Lake Palace, Udaipur

The Lake Palace stands on an island in Lake Pichola in Udaipur. Maharana Jagat Singh II of Mewar had it built as a cool summer residence where the royal family could spend the hottest months on the water. Built of white marble in the Rajasthani style, it has domes, fine carving and latticed windows, and from the shore it seems to float on the lake.

Over time the palace was left empty and decayed. In the mid-20th century the Taj Group restored it and turned it into a luxury hotel, which is reached only by boat. It has received many royal guests, dignitaries and celebrities. The hotel offers Rajasthani dining, Ayurvedic spa treatments, cooking classes and evening music, dance and puppet shows, and boat rides on Pichola give the best views of it from outside.