15 Best Hotels in Udaipur, Rajasthan

This ultraexclusive 250-year-old white-marble palace—location for the James Bond film Octopussy—floats like a vision in the middle of Lake Pichola, and you arrive, of course, by boat. A stay here is one of those do-before-you-die experiences—a blue lake, views of fairy-tale havelis, serenity, beauty, and majesty will be hallmarks of your stay. It is easily one of the most romantic hotels in the world. Rooms range from standard (contemporary but elegant) to opulent suites with private butlers and lake-facing Jacuzzis; most have lake views while others overlook the lily pond or courtyard, the scene of nightly folk dances. Romantic boat trips include onboard spa treatments, and there's a lakeside veranda where you can sip martinis, James Bond–style—but there's a catch. You must be a guest at the hotel to indulge in any of these luxuries.

Overlooking Lake Pichola, this airy, whitewashed, 17th-century haveli hotel is one of the best medium-budget places to stay in Udaipur; you'd be hard-pressed to find better value (or better views). The haveli, artistically decked out with filigree work, carvings, and paintings, is quite spacious and accommodations are located through different courtyards and at different levels. Rooms are neatly decorated with Rajasthani fabrics and heavy wooden furniture, and the bathrooms sparkle. There's a bakery on the premises. The charming rooftop restaurant has romantic open-air alcoves overlooking the lake. Most of the better-category rooms have lake views, and some suites have window seats to take full advantage of the vista.

On Lake Pichola, with sublime views of the Lake Palace, City Palace Complex, and ghats, this 30-acre property—a contemporary palace in its own right, reflecting the beauty of Mewar artistry—is one of India's most luxurious (and expensive) hotels. If the hotel organizes your pick up, you will arrive by boat. For the ultimate experience, take a suite with butler service and a semiprivate infinity pool, and watch deer approach the edge of the hotel's private wildlife reserve. Traditionally dressed staff reflect old-world courtesy and display acute attention to detail, and the restaurants serve delicious continental and Indian food. The Oberoi consistently makes the lists of most luxurious hotels in the world and has been used as the opulent background for many a Bollywood movie.

A former leisure palace of the Maharanas of Udaipur, this 18th-century haveli-turned-heritage hotel has a fantastic location on Lake Pichola with views of the City Palace and surrounding ghats. Spacious rooms retain their traditional architecture and are done up in calming colors with bold accented furnishings. The baradari or enclosed pavilion on the lower level is a great place for a sunset drink followed by dinner at Ambrai restaurant. For a special evening, consider splurging on a meal at Badi Mahal, the haveli's beautiful inner garden where you dine at a rose-petal strewn lakefront pavilion accompanied by live music from a musician duo.

Located close to the Old City and its attractions, this moderately priced boutique hotel sports a blend of Rajput and Mewar architecture. Rooms are compact (even the suites are only slightly larger), but they do have all the basic amenities and are immaculately clean; two of the suites also come with views of the City Palace. Savor a mix of Rajasthani, North Indian, and international fare at the rooftop restaurant, which has great views of the city and the palace. The pool on the rooftop is rather small but has pretty jharokha-style architecture, and of course, lovely views.

Environmentally friendly, community-minded, luxurious, and with an interesting backstory, this is one of Udaipur's notable boutique hotels, perched atop a hill adjacent to the Monsoon Palace. Originally in Bhilwara, around 160 km (100 miles) away, this small palace belonging to the Kelwa Rajput family was moved here, stone by stone, in 2007 and reconstructed using the Vedic architectural principles of Vaastu Shastra (think Indian feng shui). Antique doors and windows were also utilized. Rooms have elegant dark-wood furniture and pastel frescoes depicting concepts of Vedic science and are very large. The hotel has a water recycling plant, and windmills and solar panels produce electricity. The hotel has three pools, and the highest pool is one of the best with spectacular city views, as does the hotel's main restaurant. There's an interesting collection of vintage cars on the grounds—one of them is parked in the main portico.

The best reason to stay here is the hotel's proximity to city sights and access to a lovely garden barbecue restaurant out front. The rooms are simple, with no extra frills or great views, but clean and up to mark—some have lemon yellow accents and some have bold pink accents. There's also small lobby where you can relax for an evening cocktail. Set in the grounds of the vintage car museum and at the edge of Gulab Bagh near City Palace, this property is managed by the HRH group that runs many of the city's royal hotels.

Especially surprising given its price, this hotel has some great features, including a wonderful lakeside location, rooms with private terraces, suites with Jacuzzi or steam room, an Upre restaurant, and a rooftop pool. The rooms are homey, though not strongly designed, and many of them have great views. There are various options, including deluxe rooms (best value) and suites. The small pool gives the place an edge over the neighbors, and the restaurant menu ranges from standard Indian fare to Mexican food, with a large, reasonably priced wine list.

