynasty. The palace is located in the middle of Lake Pichola in Udaipur, creating a magical setting unparalleled in the world. Other properties by the Taj chain include the famous Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, Mumbai’s most iconic hotel situated in the city’s harbor. The architecture of this five star property is simply stunning – it’s legendary bar is the first licensed bar in Mumbai.
If your budget allows and you are willing to splurge a bit for an unforgettable stay in India, below are the 10 best hotels in the country (and many of them are in the top 10 of the best in the world):
- The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur.
- Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur.
- The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur.
- Taj Rambagh Palace, Jaipur.
- The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra.
- The Oberoi, New Delhi.
- Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.
- The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore.
- Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur.
- The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata.
With the autumn and winter now approaching and the monsoon season and hot summer over, there’s no better time to visit India. The Oberoi and Taj luxury hotels are of course not in the budget of all travelers but the assortment of good quality hotels in India has only grown in the past years and will continue to do as India’s stature in the global travel market continues to grow. Take advantage of India’s new flexible visa policy and apply for your Indian e-Tourist Visa from the comfort of your own home and take advantage of all the amazing world-class hotels and tourist sites this South Asian destination has to offer.