Apani Dhani, meaning "our hamlet," grew out of founder Ramesh Jangid's dream to build a village where people would live in harmony with their surroundings. The result is a lodge that combines ancient know-how and modern technology to minimize impact and maximize quality of life for visitors and residents alike. It achieves this by using alternative energy (a solar water-heating system and...

If the purpose of this category in our roundup of the world's top resorts and lodges is to show you the ultimate escapes to nature, consider Pashan Garh the best place to appreciate nature while pretending you're a raja. Its 12 elegant stone cottages, scattered along a stream amid 200 acres of private jungle at the edge of a tiger reserve, are the picture of opulence.

Inspired by the...

Visitors to Banjaar Tola typically come seeking one thing: glimpses of the area's celebrity species, the tiger, of which only about 4,000 remain in the wild. But after the long journey there, which requires a five-hour drive from the nearest airport, it's not uncommon for travelers to be pleasantly surprised by the tented camp's ample charm itself.

Situated on the banks of the Banjaar...