Lake Palace - Udaipur

Also known as Jag Niwas, this stunning lake palace afloat on Lake Pichola, was developed by Rana Jagat Singh II in the 1730s as a pleasure palace because permission had been denied to him by his father to develop the existing island palace of Jag Mandir.

A large number of the palatial apartments here date to this period. Col. James tod described it as follows: "The apartments are decorated with historical paintings in water colours, almost meriting the term fresco from their deep absorption in the wall, though the darker tints have blended with and in part obscured the more delicate shades, from atmospheric causes".

Additions were made in the following century, but the palace was now aging. However, it continued to remain a favourite retreat for the Sisodia family who would come here to get away from the pressures of court.

A Luxury Hotel - Lake Palace Udaipur
In 1961, Maharana Bhagat Singh decided to convert Jag Niwas into a luxury hotel because, as its design-consultant said, '…it seemed the only viable way that it could be maintained'. It caught the fancy of the international who's who immediately, and since 1971, it has been managed by the Taj group of Hotels.

With Pichola Lake surrounding the lake palace, lapping and murmuring, rippling waves make the whole atmosphere very pleasant. All the luxuries of the lake palace have been utilized in making the hotel as attractive and comfortable as possible. This Lake Palace Hotel is considered to be one of the best hotels in the world.