Udaipur’s Taj Lake Palace is a destination in its own right; a hotel that is so special, so unique, that it has become a place of folklore and dreams. Guests arrive at the edge of Lake Picchola in a vintage coupé, eyes drawn to the luminous palace grabbing centre stage in the lake. From the coupé, it’s onto a boat, cruising to paradise. And of course guests don’t just stay in a normal hotel room, but in rooms and suites that all tell a story. All 66 rooms and 17 suites offer magnificent views, with the ultimate experience being a stay in the Chandra Prakash Suite – meaning ‘Lustre of the Moon’. This suite features decorative gilt moldings, sculpted marble columns and fine fretwork screens that tickled the fancy of the Maharaja who held court in this room in the 1930s. Sail into the sunset on a 150-year-old ceremonial barge, enjoy a heritage walk with a royal escort carrying caviar, pate and a bottle of bubbly, or soak up the sights of the city on a shopping trip, accompanied by your royal butler. tajhotels.com
