Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa — Pune, India

One of the sub-continent’s leading resorts, the Hilton Shillim in the Western Ghats just got better, thanks to Brooklyn-based architecture firm Khanna Schultz. Located a short flight away from Mumbai, the 350-acre retreat now has 27 new Forest View Villas, all perched on a mountaintop and featuring decks with vistas over a deep valley. Each villa also has its own private treatment room, while the ayurvedic spa – something the hotel is known for - offers over 150 different treatment types. A pottery studio and a cooking school are due to open in the next few months, adding even more choice to the list of activities on offer, which already includes nature treks, visits to historic forts, horse riding and dance lessons.