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Results 1-6of 6 Reviews
by garymarsh6
Gravesend, United Kingdom
May 30, 2010
From journal On Route to the Lakes!
by JTJY
redwood city, California
April 1, 2010
A traveler
Travelocity.com
April 7, 2009
by Rajat
Mumbai, Maine, India
May 21, 2003
The Hotel appeared much larger and closer to the shore than the photographs suggest. It felt more accessible now whereas in the pictures it seemed remote and exclusive. It is a two storey structure, completely white and built on a small island (Jagniwas Island) as the summer palace for the Maharaja. It is now run by the Taj Hotels group.
To the critical eye, the warts may not take long to appear. I found myself saying the paint could have been better. The water in the lake could be cleaner. The room itself appeared smaller and dated. Some of the fixtures looked worse for the wear. In that sense this is definitely not the plushest of hotels in its price category. Perhaps things may be better now as renovations to the rear part of the hotel were on during our stay. However, the appeal of the Lake Palace extends far beyond such trivialities.
You cannot help but be gripped by the sheer spectacle and the romance of the place. It is simply audacious. The views of the City Palace from the Hotel is wonderful. Ask for rooms on the first floor as these are larger and have a better view than those on the ground floor. The coffee shop has buffets for lunch and dinner but these are nothing special. The speciality restaurant is a far better bet. It opens only for dinner and serves local and North Indian cuisine.
The swimming pool gets hot during the day but after 4.00 pm the sun hides behind in the West and the place is considerably cooler as the wind picks up. Relax on the easy chairs facing the City Palace with a glass of cold beer and you may be forgiven for thinking you are in Heaven.
From journal Venice of the East
by jemery
Chicago, Illinois
May 4, 2001
Once a maharajah’s summer palace (the present Maharajah lives a short boat ride away), this elegant retreat sits on an island in the middle of Udaipur’s Lake Pichola and is now a five-star hotel operated by the Taj chain. Judging from the luggage tags spotted in the lobby. It’s obviously designed to cater to Western tourists.
Our luncheon buffet here was easily the most lavish of the four off-train meals we had during the Palace on Wheels experience. We were greeted with flower necklaces ---everybody seemed to do that in India --- then seated in a private dining room overlooking a sunlit courtyard. The three buffet counters combined must have covered at least 60 feet; the dessert bar alone had at least a dozen belt-expanding choices. People who’d already had enough to eat sometimes went back just to try a new dish they’d previously overlooked.
After lunch, I explored the hotel. On-site amenities included high-end gift shops, a swimming pool (not as large or as deep as I’d have liked), beauty and massage parlors and a coffee shop less formal than the restaurant we ate in. I had a glimpse inside a few guest rooms while the housekeepers were working; they looked spacious, comfortable, and well-illuminated by sunlight streaming in off the lake.
The Lake Palace appeared to be a favorite property of tour groups, which might be a recommendation to some people and a turn-off for others. It certainly has location: Just a few hundred yards over the water is the entrance to the Maharajah’s current palace. It’s now a triple-purpose operation: part private residence for the Royal Family, part museum, and part luxury hotel. This was one of more rewarding tours on our itinerary, with a fine collection of clothing, weaponry and other artifacts, marvelous interior glass, silver and marblework, and many fascinating rooms.
As for the Lake Palace Hotel, I’d thoroughly recommend the property for persons wanting superbly comfortable --- shall we say ‘luxurious’ --- accomodations with all the amenities and who are willing to pay. A standard room here lists for U.S. $210 per night single, $230 double. A Superior Lake View costs $270 single, $290 double.
From journal A week on India's 'Palace on Wheels'
by Quan
Seattle, Washington
December 14, 2000
The Lake Palace Hotel is built in the middle of the lake. When I went, you would make a reservation, then call the hotel once you are ready to come. You then wait at a getty by the edge of the lake for a boat to come and pick you up. The water is clear, calm, and the white palace in the middle of the lake bring yo back to the land of fantasy, to the land of the magic lamp, of the caves that open, and of the magic carpet. All of these images just flashed through my mind as I gazed at the absolutely gorgeous building that was going to be my home for one day. Inside the hotel, after you passed a courteous check-in desk, you find yourself in a courtyard, with a beautiful pond with numerous water jets, around which four corridors lead you to the rooms. I believe all the rooms ring the edge of the palace, and therefore opening any curtain will find yourself staring into the water, and if you are lucky, you will look over at part of the city you came from. Besides gorgeous architecture, the hotel offered a gorgeous view of nature through an outdoor terrace where guests can retire to watch the sunsets reflecting against the water and the Thor mountain ranges in the distance. The terrace is wringed with bougainvilla and other desert plants, with lounge chairs set up for those who want to settle down for a long while. In the dining room, you can order from a Western or an Indian menu, and after dinner, one can settle down for cultural performances at the fountain in the courtyard. Life can''t be any better than this.
From journal Step into the magic of India