ITC Mughal, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Agra.
ne w de l h i
the imperial (91.77) art deco icon—now with a state-of-the-art salon and spa, plus India’s only chanel boutique—steps from connaught Place. Janpath; 91-11/ 2334-1234; theimperialindia.com; doubles from us$209–us$349.
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the oberoi (90.59) graceful, business-friendly hotel close to humayun’s tomb and khan market, with superb on-site restaurants and bars, and an adjacent golf course. dr. zakir hussain marg; 91-11/2436-3030; oberoihotels.com; doubles from us$306–us$386.
designed restaurant; on-site shopping; a himalayan-themed spa) and riverfront views in Pudong’s lujiazui financial district. 33 fu cheng rd.; 8621/6882-8888; shangri-la.com; doubles from us$321–us$462. westin bund center (87.86) two streamlined towers, a stylish lobby and a banyan tree spa, just a 5-minute walk from the historic bund. 88 henan central rd.; 86-21/6335-1888; westin.com; doubles from us$203–us$360.
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india agRa
itc mughal, a luxury collection hotel (87.77) Princely 14-hectare icon made up of ornate mini palaces, 4 kilometers outside the city. a new wing added 42 rooms with plunge pools. taj ganj; 91-562/4021700; ichotels.in; doubles from us$320, including breakfast.
f r O m tO P : cO u rt e sy O f I tc m u g h a l , a luXu ry cO l l e c t I O n h Ot e l ; c O u r t e s y O f m a n d a r I n O r I e n ta l tO k yO . O P P O s I t e : d u s t I n a k s l a n d
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oberoi amarvilas (95.33) moghul-themed 102-room palace mirroring the nearby taj mahal—all moorish archways, intricate pavilions and fountained courtyards. taj e. gate rd.; 91-562/223-1515; oberoihotels.com; doubles from us$700–us$870. ja ip uR
oberoi Rajvilas (96.92) channel your inner maharajah at this majestic 13-hectare countryside resort made up of tents and villas and a traditional Indian spa. goner rd.; 91-141/268-0101; oberoihotels.com; doubles from us$710–us$870. Rambagh palace (92.34) 19thcentury hunting lodge turned opulent palace hotel (carved pillars; mirror-and-stone embellishments) among manicured gardens. bhawani
singh rd.; 91-141/221-1919; tajhotels.com; doubles from us$749. jodhpuR
umaid bhawan palace (92.24) Once the largest private residence in the world, now a 347-room sandstone taj palace hotel with daily champagne art tours to see the antiques and 32-meter cupola. 91-291/2510101; tajhotels.com; doubles from us$869, including breakfast. kochi new vivanta by taj-malabar (87.73) 96-room south Indian escape by taj’s new relaxed resort brand, on an island just 800 meters from cochin harbor. willingdon Island; 91-484/6643000; tajhotels.com; doubles from us$322.
taj mahal hotel (91.50) 11-story landmark close to the city’s diplomatic and political heart; its butlers and astrologers are favored by new delhi’s power players. 1 mansingh rd.; 91-11/2302-6162; tajhotels.com; doubles from us$192–us$444.
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mumbai
the oberoi (91.27) recently renovated 287-room flagship above the queen’s necklace. unusual extras: a cherry-red grand piano and a 24-hour spa. nariman Point; 91-22/6632-5757; oberoihotels.com; doubles from us$282–us$403. taj mahal palace (92.42) 1903 emblem of raj-era bombay—still the city’s grande dame— overlooking the gateway of India. apollo bunder; 9122/6665-3366; tajhotels.com; doubles from us$460, including breakfast.
Japan kyoto
hyatt Regency (87.67) traditional touches (kimonocovered headboards; washipaper lampshades) plus interiors by super Potato, in the higashiyama shichijo district. 644-2 sanjusangendo-mawari; 81-75/541-1234; hyatt.com; doubles from us$285–us$596. tokyo
grand hyatt (88.67) Polished 387-room hotel—centrally located in roppongi hills—with 7 in-house restaurants. 6-10-3 roppongi; 81-3/4333-1234; hyatt.com; doubles from us$443–us$717.
taj palace hotel (88.91) 402room behemoth, 10 minutes from the city center and airport, with staffer-led excursions to galleries and spice markets. sardar Patel marg, diplomatic enclave; 9111/2611-0202; tajhotels.com; doubles from us$410, including breakfast and airport transfers. u daip u R
No. 1 asIa oberoi udaivilas (97.70) a 12-hectare mewari-style palace on the banks of lake Pichola, complete with private motorboats, a traditional kashmiri gondola and sprawling courtyards rimmed by reflecting pools. haridasji ki magri; 91294/243-3300; oberoihotels.com; doubles from us$700–us$870. ROOM TO BOOK all 19 Premiere
Vivanta by TajMalabar in Kochi.
ubud, with standout cultural programs thanks to long-standing community connections. kedewatan, ubud; 62-361/975333; amanresorts.com; doubles from us$850–us$950.
lake rooms have private pools and terraces, but the 9 that face the nature conservatory offer wildlife spotting (peacocks; deer; wild boar) as well as views of the marble palaces of mainland udaipur. taj lake palace (93.43) centuries-old white-marble palace (intricate silks; frescoed arches) rising from a jagged rock formation in lake Pichola. lake Pichola; 91-294/242-8800; tajhotels.com; doubles from us$749, including breakfast.
No. 1 japan new mandarin oriental (93.33) 178 spacious guest rooms— some of the largest in the city— on select floors of a 38-story skyscraper that towers over the nihonbashi business district. 2-1-1 nihonbashi muromachi, chuo-ku; 81-3/3270-8800; mandarinoriental.com; doubles from us$506–us$915.
T+L TIP for a taste of tokyo, the
hotel will arrange a guided tour of the vibrant tsukiji fish market followed by authentic sushimaking lessons from a local chef ($494 per person). park hyatt (88.78) 178-room urban oasis in shinjuku, featured in sofia coppola’s Lost in Translation. 3-7-1-2 nishishinjuku; 81-3/5322-1234; park. hyatt.com; doubles from us$600–us$876.
indonesia b al i
amandari (89.87) reimagined balinese village on the outskirts of
new peninsula tokyo (92.24) 314-room hotel—the reigning queen of the city’s new guard— facing the Imperial Palace
travelandleisureasia.com | january 2012 99