Taj Lake Palace

This has got to be a top three stay for us — the St. Regis or Four Seasons can't match the hospitality of the staff here.

They've got an abundance of great staff to help you with any request, and the staff went above and beyond to make my wife's birthday memorable. I also highly recommend booking the boat spa — it was truly a unique experience. We will certainly be back next year with our entire family to enjoy the property again.

The location is incredible, but if dropping $450 at a good-but-not-great dinner doesn't bother you, go for it.

The grounds are perfectly manicured and the staff are exceptionally attentive. But the restaurant Bhairo is fixed at $150 per person, and the waiter tried to upsell us a $350 bottle of wine with no sommelier justification. The meal is above average but comparable to a $60 meal anywhere else — you're paying for the view. The hotel's whole goal is to part you with as much money as possible, which makes you feel uncomfortable.

We managed to spend a day at the Taj Lake Palace and it was stunning beyond comprehension with beautiful marble details everywhere.

I had originally planned to propose to my girlfriend at the Taj but their team was so unhelpful and gave me zero confidence in their ability to pull it off without a hitch that I went with the Leela instead. However, when we visited for lunch and stayed into the evening (they make a big deal about guests only but your concierge can arrange it), the beautiful marble details everywhere were truly stunning.

I've eaten at Leela and stayed at Lake Palace — my vote would be Lake Palace for the bucket list experience.

The Leela felt less authentic and a bit showy, while Lake Palace rooms are smaller compared to comparable hotels and you're stuck on the island for dining. However, it's just such a bucket list hotel if there ever was one — the excellent dinner and breakfast in the courtyard would be nearly worth flying back to India for alone.

I spent a couple days in the presidential suite at this famous palace — maybe most known for filming Octopussy there.

The boat transfer from the lake landing was seamless, with amazing service where I never touched my bags and people were friendly but not annoying. My room was large and very well appointed with free wine, fruit, and delicious chocolates already waiting. The best part is just wandering around this 500-year-old palace on the lake — it's like walking around your own ancient palace with so many different nooks to discover.

Magic, sheer magic is the only way I can describe our stay at this floating palace — it was absolutely above all expectation.

From the moment you land at the departure point, you're treated as a VIP, and the boat trip reveals the grandeur as you get closer. As you step on the deck, the Rajasthani attendant holds a ceremonial umbrella and you're showered by rose petals — the experience leaves a tear in your eye, it's so special. Our front desk executive had arranged a cake for our upcoming anniversary and birthday, and our rooftop restaurant experience will be etched in our memories forever.

I can't say enough about the quality of service they maintain — it's that consistent attention to detail throughout the entire stay that makes them stand out.

The ambience and cleanliness are top tier, the whole palace feels pristine, and the rooms are incredible — it really feels like a different world. The dining was a massive highlight, especially when Chef Anup Singh and the F&B Executive personally came over to ask about the taste and if we wanted any changes to the food. They genuinely cared about our preferences, which made the whole experience feel so personal.

I recently stayed at the Presidential Suite and it was nothing short of extraordinary — from the moment you arrive by boat, the experience feels truly royal.

The Presidential Suite is impeccably designed with breathtaking views of Lake Pichola, luxurious interiors, and absolute privacy. Every detail from the heritage décor to modern comforts reflects legendary hospitality and attention to excellence. What truly sets this palace apart is the overall ambience — serene, romantic, and steeped in history. It's not just a hotel; it's an experience that stays with you long after checkout.

We went there to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and honestly, 'impressed' isn't a strong enough word for this fairytale experience.

From the second we stepped onto the boat at the jetty to checkout, we were made to feel like the absolute center of the universe. The palace is stunning like living in a dream, but what really blew us away was the heart of this place. The absolute highlight was meeting Chef Muskaan who went completely out of her way to whip up a special dish just for us — that kind of personal touch is so rare.

Great stay that felt very elegant and peaceful — the island is a nice retreat from the surrounding area.

The food was very good across all meals, though they dialed down the spice without us requesting it, which took away some authentic flavors. We enjoyed the flutist in the mornings and performances each evening — those were probably the highlight of the stay. My only feedback is there's a tendency for everyone to ask for reviews to such an extent that even the head chef and manager came out during dinner and gave us their cards — this makes the hospitality seem fake and transactional.

I have never come to a place where I was nearly brought to tears for how well I was treated — the Taj Lake Palace is the first.

From the first moment we reached the dock to experiencing the palace, everything was just about perfect. But then came the proactive, thoughtful touches of service that put it over the top — from the front desk folks preparing custom experiences just for my wife and I, to the restaurant chef and staff going out of their way to design the best culinary visits we could possibly have. There was little need to leave the island and we hurried back when we did.

The stay was good overall, but it feels overpriced mainly because of its unique location in the center of the lake.

The property is undoubtedly beautiful and iconic, but the pricing seems driven more by exclusivity than overall value. The food is on the higher end price-wise while the taste is quite normal — you can easily find better and more flavorful food outside the hotel in Udaipur. For a luxury hotel of this stature, the crockery was surprisingly simple with no branding, which was unexpected.

Staying here felt less like a hotel stay and more like being welcomed into a royal legacy — I was treated like royalty at every turn.

The ambience alone is unforgettable — waking up to the sound of a flutist playing softly in the mornings with the palace floating serenely on Lake Pichola sets a tone of timeless elegance. The service is extraordinary, with every interaction met with genuine warmth rather than scripted responses. Every meal feels like a royal feast, both in presentation and flavor, where every bite reminds you that this is how royalty once lived.

We stayed here for five nights and it was absolutely amazing — the property is beautiful and luxurious with gorgeous lake views.

What elevated this sublime experience was the people — every single person we interacted with from check-in to dining to room service were so hospitable and friendly. They went above and beyond to ensure our needs were taken care of in the best possible way, and most importantly they were truly some of the kindest and most patient people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Special shout out to Kajal who took the time to engage with my son on their shared love of reading.

We stayed in December 2025 with such high hopes but were sorely disappointed at how shabby and poorly maintained it was.

The bathrooms are barely bigger than airplane bathrooms and the decor doesn't seem to have been updated for decades — they looked like bathrooms from a 2-star hotel. The rooms were tiny and musty smelling. The food at all three restaurants including the Michelin guide restaurant was way below average. The location is spectacular but that's where it ends and is definitely not worth even half the exorbitant nightly price they charge.

A night here is nothing short of stepping into living history — floating serenely on Lake Pichola, the palace is a timeless masterpiece.

From arrival, the front office team sets the tone with warmth and grace — every interaction feels personal, never rehearsed. The palace itself is a marvel with intricately carved marble, glowing courtyards, and views that feel almost unreal at sunrise and sunset. Chef Manish's exceptional culinary artistry transformed dinner into an experience, and Ashley the bartender's skill elevated our evening with precision-crafted cocktails and engaging conversation.