TRIPADVISOR HONOURS THE CROWN JEWELS AMONG INDIA’S HERITAGE HOTELS

Top 25 Heritage Hotels
Rank	Heritage Hotels	City
1	Taj Lake Palace Udaipur	Rajasthan
2	Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur	Rajasthan
3	Taj Rambagh Hotel	Rajasthan
4	The Taj Mahal Palace	Maharashtra
5	Ratan Vilas	Rajasthan
6	The Oberoi Grand	West Bengal
7	Chapslee	Himachal Pradesh
8	Samode Palace	Rajasthan
9	Vivanta by Taj – Kumarakom	Kerala
10	Netuk House Hotel	Sikkim
11	The Imperial Hotel	National Capital Territory of Delhi
12	Emerald Isle - The Heritage Villa	Kerala
13	The Raj Palace Grand Heritage Hotel	Rajasthan
14	KTDC Lake Palace Thekkady	Kerala
15	The Naini Retreat	Uttarakhand
16	Rawla Narlai	Rajasthan
17	Hotel Castle Naggar	Himachal Pradesh
18	Brunton Boatyard	Kerala
19	SamodeBagh	Rajasthan
20	Samode Haveli	Rajasthan
21	Kalmatia Sangam Himalaya Resort	Uttarakhand
22	The Bangala	Tamil Nadu
23	Jai Mahal Palace	Rajasthan
24	Prospect Hotel	Rajasthan
25	Hotel Jaswant Bhawan	Maharashtra

 TripAdvisor^®, the world’s largest travel site*, today announced the winners of its 2013 Travellers’ Choice^® Awards for Heritage Hotels. The list includes top 25 heritage properties in India, based on millions of reviews and opinions of TripAdvisor travellers.

Speaking about the importance of these awards, Nikhil Ganju, Country Manager, TripAdvisor India said, “TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for Heritage Hotels are conferred to the most popular heritage properties in the country. These awards are very special since they honour hotels that not only have preserved the architectural legacy but are an embodiment of Indian tradition and ethos.”

While Rajasthan retains its position as the undisputed heritage state with 12 out of the 25 best heritage properties from the state, this year also marks the entry of Sikkim and West Bengal in the coveted list.

India's rich cultural heritage is a big draw for avid travellers from across the world. The top 25 heritage properties, some of which are over 100 years old and have been carefully restored to former glory, play an important role in providing the experience of distinctive cultural milieu of various regions across India.

Oldest 5 Indian heritage properties in the list include (below):

1.       Samode Palace, Rajasthan (over 475 years’ old, Rank 8) – A splendid example of regal Indo-Saracenic architecture, the palace combines the best of Indian and Mughal styles. 

2.       Jai Mahal Palace, Rajasthan (over 250 years’ old, Rank 23) – Set amidst 18 acres of beautifully landscaped Moghul Gardens, this incomparable palace dates back to 1745 A.D. A masterpiece in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, it blends spotlight-grabbing opulence with tantalising comforts that transport guests to a world of Rajasthan magnificence.

3.       Samode Haveli, Rajasthan (over 175 years' old, Rank 20) – Built by Rawal Sheo Singhji as a manor house for the royal family. It reflects the style and elegance of the family, and the art and architecture of the times and culture, all of which have been impressively restored today. 

4.       Oberoi Grand, West Bengal (over 125 years’ old, Rank 6) – Fondly referred as the ‘Grande Dame of Chowringhee’, it offers the ultimate classical residence in the City of Joy. This heritage hotel’s neo-classical facade and grand-pillared entrance mark a successful fusion of classical Victorian and traditional Indian style, and reflect the city’s colonial history. Standing stately for over 125 years, the Oberoi Grand combines classic architecture and charm with state of the art amenities and facilities.

5.       Taj Mahal Hotel, Maharashtra (over 110 years’ old, Rank 4) – It reflects the perfect blend of Moorish, Oriental and Florentine architectural styles. With its classic grandeur and elegance, it also gives the guests panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India.

For the complete 2013 Travellers’ Choice Awards for Heritage Hotels winners and more reviews, opinions and candid holiday photographs, go to http://www.tripadvisor.in/TravelersChoice-Hotels-cHeritage

Check out some amazing photographs of these places taken by TripAdvisor travellers at http://we.tl/PqI2yatTi8