Can COD be India’s Macau?

The guard stone of Colombo

With a $1.2 billion price tag, 800 rooms, 17 restaurants, a luxury retail boulevard, and a world-class casino, Colombo’s newly opened City of Dreams marks the region’s debut on the global stage of mega integrated resorts.

Mega Dreams For South  Asia

Q & A With Faiz Rashid, Director, Jehan Numa Group of Hotels

Q & A with Aly Rashid, Director and Field Naturalist,  Jehan Numa Wilderness

Bhopal was the rare kingdom in India to have been ruled by a series of begums. The regal Jehan Numa Palace is an ode to their legacy, while Reni Pani Jungle Lodge offers a unique wildlife experience that blends luxury with a pristine forest experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In The Begums' Footsteps

River cruise tourism, already growing at record levels, is set to expand even faster on the back of new policies and private sector investment. Are they the next frontier of luxury travel?

Cruising On India’s River Highways

Alila Fort Bishangarh Bishangarh, Rajasthan

Aman-i-Khás Near Ranthambore National Park, Khilchipur, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

Bari Kothi Jainpatty, Jiaganj Azimganj, Azimganj, West Bengal

Ananda in the Himalayas The Palace Estate, Narendra Nagar, Sakalana, Uttarakhand

The Belgadia Palace Meher Colony, Baripada, Odisha

Brijrama Palace Darbhanga Ghat, Dashashwamedh, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Brunton Boatyard 1/498, Calvetty Road, Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala

Glasshouse  on the Ganges Village Kalthar, Badrinath Road,  Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Coconut Lagoon Kottayam, Kavanattinkara,  Kumarakom, Kerala

Glenburn Tea Estate Kambal Tea Garden, Near Singritan, Darjeeling, West Bengal

THE House of MG Bhadra Road, Old City, Gheekanta, Lal Darwaja, Ahmedabad

Jungle Mountain Retreat Village Numbrehli, Kufri-Chail Road and Tehsil Kufri, Himachal Pradesh

The Khyber HIMALAYAN RESORT & SPA Hotel Khyber Road, Forest Block, Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir

Raas Tunwarji ka Jhalra, Gulab Sagar Road, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Suján Jawai Jawai Dam, District Pali, Rajasthan

Woods at Sasan  Gir Forest, Sasan-Talala Highway, Gujarat

A whole range of boutique hotels are presenting a rooted side of India with unmatched charm and flair.

The Best of India's Soulful Stays

Inside Ananta Hotels’ Vision of Spiritual Luxury

Designing a greener hospitality brand

Resort in the desert

Founded on a philosophy of spiritual luxury and mindful living, Ananta Hotels &amp; Resorts is writing its own script—steadily carving a niche across a few unexplored corners of the country.

An Ode to Slow Living and Mindful Luxury

Heritage and history

Colonial hill architecture

India’s strawberry capital

Cafés and bakeries

The slow allure of Maharashtra’s twin hill stations, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani, is being repackaged and served up by MTDC. Yet, their enduring appeal lies in its languid pace of life, its colonial, Parsi and spiritual heritage, and its strawberry farms.

Strawberries, Spirituality, and the Gentle Pace

Strawberries, Spirituality and the Gentle Pace

Not Just a Celebration—A Return to Values

Highlights of the Year of Compassion

Dialogue Across Time and Thought

Tradition Meets Technology

Tibet House in New Delhi launches a year-long tribute to mark the 90th birth anniversary of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Celebrating Ninety Years of the Dalai Lama: A Year of Compassion Begins

A New Kind of Spa Patron: Younger, Wiser, and Wellness-First

Spa Rituals that Ground, Restore and Illuminate

The Design: Soft Lighting, Stillness, and Spaces that Breathe

The Four Season Spa’s Wellness Mindset

Before it reopened, The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai offered SOH an exclusive preview to its serene new interiors and elevated spa menu.

SOH Exclusive: The First look at Four Seasons Mumbai’s New Spa Philosophy

A taste of luxury

The road ahead

Heritage-driven grandeur

Anantara, the best-known brand of Minor Hotels, has made a splashy entry into India with the launch of Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur. &nbsp;

Pink City’s New Luxury Address

Rooms with a view

Feast for the eyes

Interplay of elements 

Restoring an icon

Jetwing Saman Villas, familiar to many Indians as the stunning backdrop of Anil Kapoor-starrer The Night Manager, has been restored to its original splendour. The iconic coastal retreat now marries the timeless elegance of nature with contemporary comforts, offering guests a refined and immersive tropical experience. &nbsp;

A Coastal Sanctuary, Reborn

The Suite Life & Skyline Dreams

A Homage to Nostalgia and Nature

Flavours That Dance, Dazzle, and Delight

Cocktails That Tell Stories

Where Celebrations Soar

Wellness Beyond Skin-Deep

A Hotel With A Soul

Architecture That Breathes and Whispers

Fairmont Mumbai graciously extended its signature hospitality to the SOH Team to discover a destination where sophistication, innovation, and emotion come together in perfect harmony.

At Fairmont Mumbai, Conscious Luxury Takes Center Stage

A Tribute to Culture, Connection, and Hospitality

Global music icon Ed Sheeran’s latest track ‘Sapphire’ isn’t just a song—it’s a love letter to India.

Ed Sheeran’s India Tour: A Sapphire Experience at ITC Grand Chola

Designing a space for wellness

A future focused on holistic well-being

For 25 years, Ananda in the Himalayas has redefined wellness tourism

Blending timeless heritage with forward-thinking vision, Ananda in the Himalayas continues to redefine luxury wellness after 25 years.

