Rising out of the Lake Pichola in all her sedate glory, stands the pristine Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur. An erstwhile palace built by the Maharanas of Udaipur, she continues to maintain her regal demeanor and form, even as she dons the mantle of a hotel that plays host to innumerable guests from the world over, who arrive at her pier to be pampered regally, much like the royals who resided there in the days of yore.
About Udaipur –
Udaipur is a city in the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, India. Named after its founder Maharana Udai Singh II, this city that was founded in 1558 AD attracts tourists from the world over with the monuments from its royal past and also its scenic beauty, ensconced as it is by the Aravallis, the oldest mountain ranges in India.
About the Taj Lake Palace –
The luxury hotel has 83 rooms, and its uniqueness lies in their uniqueness, so to speak, with no 2 rooms being identical. Since the palace had originally not been intended as a hotel, additions to the monument took place according to the whims of its various royal occupants who made sure that they created something different from their predecessors.
There are luxury garden facing rooms, luxury lake view rooms and several grand suites that were actually the original residences of the Maharanas.
One approaches the hotel by boat from the exclusive Taj pier just a 5 minute sail away.
The entrance is via a fleet of steps from the floating pier at the Taj and guests are greeted by a shower of rose petals as they enter the large open lobby via the front ‘yard’.
Dining –
There are a plethora of dining locations, right from the restaurants to terraces, alcoves and even on the lake, that offer the luxury of private dining.
The Neel Kamal restaurant separated from the lily pond by a clear glass wall, offers Indian and local Rajasthani fare cooked in rustic fashion in earthen pots over wood fires and served in Versace crockery and cutlery. How is that for luxury ? ????
The Jharokha restaurant with its view of the lake, is an all day dining space that serves international cuisine.
The Bhairo terrace houses a rooftop restaurant which is seasonal and is open only during the tourist season of winter, due to the weather.
Amrit Sagar bar (Sea of Nectar) is a bar that apart from alcohol, also offer cigars and sheeshas.
Private dining locations are aplenty, with various romantic venues, beside the lily pond, atop the Mewar terrace or even on the Gangaur boat which is the royal craft that belonged to the kings and is now used as a luxurious dining venue for private parties of a maximum of 30 people. The dining experience also includes a view of a traditional dance performed on the shore and of course that of the grand City palace.
Experiences within the hotel –
The island palace hotel lies encircled by history and geography that form a ring of palaces, old buildings and the Aravalli mountain ranges.
The indulgent views are accessible from most of the rooms and suites as well as the common verandahs, courtyards and terraces of the hotel. One can spend hours just gazing out at the placid waters, the fishermen in their little boats, the golden shimmer as the sun sets behind the Aravallis, the countless bats that swoop down on the waters every evening and the illuminated palaces at night.
A daily 45 minute heritage walk in the evenings is a complimentary part of the stay where guests are taken on a hotel tour by a historian who imparts a wealth of information beginning with the history of Udaipur and goes on reveal the secrets hidden in the jaalis and jharokas of the palace. A glass of champagne or mocktail ends the session.
Post the walk, there are cultural performances in the Jhankar courtyard (or the front yard), where guests are treated to absolutely delightful folk music and dances by highly skilled artistes who keep them enthralled with their fluid movements, gyrating and pirouetting as they glide across the floor in their traditional costumes. A rendering that is so endearing, it always leaves people thirsting for more.
Apart from these, there are also personalized experiences that are curated for guests, like the sunset cruise to Jag Mandir palace and sightseeing trips within the city, in a vintage car no less !!!
Best time to visit –
The climate of Udaipur is distinctly tropical with harsh, merciless summers dominating the months of April to June, humid monsoons that last from July to end September and finally the welcome winter that occupies the months of October to March.
Getting there –
Udaipur is well connected to major cities of India via air, rail and road. The Maharana Pratap domestic airport connects a few major Indian cities which in turn connect to international destinations.
The railway station is situated within the city and the airport is at Dabok around 25 km from the city center and it takes about 45 min to get to the Taj Lake Palace from there.
This post was originally published on Currylines
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