New Delhi is in the midst of a boom, yet chic hotels are hard to come by in the frenetic Indian capital if you are a visitor looking for something a bit different. Enter Aman Resorts.

Dutch Founder Adrian Zecha’s uberstylish hotel company that excels in superluxury, with 20 unique resorts worldwide, opened the Aman Delhi in the heart of the capital in April 2009.

A unique urban resort, the Aman Delhi is an unforgettable place to stay, and balances with Aman’s other Indian resorts located in Rajasthan, Aman-i-Khás and Amanbagh.

The Aman Delhi has an incredible location on the edge of Lutyen’s Delhi where the old Lodhi Hotel one stood. It is close to the Unesco World Heritage site of Humayun’s Tomb and near the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, set to be centrestage for the Commonwealth Games this October.

Designed by Australian architect Kerry Hill, the building is a stunning example of contemporary, architecture blending minimalist design with Indian aesthetics. Just like the city of Delhi itself, the hotel blends the ancient with the modern.

Arrive in style
It is an exclusive oasis of Zen-like calm in Delhi with open courtyards and long neo-classical corridors.

Despite its size, the nine-storey property has 59 rooms and suites, of which 31 have their own private plunge pools, as well as 28 one-, two- and three-bedroom suites.

Half have pools, overlooking a gorgeous, stylised courtyard.

Upon entering the hotel in its luxury customised silver Ambassador limousines, you reach a covered courtyard to be met by attentive, immaculately attired staff.

There are no formal reception desks or even a lobby.

The inside of the hotel is very atmospheric with rich, dark timber walls and stone floors. The service is discreet despite staff outnumbering guests four to one.

The hotel will arrange pretty much anything you want from changing currency to arranging a tour of the city in one of their Ambassadors.

Five-star treatment
The rooms are stunning. My vast suite had a walk-through dressing room, bathroom and a bedroom.

The interiors are decked out in dark browns, beiges and greys with tastefully selected leather armchairs, mirrors and mood lighting.

The huge bed had luscious Indian cotton sheets. The terrace had incredible views over the city.

Light falls through intricate jali screens and lands on the surface of the suite’s own private plunge pool, where you can sit and relax with a glass of pink champagne delivered by your very own butler.

The Aman’s facilities on the 2.4-hectare site include a well equipped spa with eight treatment rooms, a hammam steam bath and a lovely bamboo garden as well as tennis and squash courts, a Pilates studio, a professionally staffed gym, a 50-metre outdoor lap pool and two fine dining restaurants, one serving Indian cuisine and the other a fusion of French and Japanese cuisine called kaiseki.

However, the real beauty of the hotel is in the details. At the Aman this is from the way light is made to fall on a table in a darkened corridor to the fresh marigold petals floating in enormous marble bowls. The Aman is in a league of its own.

Aman New Delhi
Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, India.
Tel: +91 114 363 3333
Website: www.amanresorts.com
The tariff ranges from Rs 27,500-Rs
1,10,000, plus taxes per night.