The Leela Palace Chennai

Elegant in every way, the hotel combines Indian aesthetics with a modern touch. On the rooftop terrace, you'll find a large pool decorated with floral patterns and lined with shaded loungers. For all your relaxation needs, the spa offers a range of treatments (plus, yoga sessions), and the use of steam rooms and divine vitality pools. The diversity of dining options is impressive with themed cuisine days at Spectra, dimsum brunch at China XO and Indian specialties at Jamavar - be sure to book the Maharaja Table for the royal treatment.

Across its 11 floors, The Leela has 326 rooms and suites. In neutral shades (some more ornate than others), each comes with a king-size bed, TV, aircon, yoga mat and a marble en-suite bathroom with a deep tub. With a city or sea view, the suites have walk-in wardrobes, butler services and access to cocktail hour at the Club Lounge. The Presidential Suite is the largest in South India and is decked out with two bedrooms, a lounge, jacuzzi, kitchenette and dining area.

Although The Leela isn't in central Chennai, there are a number of city tours to enjoy with Storytails India. Share a meal at a local farm, explore Chennia's many temples or stroll through the markets of George Town. Visit the fascinating Government Museum with its collection of bronzes, take a day trip to the historic cave temples of Mamallapuram and enjoy the seaside air at Marina Beach. After a new book? Visit Higginbothams, India's oldest bookstore, which has a large collection written by Tamil authors.