Best Places to Stay In Udaipur

There’s no hotel in all of India quite like the Taj Lake Palace which was built as a summer retreat by the Maharana of Udaipur for his family in the 1740s. It is snuggled on a man-made island in the middle of the stunning Lake Pichola. The only way to get to it is, of course, via a boat. Because of its ideal location, you have the best proverbial “seat in the house” in Udaipur. The Palace gives you 360° views of the city’s landscape and the hills...

The golden-themed Udaivila is located in a modern 5-star complex. Unique in appearance with giant cupolas and domes, Udaivilas is located on the western shores of Lake Pichola. In the veins of Rajasthani palaces, the Udaivilas have large manicured lawns, fountains, and reflecting pools set in 80 acres of green space. The internal décor is tastefully done with miniature portraits, murals, Persian rugs, and traditional insignia.  Chandi and Suryamahal, the in-house dining outlets, offer a wide range of Indian and global cuisines. Udaimahal offers Indian delicacies. For kids,...

Leela is a well-known luxury hotel brand. Their offering in Udaipur is an extravagant affair. You arrive at the hotel aboard a boat from the mainland. On the hotel pier, you are welcomed with rose petals and exciting folk music.  Thanks to its lake-side location, your room and suites come with unhindered views of the lake. There’s a large outdoor swimming pool and many viewing terraces to marvel at the lake from. The Ayurveda spa offers many relaxing therapies. Sheesh Mahal is your alfresco option. The Poolside bar...

Another classy 5-star heritage property owned by the royal family but managed by the Taj Group, the Fateh Prakash Palace is a part of the Udaipur City Palace Complex and is named after the Maharana who commissioned its construction. What does that mean? You get the authentic Udaipur royal experience. You live like royalty, and you dine like it. Mewaris are big on hospitality. The Maharana built it to entertain royal guests and hold events and ceremonies. No shortcuts have, therefore, been taken. It offers 60 royal rooms...

The shining all-white Jagat Niwas Palace is located behind the Jagdish Temple, the most important place of worship in Udaipur. The City Palace Complex lies on the other side of the street.  The Jagat Niwas Palace comprises two three-stories historical mansions owned by an aristocratic family, that have now been merged, and repurposed into an excellent 5-star property adorned with traditional Mewari furniture, paintings, murals, artifacts, and ethnic art pieces. A lot of attention has been given to details to ensure that you get the authentic glory of...

Raffles is a modern-day alternative to the Taj Lake Palace. It is to Udai Sagar Lake what the Lake Palace is to Lake Pichola. Raffles is set on a 20-acre island of its own. It is designed like an aristocratic country estate with a modern touch. The surrounding Aravalli hills combine with the calm lake make for a stunning setting. The lush green property is a haven for bird species from the region. If you want a place that’s secluded and tucked away from the bustle of Udaipur,...

Raas Devigarh is a retreat in the Aravalli hills in the village of Delwara, known for its ancient Jain Temple. This off-white 200-year-old Rajasthani fort has shades of golden and silver and sits atop a hill giving you great views of the valley. This heritage property with secret alleyways, dungeons, watch-out towers, and underground passages is worth a walking tour. But it blends modern amenities into a historical setting as well. There’s an in-house spa, a billiard room, a fitness center, a yoga center, a hot tub on...

The Amet Haveli has a very interesting history. When the Lake Palace was being built in the 1730s, the Amet Haveli was used as the project’s headquarters by the Maharana’s Chief Architect Jagirdar of Sadargarh. Marbles, stone, and construction materials were loaded onto a ferry to the island in the middle of the lake. The Haveli gives you some 20 small but intimate lake-facing rooms that have been painstakingly restored to their original form, and are equipped with modern amenities. Its Ambrai restaurant lies on an open-air deck...

The Sierra by the Lake is a modern property located on the shores of the lake that boats itself on its chic boutique luxury. It comes with one of the city’s best-located rooftop café and bars featuring the region’s finest dishes and cocktails.  It offers five categories of suites and rooms, a temperature-controlled outdoor pool, a small indoor dip pool, live music in the evenings, a 24-7 travel desk, and many other modern facilities.

Overlooking the city and the lake, Fateh Gar is a delightful property from which you can watch the City Palace Complex, the Monsoon Palace, and Jagmandir. The property even has a first-of-its-kind zipline and many vintage cars that you can use to go on a city heritage tour. Its swimming has featured in Conde Nast Traveller’s Sexiest Pool of the World.  You can choose from 5 different categories ranging from Deluxe Rooms to Presidential Suites. Fateh Garh has two in-house multi-cuisine restaurants with both indoor and outdoor dining.

If you want a vintage 3-centuries homely Haveli experience in the heart of the old quarters of Udaipur that won’t break the bank, look no further than Madri Haveli. It offers small but well-appointed rooms. There is a rooftop restaurant with a view of Lake Pichola.  In terms of opulence and luxury, Madri Haveli won’t be checking off many boxes, but you get what you paid for a heritage experience that’s authentic comfortable, and very affordable.

Bujera Fort is located 20 minutes from the city center, away from the din and noise of Udaipur, in the district’s outskirts— village Bujera. Udaipur can get quite busy during the peak holiday season with overly eager tourists and holidayers. Bujera is a quiet regal retreat away from it all. The structure is modern, built only 6 years ago, built around a rectangular garden in the Aravalli mountains, in the mold of the traditional Rajasthani fort. The fort is held up by some 80 stone-carved columns, and the façade...