Taj Lake Palace Udaipur

Taj Lake Palace Udaipur is housed in a gorgeous palace commissioned in the mid 18th-century by Maharana Jagat Singh II for seasonal use and was a summer home for generations of rulers for centuries to follow. It was transformed into a palace hotel in 1963 -- some may recognize the white-marble lake palace from its prominent featuring in the 1983 James bond film, "Octopussy" (which is regularly screened in bars and restaurants throughout the touristy parts of Udaipur to this day.) The hotel retains much of its original charm, with its beautifully maintained whitewashed exteriors dominated by successions of arched windows and traditional domed cupolas known as chhatris. The interiors are equally striking. Most of the common areas are outdoors, and there's a mix of courtyards filled with lush tropical foliage that creates a jungle vibe, plus multiple marble terrace areas with chairs, tables, lounge chairs, and swing benches. 

Interior common areas include a narrow lobby with gold-and-beige marble floors, numerous crystal chandeliers, and a mix of ornately carved pillars and archways. The restaurants here follow a similar decor scheme, with lots of archways and gold-leaf painting on the walls. The upscale Neel Kamal adds beautiful silk tablecloths with gold-plated place settings, plus red-and-gold upholstered chairs, to the mix. Most guests are tourists with lots of cash to splash (including the occasional celebrity), and staying here is not at all cheap. 

Taj Lake Palace is situated on a tiny island smack in the middle of Lake Pichola and is only accessible via boat (the ride only takes a few minutes, though). The boat dock is located due south of Udaipur's biggest attraction -- City Palace -- in the main touristy part of town, near the city's famous Jagdish Temple and a few minutes' walk from little restaurants and shops catering to international tourists. It's about a 10-minute drive to the dock from the railway station. Getting to the airport can take upwards of 40 minutes. 

Taj Lake Palace offers elegant rooms and suites across six categories, from entry-level 300-square-feet (28-square-meters) Luxury Rooms up to a stunning Grand Presidential Suite that's spread out over 1,734-square-feet (161-square-meters). All rooms have lake views and come with flat-screen TVs, DVD players, safes, coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibars, and yoga mats. Decor varies a bit across units, but guests should anticipate marble floors with hexagonal designs paired with hand-painted floral designs on walls and ceilings and an eclectic mix of wooden chairs and furniture. Suites tend to be a bit less loud in terms of decor and add four-poster or canopy beds and more elegant details, such as crystal chandeliers and gold-painted molding.

Palace and Luxury Room bathrooms are spacious and bright, with a mix of marble floors and countertops and tiled walls in a rich cobalt-blue hue plus shower/tub combos with rainfall shower heads. Suite bathrooms are dominated by marble, with separate walk-in rainfall showers and elegant clawfoot tubs. All bathrooms feature magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and luxury toiletries from Forest Essentials, an Indian Ayurvedic brand.

Features here as luxurious as the rooms and as picturesque as the location. Along with 24-hour room service, the Taj Lake Palace offers three elegant restaurants plus a lovely bar -- Amrit Sagar -- that offers tapas and cigars along with a large selection of wines and liquors. Jharoka is the main restaurant and offers European, Asian, and Indian fare from early morning until late at night. Neel Kamal opens only at dinnertime and offers fine-dining, with menus focusing heavily on regional and Indian classics. There's also a seasonal rooftop restaurant -- Bhairo -- that serves European fare. Romantic private dinners can be arranged on the hotel grounds or out on the hotel's century-and-a-half-old boat, the Gangaur.

Other facilities include a meeting room and free hotel-wide Wi-Fi. There's a lovely (if a little small) outdoor courtyard pool and a compact fitness center with treadmills and free weights. The Lake Palace also hosts an opulent spa, Jiva, with all sorts of traditional Indian massages and beauty treatments on offer. Free parking is available on the shore, but note that there is only room for 10 cars.