Ananda In The Himalayas: Where Design Meets Wellness, and the Future Unfolds

Design philosophy

The wellness guiding principles

The first look

Swastik, a new resort just outside Pune, offers a holistic approach to wellness and showcases stunning architecture notable for its innovativeness.

The 'Guhas' Of Wellness

The observatories and the reserves

Hanle, India’s first dark sky reserve

Light years away

SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK, UK 

EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK, UK 

RIVER MURRAY, AUSTRALIA

CRANBORNE CHASE, UK 

NAMIBRAND NATURE RESERVE, NAMIBIA

GREATER BIG BEND INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY RESERVE, U.S./MEXICO

MONT-MÉGANTIC RESERVE, CANADA 

BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK, UK 

ALPES AZUR MERCANTOUR, FRANCE

NIUE, SOUTH PACIFIC

CÉVENNES NATIONAL PARK, FRANCE 

Where the stars shine the brightest

With increasing light pollution, dark sky reserves are sanctuaries protecting the night skies in their pristine form. The good news—there are an increasing number of sanctuaries as more regions vie for the ‘dark sky’ status, even in India. They offer an incredible opportunity for the country’s travel industry to diversify into new segments and are in keeping with the world’s sustainable travel goals.

Astro Tourism: Dark Matters

Do winery resorts make money?

Take winery resorts

Having a few rows of vines does not guarantee business success. The best winery resorts serve up experiences beyond the wines.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Winery Resorts: Elevated Experiences

Total spends on weddings in India

Jaipur, Rajasthan

Kovalam, Kerala

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

Havelock Island, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Nainital, Uttarakhand

Udaipur, Rajasthan

In India’s wedding market, valued at a staggering $130 billion, destination weddings take center stage. From Udaipur’s regal lakesides, Havelock Island’s secluded charm to Goa’s sun-kissed beaches, these are the destinations redefining the way Indians celebrate their big day.

The Destinations Indian Travel to say 'I Do'

Sequestered deep in the sprawling 47-acre Rambagh Palace estate

Repurposing the past

The space

Dining in serenity

Sawai Man Mahal in Jaipur is a masterclass in adaptive reuse. It showcases the beauty of Rajputana royal architecture, which has been meticulously restored to offer a sustainable and culturally rich hospitality experience.

Restoring A Maharaja’s Legacy

Beyond tea: connecting with the land and community

Brewing a sustainable future

A helping hand for estates

Iconic tea estates to visit

Bespoke hospitality: where tea meets design,  cuisine, and warmth

An immersive experience

From tranquil estates to immersive experiences, India’s tea tourism invites travellers to sip, savour, and stay in the heart of tea country. Explore the heritage, hospitality, and sustainability that brew the perfect blend of culture and luxury. &nbsp;

Steeped in Stories: Discovering India’s Tea Tourism Charm

What’s on offer

Bottomline boost

Royal campaign

Local experiences redefine hotel stays across India as they curate immersive cultural, heritage, culinary and architectural journeys for their guests.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Hotels Deep Dive into Local Culture

Source of inspiration

The city of great restaurants, bars  and hotels

When books showed the way

With a remarkable range of new attractions, each with its own allure, Jaipur, the ‘Pink City’ is emerging as a must-visit destination. It is also carving a place among the world’s great cultural cities, alongside Edinburgh and Avignon.

Jaipur Taking Centrestage

Experience is everything

Scent of success

The biz buzz

The debut of branded villas

A new model makes a mark

Villas are big competition to luxury hotels, particularly in the leisure market. Here’s how they are changing the way the world vacays and what opportunities they present.

Trending: Luxe Villa Rentals

From family legacy to boutique heritage hotel

A stay steeped in storytelling

Q&A with Darshan Dudhoria, Co-Founder, Bari Kothi

Reinventing heritage dining

Once abandoned, this Sheherwali mansion’s journey is a testament to meticulous restoration, cultural preservation, and a vision that defied time. &nbsp;

From Forgotten to Forever: The Story of Bari Kothi

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Features & Trends

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Mega Dreams For South Asia

In The Begums' Footsteps

Cruising On India’s River Highways

The Best of India's Soulful Stays

An Ode to Slow Living and Mindful Luxury

Strawberries, Spirituality and the Gentle Pace

Celebrating Ninety Years of the Dalai Lama: A Year of Compassion Begins

A Coastal Sanctuary, Reborn

Ed Sheeran’s India Tour: A Sapphire Experience at ITC Grand Chola

Ananda In The Himalayas: Where Design Meets Wellness, and the Future Unfolds

The 'Guhas' Of Wellness

Travel

Mega Dreams For South Asia

In The Begums' Footsteps

Cruising On India’s River Highways

The Best of India's Soulful Stays

An Ode to Slow Living and Mindful Luxury

Strawberries, Spirituality and the Gentle Pace

Celebrating Ninety Years of the Dalai Lama: A Year of Compassion Begins

SOH Exclusive: The First look at Four Seasons Mumbai’s New Spa Philosophy

Pink City’s New Luxury Address

A Coastal Sanctuary, Reborn

At Fairmont Mumbai, Conscious Luxury Takes Center Stage

Ed Sheeran’s India Tour: A Sapphire Experience at ITC Grand Chola

Ananda In The Himalayas: Where Design Meets Wellness, and the Future Unfolds

The 'Guhas' Of Wellness

Astro Tourism: Dark Matters

Winery Resorts: Elevated Experiences

The Destinations Indian Travel to say 'I Do'

Restoring A Maharaja’s Legacy

Steeped in Stories: Discovering India’s Tea Tourism Charm

Hotels Deep Dive into Local Culture

Jaipur Taking Centrestage

Trending: Luxe Villa Rentals

From Forgotten to Forever: The Story of Bari Kothi