The City Palace, Udaipur, India | (888) 499-9698
Excellent location on the grounds of the City Palace, with views out over Lake Pichola
Elegant rooms with marble floors, furnished balconies, and locally inspired decor touches
Lovely courtyard swimming pool under the shade of two large trees
Four dining options, including Indian/international restaurant, pool bar, and all-day cafe
Lots of recreation activities including squash court and billiards table
Panghat Spa and Salon offers relaxation and beauty treatments
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Multiple complaints of cleanliness and maintenance issues in rooms
On the grounds of Udaipur's City Palace overlooking Lake Pichola, Shiv Niwas Palace is a 36-room heritage property with a great location and an upscale, but low key, look and feel. Rooms here feature traditional details such as hand-painted walls and lovely antique-style furnishings, and add conveniences typical to more modern hotels, such as air-conditioning and flat-screen TVs. There's also a gorgeous outdoor swimming pool, a spa for beauty treatments, four restaurants and bars, and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Overall, the great location and historic ambience make it a fantastic deal, but complaints of room maintenance and cleanliness issues may prompt travelers to check out comparably priced alternatives, such as the Chunda Palace Hotel across Lake Pichola.
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Scene
Heritage hotel with palatial exteriors and low-key interiors, popular with Indian and international tourists
Housed in a palace building dating back to the early 1900s, Shiv Niwas Palace is a historic heritage hotel that attracts both Indian and international tourists along with the occasional wedding party. From the outside, this historic property very much lives up to its name, with all of the of columns, archways, terraces, screens, turrets, and cupolas associated with traditional Rajasthani architecture, coupled with flowering bougainvillea and gorgeous views over Lake Pichola. Inside, the decor is sophisticated -- but not ostentatious -- with marble floors, multiple hand-painted archways, and soft lighting via wall sconces and low-key chandeliers.
Location
Lake-facing location on the grounds of Udaipur's City Palace, a short walk to the Jagdish Temple
Shiv Niwas Palace looks out over Lake Pichola from its convenient location on the grounds of Udaipur's biggest attraction -- The City Palace -- in the main touristy part of town. It's about a five-minute walk to the city's famous Jagdish Temple and the whole surrounding area features lots of little restaurants and shops catering to international tourists. It's about a 10-minute drive to the railway station. Getting to the airport can take upwards of 40 minutes, depending on traffic.
Rooms
Lovely air-conditioned rooms and suites with traditionally inspired decor, marble floors, and furnished balconies
Shiv Niwas Palace has a total of 36 units, about half of which are 26-square-meter (280-square-foot) Palace Rooms -- the rest are suites. Decor varies from unit to unit, but guests can expect marble floors, lovely antique-style wooden furniture, and traditional touches such as silk throws and cushions, framed Rajasthani artwork on the walls, and hand-painted wall and ceiling trim, particularly in higher-category units. All units are air-conditioned and come with minibars, coffee- and tea-making facilities, slippers, and robes. Bathrooms vary a bit and aren't particularly striking, though they do have toiletries from luxury Ayurvedic brand Kama, wall-mounted hairdryers, and shower/tub combos or walk-in rainfall showers in higher categories. All rooms have balconies with a few chairs and tables. The Terrace Suite has gorgeous lake views and a big terrace. Note that there have been complaints of dirty grout, cleanliness issues, and maintenance issues.
Features
Outdoor pool shaded by trees, lovely spa, and four bars and restaurants
Shiv Niwas Palace offers excellent amenities for a hotel of its size, starting with its lovely outdoor pool located in a large courtyard beneath the shade of a few huge trees. There's also a squash court, a game room with a billiards table, and a small business center, plus free hotel-wide Wi-Fi. Wellness facilities include Panghat Spa and Salon, for a a variety of treatments and traditional massages as well as beauty treatments. Weddings can also be arranged on the hotel's terrace or out on its grounds. One of this property's best features is its numerous dining options. Snacks and drinks are available throughout the day at Palki Khana, a casual coffee bar, poolside at The Pool Deck, or indoors at the elegant Panera bar. The main restaurant, Panntya, offers Indian and international cuisine from breakfast through dinner.
