Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / India / Udaipur / Taj Lake Palace
Taj Lake Palace
Udaipur, India · Taj Hotels · Grand Luxury
Built between 1743 and 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II as a summer retreat for the House of Mewar and accessible only by boat, the Taj Lake Palace occupies the entire 4-acre island of Jag Niwas at the centre of Lake Pichola. Converted into India's first lake-palace hotel in 1963 and taken under Taj management in 1971, its 65 rooms and 18 suites earned India's only Michelin Three Keys rating in 2025, shared solely with Taj Falaknuma Palace.
- 83 rooms
- Opened 1963
- Neighborhood: Pichola
- Architect: Didi Contractor
About Taj Lake Palace
- Michelin Three Keys, the guide's highest hotel distinction, denotes an "extraordinary stay" status.
- The palace served as the principal filming location for the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy (Roger Moore), making it one of the most photographed heritage hotels in cinema history.
- During the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, Maharana Swaroop Singh sheltered European refugee families on the island and ordered Udaipur's boats destroyed so that rebels could not reach them, the lake itself became a defensive moat.
- The palace was built with its main façade facing east so that the Maharana could offer morning prayers to Surya, the Hindu sun god, at dawn, a spiritual orientation that governs its architectural layout.
- Originally called Jagniwas after its founder Jagat Singh II, the palace stood largely unused and deteriorating before Maharana Bhagwat Singh converted it into a hotel in 1963, with Taj Hotels assuming management in 1971 and subsequently adding 75 rooms to the original structure.
History
Jag Niwas, the marble summer palace of Mewar, was rebuilt between 1743 and 1746 for Maharana Jagat Singh II on a four-acre rock in Lake Pichola, facing east for dawn prayers to Surya. Courtyards of black-and-white marble, niches, and a circular upper room served later maharanas as a private lake retreat away from the City Palace.
In 1857 Maharana Swaroop Singh sheltered European families fleeing Nimach on the island and had Udaipur's boats destroyed so rebels could not follow; the lake became a moat. Later travellers found decay. Pierre Loti wrote of the palace 'slowly mouldering' in the damp. Maharana Bhopal Singh (1930-55) added the Chandra Prakash pavilion but left the rest to mosquitoes; Geoffrey Kendal in the 1950s found it deserted.
Maharana Bhagwat Singh, working on a thin purse among elephants and ageing retainers, asked American artist Didi Contractor (on site 1961-69) to help turn conservation into a hotel. Jag Niwas opened as Udaipur's first luxury hotel in February 1963. Taj took management in 1971 and added rooms. Fritz Lang filmed here in 1959; the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy made the island Octopussy's lair. A further restoration ran in 2000. Jacqueline Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II, and Vivien Leigh are among former guests. Royal butlers still descend from palace staff.
Restaurants and bars
- Neel Kamal — Restaurant · Flavours of Udaipur's royal cuisine, North West Frontier and
- Bhairo — Restaurant · Contemporary European
- Jharokha — Restaurant · Contemporary world cuisine
- Amrit Sagar — Restaurant · Kebabs, bruschetta and antipasti
Experiences
- The Royal Gangaur — Dinner by candle light while floating across Lake Pichola on The Royal Gangaur, an antique ceremonial imperial barge.
- J Wellness Circle — An Indian Royal Spa experience drawn from ancient Indian techniques of wellness and rejuvenation, ranging from body wraps, scrubs and massages to yoga and meditation.
- Spectacular Arrival — Traditional welcome with a shower of rose petals as guests alight from the boat; royal Guards escort guests under a sequined, embroidered umbrella.
- Heritage Walk — Historians share stories and anecdotes of the kings and princes who lived and caroused at this palace.
- Unique Dining — Private dining in fairy tale settings with handcrafted menus and impeccable service.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Butler service
Awards
- MICHELIN Three Keys (2026)
- Robb Report 50 Greatest Hotels on Earth (2025)
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