Photo via Google, Taj Lake Palace, UdaipurTaj Lake Palace
- Hours
- Today: Open 24 hours
- Getting there
- Boat transfer from the Bansi Ghat jetty near the City Palace — there's no road access
Why it’s in the log
Taj Lake Palace was built in 1746 as Jag Niwas, a summer palace for Maharana Jagat Singh II of Mewar, and it still occupies the entire small island it was built on — the white marble walls rise straight out of Lake Pichola with no shoreline in between. Getting there means a boat from the ghats below the City Palace; there's no other way in.
The building has been a hotel since the 1960s, and the restoration kept the original courtyards, lotus pond and carved pillars rather than replacing them with a purpose-built version of the same idea. Rooms open onto the lake or an internal courtyard, and the roofline gives an unobstructed view back at the City Palace and the Aravalli hills behind it.
It's one of the more photographed hotels in India for a reason, so book the boat crossing and a courtyard table for dinner rather than trying to see it from the shore — the palace only really works as somewhere you stay, not somewhere you glimpse from a rooftop bar across the water.
What people said recently
From Google reviews · see all 7,744 ↗
“Royal welcome with a private boat transfer, a shower of rose petals upon arrival, and a dedicated 24/7 butler service.Watching the sunrise or sunset over Lake Pichola from the palace courtyard is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.The…”
“Staying at the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur felt less like a hotel stay and more like being welcomed into a royal legacy. From the moment you arrive, you are treated like royalty at every turn—gracefully, attentively, and with genuine…”
“An outstanding stay from start to finish! The staff was incredibly welcoming and accommodating, ensuring a seamless check-in. Our room was immaculate, spacious, and extremely comfortable, with a fantastic bed and an excellent hot shower.…”
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Udaipur, IndiaA 2002-built resort on Lake Pichola's shore, styled after the domes and courtyards of the Mewar palaces across the water rather than converted from one.