Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur

Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

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Taj Lake Palace is a legendary 18th‑century palace now operating as a luxury hotel, floating on an island in the middle of Lake Pichola in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Originally named Jag Niwas, it was built between 1743 and 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II of the Mewar dynasty as a summer retreat for the royal family, using white marble from Rajnagar and designed with Mughal and Mewari architectural influences. The palace was converted into a heritage hotel in 1963 under Maharana Bhagwat Singh and is now managed by the Taj group, becoming famous worldwide as the “floating palace” and as the setting for key scenes in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy.

Today the hotel covers about four acres and has around 83 rooms and suites ranging from garden views to grand lake‑view suites, all decorated in regal style with antique furnishings, patterned textiles, and in many cases private balconies overlooking the lake and the city’s palaces and hills. Guests can dine at several restaurants such as Jharokha with international cuisine, Neel Kamal for authentic Rajasthani and Indian dishes, and the rooftop Bhairo for European fare, plus a bar lounge and themed dinner nights, while the J Wellness Circle spa offers a range of treatments, massages, a pool, gym, and yoga classes.

Access to the hotel is only by a short private boat ride from the Udaipur shore, which adds to its sense of seclusion and romance, making it especially popular for anniversary trips, wedding‑related celebrations, and luxurious, slow‑paced stays in what is often called the “Venice of the East”.