Make the most of the Diwali long weekend by booking your royal staycation at these breathtaking heritage properties across India.
Heritage hotels in India are more than what meets the eyes. Sure, the grand facades with ancient architecture and old-world courtesies are striking, but staying at one of these meticulously-restored luxury properties also means immersing yourself in grandeur, living in a fair-tale setting, and being pampered with buttoned-down hospitality to no end. With Diwali around the corner, and the long festive weekend approaching us, this is the best time to book yourself a stay and get a taste of the royal life in these former palaces and forts now converted into luxury hotels.
6 heritage hotels in India for your Diwali getaway
BrijRama Palace, Varanasi
A dip in the holy Ganges, followed by fireworks and a grand Ganga Aarti where countless diyas are lit and afloat in the river amid religious chants — there’s no place else that does Diwali like Varanasi. BrijRama Palace stands mighty on the serene banks of Darbhanga Ghat in one of the oldest continually inhabited city. Safe to say, the rich heritage of the place is well-preserved at this 210-year-old palace which was originally built in 1812 as the erstwhile house for the then Maharaja of Nagpur. It is often praised for its striking architecture as well as unique experiential stay that offers the spiritual healing and religious fervour that you seek. Specifically during Dev Deepawali that is celebrated 15 days after regular Diwali in honor of Lord Shiva’s victory over the demon Tripurasur.
AT A GLANCE
Address: Darbhanga Ghat, Dashashwamedh, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | Website: BrijRama Palace | Rooms & Suites: 32 | Restaurants & Bars: 2 | Cuisines: Indian, multi-cuisine | Tariff: Rooms start at INR36,999 (plus taxes) per night.
Rambagh Palace, Jaipur
Festivities begin in full swing in Jaipur right from Dhanteras. The Nahargarh Fort and other popular landmarks get glitzy with beautiful lighting, and local markets get busy with attractive handicrafts, jewellery, and souvenirs on sell, Marwari food stalls, and local artistes giving folk performances. Base yourself at Rambagh Palace, a stunning Taj heritage property that was built in 1835 and since then, has stepped gracefully through many royal transitions — from the home of the queen’s favourite handmaiden, to a royal guesthouse and hunting lodge, and later as the residence of the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and his queen, Maharani Gayatri Devi. Today, the palace hotel offers 78 stunningly restored grand luxury rooms and suites in Jaipur, which were once the chambers of the former Maharaja.
AT A GLANCE
Address: Bhawani Singh Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan | Website: Rambhagh Palace | Rooms & Suites: 78 | Restaurants & Bars: 5 | Cuisines: Indian, multi-cuisine | Tariff: Rooms start at INR49,000 (plus taxes) per night.
WelcomHotel Amritsar
Diwali is also the time when Bandi Chhor Divas, a major festival that commemorates the return of Guru Hargobind Ji from his imprisonment, is celebrated by the Sikh community across Punjab. Needless to say, Amritsar turns into a festive, colourful chaos around the time, with kirtans (prayer songs) held across the illuminated city, and the revered Golden Temple glittering in lights. WelcomHotel Amritsar in Raja Sansi is the perfect place to make yourself home amid tranquil surroundings, while you are close enough to enjoy the festivities. The hotel is built around a colonnaded mansion, Sandhanwalia Haveli, which traces its origins to the 1900s and has been lovingly restored to preserve the cultural, architectural and culinary nuances of that era.
AT A GLANCE
Address: Raja Sansi, Ajnala Road, Amritsar, Punjab | Website: WelcomHotel Amritsar | Rooms & Suites: 101 | Restaurants & Bars: 4 | Cuisines: Indian, global | Tariff: Rooms start at INR6,000 (plus taxes) per night.
Siolim House, Goa
What’s Diwali long weekend for a beach bum? A perfect opportunity to escape to Goa to enjoy the true sense of susegad. Imagine strolling along a long strip of powdery sand, with waves crashing at your feet and skies above filled with glittering stars, floating lanterns, and fireworks! Stay at Siolim House, a 17th-century boutique luxury property with merely nine rooms. Famous as Casa Palacio, this Indo-Portuguese country-house invites you in to have an authentic Goan village life experience through its understated elegance, huge airy suites, rejuvenating Ayurvedic retreats, gourmet cuisine, and a friendly staff. Explore the beaches of North Goa, visit locals in the eponymous village, and later, get away to the hinterlands of Old Goa to celebrate Naraka Chaturdashi, a Goan festival celebrated around Diwali lanterns on house walls and larger-than-life sized demon effigies that are burnt along with firecrackers!
AT A GLANCE
Address: Wadi, Siolim, Bardex, Goa | Website: Siolim House | Rooms & Suites: 9 | Restaurants & Bars: 1 | Cuisines: Indian, English, regional, Ayurvedic | Tariff: Rooms start at INR6,525 (plus taxes) per night.
The Imperial, New Delhi
In the lead up to the night of the Festival of Lights, the capital city tends to transform into a hub of shopping and festive shenanigans. From a shimmering Chandni Chowk staying open past midnight to the famous Dastkar Diwali Crafts Mela putting everything from handicraft to traditional weaves on sale, to homes getting lit with card parties and impressive décor, the city has it all and more. It is obvious, then, that you pick a reputed heritage property like The Imperial as your home for the Diwali weekend in Delhi. An oasis of calm and comfort sums up the understated luxury at this Lutyen’s masterpiece, reminiscent of a golden era in India’s history. Complete with an old-charm colonial charm, art-laden corridors, impeccable luxuries, dedicated hospitality, the hotel is also famous for its grand celebrations of festivals — a cheerful Diwali is guaranteed!
AT A GLANCE
Address: Janpath Lane, Connaught Place, New Delhi | Website: The Imperial New Delhi | Rooms & Suites: 235 | Restaurants & Bars: 9 | Cuisines: Indian, global | Tariff: Rooms start at INR27,000 (plus taxes) per night.
Shiv Niwas Palace, Udaipur
Just like Jaipur, Udaipur, too, is big on festivities during Diwali. The royal city is magical round the year but this is the time when its impregnable forts, bans of shimmering lakes, buzzing bazaars, and towering temples get a festive makeover and are drenched in festivities and illuminated decorations. Pick Shiv Niwas Palace if you wish to welcome Diwali the regal way. The crescent-shaped palace was built by Lake Pichola in the early 20th century, in the reign of Maharana Fateh Singh (period of reign: 1884-1930), and has been meticulously maintained and preserved by the HRH Group of Hotels for the intrepid luxury traveller. The rooms and suites carry original furniture and art from the era of the royals, but feature all modern amenities along with personalised service.
AT A GLANCE
Address: Lake Pichola, The City Palace Complex, Udaipur, Rajasthan | Website: Shiv Niwas Palace | Rooms & Suites: 36 | Restaurants & Bars: 4 | Cuisines: Rajasthani, Mughlai, Continental | Tariff: Rooms start at INR14,000 (plus taxes) per night.
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