The 50-key Raffles Jaipur, on the outskirts of the city, takes its design cues from the palaces of its erstwhile queens. In keeping with this idea, the hotel unfurls the farther you walk in, much like the secluded ladies’ quarters of yore. The main wing of the hotel is built around an atrium that’s adorned with the brand’s signature palm trees, where a changing roster of musicians play ragas in the evenings. While it might be among the smaller hotels in the brand’s portfolio, Raffles Jaipur is replete with an inherent opulence that is a throwback to the hotelier’s first outing, in Singapore in 1887. Inlay work, mirror art, intricate carvings, giant chandeliers, and marble fountains channel old-world Rajput royalty and, in combination with the Raffles aesthetic, bring a modern-day palace to life. And this version of the royal life includes a spa with hot and cold mineral water baths, cocktails like the very pink Jaipur Sling customized for the Pink City at the stunning Writers Bar, lavish Indian food presented in a contemporary format, and the promise of sundowners on a rooftop embellished with minarets and chhatris. Diya Kohli
Address: Khasara No. 2060-2061/2267, Kukas, Amer, Jaipur 302028, Rajasthan, India
Price: From about £210 per night.