India’s The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts luxury hotel brand will make its first foray into Rajasthan’s desert capital, Jaisalmer, when the 80-room Desert Resort and Spa opens next year.
Spread across 30 acres of desert landscape, The Leela Jaisalmer marks a significant milestone in The Leela’s strategic growth journey reflecting its commitment to expanding through a balanced portfolio of owned and managed assets, while maintaining its hallmark of luxury and service excellence, the company said.
Nestled in the storied Thar Desert, strategically located near the majestic Jaisalmer Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Leela Jaisalmer will offer an oasis of bespoke luxury and calm in the heart of Rajasthan’s golden sands.
Conceptualised as a luxury desert retreat, the resort will feature elegantly designed rooms and tented villas, an expansive spa, multiple dining venues, a man-made lake and generous outdoor lawns.
With this signing, The Leela further enhances its footprint across Rajasthan’s high-demand leisure circuit while also creating synergistic itineraries with The Leela Palace Udaipur and The Leela Palace Jaipur, strengthening the brand’s presence across India’s premier tourism state.
“Rajasthan continues to hold immense potential for luxury travel, with Jaisalmer emerging as a preferred destination for global travellers,” said Anuraag Bhatnagar, Whole-time Director & Chief Executive Officer, Leela Palaces Hotels & Resorts Limited.
“This signing strategically expands our footprint in one of India’s most evocative landscapes and aligns with our vision to curate distinctive properties that celebrate the essence of India. With both domestic and inbound travel gaining momentum, The Leela is poised to be at the forefront of welcoming discerning travellers seeking meaningful and transformative experiences,” Bhatnagar added.
Over the next few months, the property will see the implementation of signature Leela brand touchpoints and programming and will be branded as The Leela Jaisalmer in 2026 ushering in a new era of luxury desert tourism in India.
The Leela currently operates 13 properties with 3,544 keys across 11 cities in India. With 10 hotels in the pipeline, The Leela is on track to expand to 23 properties with over 5,000 keys over the next three years in high-growth markets including Agra, Ayodhya, Bandhavgarh, Mumbai, Ranthambore, Sikkim, Srinagar, Dubai and now Jaisalmer.
