Palace Resort on an Island in Udaipur
Udaipur, India is known both as the city of Lakes, as well as for being the Venice of the East. Both of these affectionate names are reflective of the natural beauty and culture of the city and region. One of the other major elements the city is known for is its many incredible palaces from the Rajput era. Of these, the Lake Palace is one of the largest and most well known and serves as one of the major tourist attractions the city offers to guests staying in an Udaipur palace hotel.
The Lake Palace is a beautiful luxury resort that takes up almost an entire island. It is situated on four acres of rock known as the Jag Niwas Island in Lake Pichola. Interestingly, access to the resort and the small island is provided by the hotel in the form of a boat that ferries guests to and from the resort from the City Palace. The Palace was originally built under the direction of Maharana Jagat Singh II, who was the 62nd Successor of the Mewar dynasty. Due to this, and the fact he made it the summer residence of the royal family, it was initially known as Jag Niwas. Following the reign of Singh II, many successive leaders have used the palace as their preferred summer residence.
Throughout its existence, the palace has been the favorite location of many celebrities and political figures. It has experienced some deterioration due to natural weathering and has also been through great renovations. By the early 1960s it was becoming obvious that it should be turned into a luxury resort. It was taken over by the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces in 1971 who remodeled the estate and added 75 new rooms. Some of the famous people who have stayed here include Vivien Leigh, Queen Elizabeth and Jacqueline Kennedy. It was also featured as a central setting for the James Bond film Octopussy.
No related posts.