Sumptuous lawns and views, grand terraces, palace pomp, and an interesting range of activities for guests—horse dancing, bagpiper recitals, puppet shows, snooker—are the highlights of Laxmi Vilas, a former palace constructed in 1911. Located on a gentle hill facing Pichola's sister lake, the Fateh Sagar, it was built by the worthy Maharana Fateh Singh, who constructed many of the mahals in this town. He also built the Connaught Dam as a small welcoming present for Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria's son who visited in 1889. Its rooms are large, many with lake views and window seats and attractively furnished in earthy colors with pretty wall screens. The hotel company has also undertaken social responsibility initiatives, including an employment program for acid-attack survivors and LGBT rights and awareness programs.

You arrive at this art-filled domed palace aboard an EV boat (the only lakefront hotel operating them for transfers) to a shower of rose petals and musicians welcoming you to the lobby. The hotel is packed with Mewari wall murals, embroidered tapestries, marble sculptures, thikri mirror work, and silverware, all of which can be admired on a guided palace art walk (complimentary). Rooms and suites are spacious with elegant, contemporary interiors punctuated by Rajasthani motifs and crafts—of particular note is the furniture embossed with tarkashi work, which involves intricate brass-wire motifs set in dark wood. Bathrooms are massive and come with exclusively crafted bath amenities. Most meals are at The Dining Room, which offers a mix of Indian and global fare, while the lakefront al fresco Sheesh Mahal restaurant is open for dinner, where you can savor Indian fine dining with a view of the lit up City Palace and Old City. The hotel organizes city tour experiences as well as ceremonial rituals like morning prayers at the 16th-century Shiva temple on the palace premises and evening folk music and dance in the central courtyard.

Abutting the eastern wall of the City Palace, this haveli from 1910 has been refurbished into a design-forward boutique hotel with an expansive central courtyard. Each spacious room has a foyer in striking blue or terracotta with tone-on-tone chandelier, a large bathroom with custom-made toiletries, and a light-filled bedroom in neutral colors and a contemporary four-poster bed. The overall look is pared down and modern with touches of Rajasthani motifs and architectural elements. A highlight is the rooftop pool with cow-head fountain spouts and sweeping views of the Old City and the City Palace (which looks particularly enchanting after sunset). The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating and serves North Indian cuisine with a focus on Mewari and Rajasthani classics. The hotel organizes offbeat experiences like a breakfast trail in the Old City, curated shopping tours, and a champi (vigorous head massage) by the pool.

Once the royal guesthouse, where the maharaja of Udaipur had his guests stay, gracious Shiv Niwas on Lake Pichola is another part of the City Palace complex, and still features plenty of antiques and royal memorabilia in its decor. The white stone pool and the gardens add to the magical ambience. Half its accommodations are in the better-maintained suites, but even the regular palace rooms are chic and large with a sitting area and a desk. Some rooms are dated and could benefit from a renovation, so ask to see a couple of options.

Part of the haughty City Palace complex, this 19th-century retreat on the eastern bank of Lake Pichola is run by the Taj group and oozes stateliness and history—royal portraits, antiques, chandeliers, ornate ceilings, and an abundance of crinkled-edged arches set the tone. Rooms and suites are spacious, with marble floors, furnished with silks and period furniture; some have window seats (one has a swing as well) and great views. The dining opportunities of this hotel are equally memorable—you can opt for lake-view breakfasts, a sunset terrace tea, or a poolside dinner.

A more moderately priced option among Udaipur's luxury hotels, the Trident is removed from the downtown bustle, amid acres of beautiful gardens on Lake Pichola. The architecture is striking, but the lobby, decorated in white marble arches lacks grandeur. Rooms, done mainly in white, facing the garden or pool, are well equipped and modern, though nondescript. The restaurant serves Indian and continental dishes (buffet and à la carte) at lunch and dinner.

It's hard to pass up regal accommodations at moderate prices in luxury-driven Udaipur, particularly when the hotel's rooftop is one of the liveliest places in town. Every room in this towering boutique hotel across Lake Pichola from the City Palace, re-created to look "heritage," is decorated with antique furniture and art that relate to specific regions and people in Mewar history—evidence of personal involvement of the Rajput owners. Most of the rooms lack lake views, but from the hotel pool and from the rooftop restaurant, which serves Indian and international cuisine, you get spectacular views of the Udaipur skyline. There's also a center courtyard garden to while away time.