While the term ‘boutique hotel’ gets thrown around far too freely these days and can feel a bit meaningless, here at Experience Travel Group, we use it to describe small hotels in India with fewer than 25 rooms.
The best boutique hotels have bags of character and a relaxed atmosphere that enhances your overall India holiday experience.
India has a wonderful depth and breadth of this type of hotel. While some of the country’s heritage hotels also fit the bill, we use ‘boutique’ to describe places purpose-built for guests (often run in a more professional manner), without losing the unique character of their setting.
Most of our luxury holidays in India will include a boutique hotel or two. After all, we steer clear of faceless hotels that could be anywhere. Instead, we’re all about memorable hotels that stand out from the crowd.
For us, the perfect Indian holiday often involves staying in a mix of different types of hotels, helping you experience the full flavour of this colossal country.
Our India specialists can advise on the right balance of hotels for your trip.
Explore ETG's Favourite Boutique Hotels in India
Uttarakhand, India
Abbotsford Heritage Homestay
Perched in the Kumaon Hills of Uttarakhand, Abbotsford Heritage Homestay offers a slice of colonial-era mountain life. Built in 1876 and still family-owned, the property exudes warmth, character, and literary charm.
Highlights
Highlights
Charm & character
Best for
Couples
Maheshwar, India
Ahilya Fort
Perched high above the ghats of the River Narmada, Ahilya Fort is a rare gem in rural Madhya Pradesh. Once the palace of the legendary Ahilya Bai Holkar, it’s now a boutique retreat rich in history and charm. With panoramic river views, peaceful courtyards, and warm village integration, the fort offers a timeless escape.
Highlights
Highlights
Magical setting,
Maheshwar Ghats right below
Best for
Couples
Solo
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Jaipur, India
Anopura
Anopura is a rural sanctuary just 90 minutes from Jaipur, where rustic opulence meets contemporary style. Surrounded by farmland and forest, this exclusive villa hotel offers a slower, more intimate take on Rajasthani luxury.
Highlights
Highlights
Private villas, Rural immersion
Best for
Couples,
Families,
Groups
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Kerala, India
Brunton Boatyard
Set in a recreated Victorian shipyard on the edge of Cochin Harbour, Brunton Boatyard is a charming waterfront hotel steeped in history. With architecture that reflects Dutch, Portuguese and British influences, this heritage-style retreat captures the essence of Cochin’s past. Expect harbour views, thoughtful details and a front-row seat to the city’s lively maritime rhythm.
Highlights
Highlights
Wonderful waterfront setting,
Sensational sunsets
Best for
Couples,
Families
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Rajasthan, India
Bujera Fort
Nestled in the Aravali Hills just outside Udaipur, Bujera Fort is a serene retreat designed to resemble a traditional Rajasthani fort. With views of Udaipur’s City and Lake Palaces in the distance, this boutique property blends elegant architecture, tranquil gardens and thoughtful touches. It’s an ideal base for travellers wanting a peaceful, atmospheric escape just beyond the bustle of the city.
Highlights
Highlights
Traditional setting,
Homegrown cuisine
Best for
Couples,
Solos
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Darjeeling, India
Glenburn Tea Estate
Set on a hillside overlooking the River Rungeet and with jaw-dropping views of Kanchenjunga, Glenburn Tea Estate is an atmospheric and intimate retreat in the Darjeeling hills. Owned and run by a passionate family, it combines colonial charm with thoughtful service and curated experiences that showcase the surrounding natural beauty.
Highlights
Highlights
Tea estate setting,
Kanchenjunga views,
Outdoor activities
Best for
Couples,
Families,
Nature Enthusiasts
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Rajasthan, India
Mihir Garh
Mihir Garh rises out of the Thar Desert like a dream: a sandcastle of a fort blending seamlessly into its surroundings. Just 45 minutes from Jodhpur, it offers a captivating base from which to experience the rural beauty of Rajasthan. Built in the style of a traditional desert fortress, it combines heritage charm with understated luxury, making it one of the region’s most distinctive properties.
Highlights
Highlights
Desert fort design,
Private pools
Best for
Families,
Couples
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Uttarakhand, India
Nine Furlongs
Perched high in the Himalayan foothills of Binsar National Park, Nine Furlongs is an intimate mountain hideaway with a storied past. Reached by a short forest trail or rugged drive, the property rewards intrepid travellers with remarkable views of the Nanda Devi range and an atmosphere of serene detachment. This is a place to soak up nature, history and horizon-stretching skies.
Highlights
Highlights
Epic Himalayan views,
Characterful cottages
Best for
Adventurers,
Couples,
Solos
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Tamil Nadu, India
Palais de Mahe
In the heart of Pondicherry’s charming French Quarter, Palais de Mahe blends colonial elegance with warm hospitality and coastal calm. Just steps from the seafront promenade, it’s a tranquil base to enjoy this vibrant heritage town.
