Udaipur, India
Taj Lake Palace is an 18th-century white marble palace hotel floating on Lake Pichola, Rajasthan, offering regal suites, fine dining and panoramic lake views.
Our review
I’ve wanted to visit this hotel ever since the James Bond movie came out 40 years ago, with the delectable Maud Adams.
In February 2026, I finally got my chance.
The Taj Lake Palace hotel is set in Udaipur – the City of Lakes. A four-acre island, it used to be the summer palace of the Mewar dynasty. It’s nearly 300 years old and has been tastefully refurbished. The City Palace is on the banks of Lake Pichola and was the winter palace. Up the hill is the monsoon palace.
You are taken by boat from their private jetty, which houses a smart reception area with sofas and coffee tables, and it is here you will sit, admiring the view across the lake while they check you in.
Then a private launch will whisk you away once you have put on your life jackets. It’s an exciting trip across the water to the hotel, probably taking less than ten minutes, but enough time to drink in the views and take some photos. On arrival, a royal welcome awaits with umbrella procession and rose petals. Because we were checked in on the jetty, we were shown straight to our room. We were given the Royal Heritage suite, which was wonderful. It had superb views of the lake, a huge master bedroom with four poster bed and hanging jhoola, and several rooms leading off, including a massive bathroom with a sunken bath that could hold a party, and a huge walk-in shower. All marble of course.
Some entry level rooms have recently been refurbished, so if that’s your preference, choose them. They are named luxury room, lake view. They are slightly more expensive than the waterlily pool view, but worth it. Only resident guests are allowed at the hotel, so no day trippers, which means it remains uncrowded and feels special.
We freshened up and changed, and made our way to the outside bar area, near where we had originally arrived, to watch the sunset. The soft light on the buildings opposite the lake was incredible, bathing them in pale pink
Before dinner, there was a show, involving local people in colourful dress. As well as dance, they played music. It was a joy to watch and I’m sure all the guests appreciated it. We then enjoyed a cocktail, James Bond style. It’s called an Octopussy (of course) and consists of vodka mixed with jasmine tea. Dinner was in the traditional Rajasthani restaurant, with tables overlooking the lake. I enjoyed some rose tea, and Paul had an excellent fish curry with naan cooked in the tandoor. We could have followed the pathway of lit candles and rose petals up the stairs to the rooftop restaurant terrace, where they serve a European menu, but decided to leave that for our return visit. (By now, I’d decided I wanted to come back.)
There’s a good spa here, with indulgent treatments, but I couldn’t find the time in my packed itinerary. Next time.
If you get a table near the windows, you can enjoy the views across the lake at breakfast. I loved the silver tea pots and embroidered cotton table mats. There was a large choice of buffet cold items and then an almost infinite choice of hot options. It’s nice having these items freshly prepared for you, and cuts down on food waste, for which buffets are notorious.
Arranged inside a quadrangle are the neatly kept gardens, shimmering pools with fountains, and tumbling purple bougainvillea, which looks splendid against the white marble backdrop. The hotel is so pretty, photo opportunities crop up all the time. Of all the 600 or so luxury hotels I’ve visited, this one is up there as among the most memorable. Do try it if you can. It’s never cheap, but you will find it more cost effective, and quieter outside the peak season.
The hotel was awarded Michelin three key status in 2025; one of only 143 in the world, and two in India.
Rooms
The hotel offers 65 rooms and 18 suites, meticulously restored to reflect royal Mewar heritage. Rooms feature silk and velvet furnishings, antique artefacts, carved wooden details and marble bathrooms. Most rooms and suites enjoy lake, palace or city views, with higher-category suites offering separate living areas, Jacuzzis and personalised butler service.
Food and Drink
The hotel features several distinctive dining venues reserved for resident guests. Neel Kamal specialises in authentic Rajasthani cuisine served in an ornate, columned dining room. Bhairo offers European cuisine in an atmospheric open-air setting overlooking the lake, ideal for sunset dining. Jharokha is an all-day restaurant serving Indian and international dishes with panoramic views of Lake Pichola and the City Palace. Amrit Sagar is the bar, known for classic and signature cocktails served beside a tranquil pool and garden setting.
Wellness
The J Wellness Circle offers holistic treatments based on ancient Indian healing traditions. Therapies focus on relaxation, rejuvenation and balance, complemented by yoga and meditation experiences in serene, heritage settings. The hotel also provides a fully equipped fitness centre and a temperature-controlled spa pool.
Facilities
- Full-service spa and wellness centre
- 24-hour fitness centre
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Multiple restaurants and bar
- Personal butler service
- Boat transfers to and from the hotel
- Event and private dining spaces
- Concierge and bespoke experience planning
- Shopping arcade
Location
Taj Lake Palace is located on Jag Niwas Island in the centre of Lake Pichola, Udaipur. Surrounded by water and the Aravalli Hills, the hotel offers uninterrupted views of the City Palace, Jag Mandir and the historic lakeside ghats. The old city’s palaces, temples and museums are a short boat ride away, placing the hotel at the heart of Udaipur’s cultural and architectural heritage.
Getting there
Address: P.O Box No. 5, Lake Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001, Rajasthan, India
Arriving by air: The hotel jetty is approximately 15 miles (24km) from Udaipur Airport
More information
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* Note: The hotel review was visited in early 2026. Please let us know if you spot any factual errors.