You need to bookmark these new luxury hotel openings in India
- Featured Travel & Hospitality
Yashita Damani- 8 minutes read
Luxury has always been a spectacle and we consumed it greedily. But somewhere between wellness becoming a necessity and exhaustion quietly becoming the collective condition of modern living, our idea of escape shifted.
Today, we want places that restore us. From The Leela Coorg Forest Sanctuary to The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace in Khajuraho, discover India’s most anticipated new luxury hotel openings blending design, wellness, culture, and destination led hospitality. Read on.
The Leela Coorg Forest Sanctuary, Karnataka
Set amid misty hills, coffee estates, and dense greenery in Karnataka’s Coorg region, The Leela Coorg Forest Sanctuary marks a decisive shift for one of India’s most recognisable luxury hotel brands. Best known for grand city hotels and regal properties, The Leela is stepping into wellness driven destination hospitality with its first sanctuary concept. Spread across 76 acres, the all villa retreat promises an immersive kind of luxury. Guests can expect private villas surrounded by forested landscapes, lakefront experiences, curated coffee trails, nature walks, and a wellness philosophy rooted in restoration. The 27,000 square ft spa, inspired by the brand’s signature wellness experiences, places yoga, Ayurvedic therapies, Turkish hammams, and guided rituals at the centre of the stay.
Roswyn Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mumbai’s hospitality landscape has entered a new chapter with Roswyn Mumbai by Ennismore. Positioned at the intersection of luxury lifestyle and design hospitality, the opening signals a shift away from traditional five star formality toward something more experiential and culturally plugged in. Unlike heritage luxury, Roswyn leans into mood, community, and aesthetic storytelling. Think thoughtfully designed interiors, social spaces with personality, destination dining, and a hospitality model designed for travellers who seek experience over convention.
The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace, Khajuraho
Palace hotels remain among India’s most aspirational travel experiences, but their continued relevance lies in thoughtful reinvention. The Oberoi’s interpretation of Rajgarh Palace blends heritage with elevated hospitality, offering travellers an immersive stay within a beautifully restored 19th-century palace, where regal suites, hand-painted interiors and sweeping views evoke the grandeur of erstwhile royalty. Guests can unwind at the Oberoi Spa, enjoy a temperature-controlled pool, savour curated dining experiences and explore bespoke cultural activities that showcase the rich heritage of Bundelkhand.
Hotel Irada, Pune
Design hospitality is steadily carving out its own space in India’s luxury landscape, and Hotel Irada in Pune represents this new wave. Reimagining Vijay Mallya’s iconic 2000s estate as a 66-acre working winery set amid 4,000 acres of reserve forest, blending heritage with the creative spirit of a new India through wine trails, forest rituals, and immersive experiences. Nyāsa Wellbeing offers a sanctuary rooted in Indian wisdom, combining yoga, spa therapies, nourishing food, and mindful rituals to inspire balance, renewal, and everyday wellbeing.
The Sen, Lansdowne, Uttarakhand
The Sen by Nakul Sen arrives at a moment when luxury hospitality is becoming more nuanced and emotionally resonant. Perched on a quiet ridge in Uttarakhand, this is a secluded retreat where time slows, framed by pine forests, drifting mist, and sweeping valley views. Designed with expansive glass walls and minimalist warmth, its suites blur the boundaries between indoors and nature, creating a sanctuary suspended between forest and sky. Life at The Sen centres around mindful experiences, from Pahadi and farm-to-table dining to guided outdoor wellness practices inspired by the elements, immersive forest safaris, village walks, and intimate celebrations for up to twelve guests.
Shakti Prana, The Himalayas
Perched high in the Kumaon Himalayas, Shakti Prana is a deeply restorative mountain sanctuary. Rebuilt on the legacy of Shakti’s iconic 360° Leti, the retreat features seven glass-fronted villas crafted from reclaimed stone and teak, each offering uninterrupted views of the Panchachuli peaks, wood-burning fireplaces and serene, minimalist interiors. Days unfold with guided hikes through pine forests and remote villages, sunrise yoga on an open-air platform, and wholesome meals prepared from fresh local ingredients. Facilities include a dramatic cliffside sauna and bathhouse, a library and games room, kitchen gardens and expansive terraces designed for stargazing and quiet contemplation.
Taj Lalit Bagh, Udaipur
Taj Lalit Bagh captures the grandeur of Udaipur’s royal heritage through a refined blend of elegance, serenity, and modern luxury. Set across a centuries-old estate surrounded by pleasure gardens, themed courtyards, and historic architecture, the hotel offers 155 thoughtfully designed rooms and suites, immersive local experiences, and wellness through the J Wellness Circle Spa. Just 15 minutes from the airport, guests can enjoy diverse dining across three restaurants and a bar, including global and Pan-Asian cuisine, alongside curated spaces designed for both leisure and grand celebrations.
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