Highlights
Highlights
French Quarter location,
Heritage design,
Rooftop bar
Best for
Couples,
Solos
Tamil Nadu, India
Rajakkad Estate
High in the foothills of Tamil Nadu’s Western Ghats, Rajakkad Estate offers a peaceful retreat surrounded by coffee, pepper, and cardamom plantations. With just seven rooms in an 18th-century wooden house, it’s the kind of place that feels lost in time—a sanctuary for birdwatchers, walkers and those craving real quiet.
Highlights
Highlights
Peaceful rural setting,
Bird-watching haven,
18th-century heritage
Best for
Couples,
Solos
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Our Unique Holidays in India
Relaxing, immersive, life-affirming adventures that show you the best of the destination. Packed with experiences that connect you to the country and are kind to its people and environment. Your holiday can be as adventurous or as luxurious as you choose, as every trip will be turned into your own bespoke package.
Here are some ideas to spark your curiosity…
Agra
The Golden Triangle & The Himalayas
This is a proper adventure, taking in the riches of Rajasthan before venturing deep into the Himalayas to explore the off-the-beaten-track Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. After tiger-spotting in Corbett, escape to the unspoiled Kumaon region in Uttarakhand. Here, colonial-era hill stations and quiet Himalayan villages offer a slower pace and extraordinary views, far from the tourist trail.
Highlights
Iconic sights
Seeing the best of Rajasthan (think the Taj, tigers and terrific forts, palaces and handicrafts)
Unique accommodation
Staying in haveli hotels and warm and welcoming luxury homestays with fascinating histories
Himalayan views
Ending the holiday on a (literal) high in the Himalayas, venturing into the Kumaon region that most tourists miss
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India
Birds of South India
Discover lesser-visited but beautiful areas of Southern India during this two week holiday. There is a particular focus on the region’s abundant birdlife, exceptional for casual and serious aficionados. Visit several sanctuaries and travel through the lush western ghats, known as a treasure house of endemic species, as well as the strictly protected wildlife of Bandipur National Park.
Highlights
Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary
End your journey with a visit to the Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary, home to some 170 exquisite bird species
Valparai
Explore Valparai’s remote landscapes through forest treks in an area full of wildlife, including some of the most endangered varieties of hornbills
Bandipur National Park
Spot elusive big game on sunrise and sunset safaris in Bandipur National Park
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Gujarat
Gujarat In Depth
Go beyond the usual India routes on this 17-day adventure through Gujarat, a region where ancient civilisations, wildlife sanctuaries and traditional crafts still thrive. From the heritage streets of Ahmedabad to the stark beauty of the Rann of Kutch, this itinerary blends history, wildlife and cultural immersion. You’ll meet master artisans in Bhuj, witness blackbuck deer leaping through the grasslands of Velavadar, and step back in time at World Heritage sites like Patan and Modhera.
Highlights
Ahmedabad
Explore an array of astounding world heritage sights in Ahmedabad and beyond
Wildlife spotting
Spot impressive birds and wildlife like the Asiatic lion and blackbuck deer in Velavadar, Sasan Gir Park and the otherworldly Rann of Kutch
Artisan heritage
Contribute towards the preservation of an array of special traditional arts and crafts by visiting the artisan villages around Bhuj
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Agra
Regal Residences of Rajasthan
This is a far cry from the tired old route that almost everyone takes through India’s Golden Triangle. We know that you’re not everyone. Veer off the tourist trail into the heartlands of Rajasthan to feel the true essence of timeless and, yes, incredible India.
You’ll still be able to experience the manic magic of Delhi, the warm pink hues of Japiur and the magnificence of the Taj Mahal. But you’ll also experience so much more by staying in some of the country’s best heritage properties, brought to life by charismatic hosts. You’ll get the best of both worlds – and be amazed that the rest of the world doesn’t seem to be in on the secret. Shhh!
Highlights
Chambal River
Explore magnificent and lesser-visited sites on the banks of the Chambal River
Heritage properties
Experience a flavour of rural and royal Rajasthan in two contrasting rural palaces
Taj Mahal
Admire the marble magnificence of the Taj Mahal
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Darjeeling
Highlights of East India
Little visited and often overlooked, East India is an incredible place: from the spellbinding contrasts of Kolkata to the sleepy waterways of the Sundarbans, the Buddhist culture of Sikkim and the mighty Himalayas.
This journey will enable you to explore Kolkata in depth, before heading south for a lovely tranquil experience in the Sundarbans National Park. While you’re unlikely to spot one of the park’s many tigers, there is a plethora of wildlife here, and it’s a lovely place to spend a few days.
Then it’s back up to Kolkata for an overnight train deep in the Himalayas. East India is an incredible region: the heart of Buddhist culture in India, a land of monasteries, sleepy hill towns, friendly people and breathtaking views.
Highlights
Kolkata
Explore Kolkata, the former capital of British India and a riot of colour, a hub of Bengali culture and an incredibly vibrant place.
Incredible culture
Discover timeless Buddhist monasteries and a highly distinct Sikkim culture.
Khangchendzonga Mountain
Being inspired by the view of the mighty Khangchendzonga Mountain, the third-highest in the world, soaring above the horizon
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