Udaipur Hotels

Udaipur, the capital of the former princly state of Mewar is a beautiful city in Rajasthan, India famous for its lakes and palaces which in centuries past served as the homes of royalty. A current tourist favorite, especially for up-market Westerners, it was a backdrop for numerous movies including the James Bond flick "Octopussy". Udaipur is referred to as the "Venice of the East", the "Most Romantic City of India" and the "Kashmir of Rajasthan" (a reference to Dal Lake) and not without reason. Tourists flock to this enchanting old & modern town in the heart of the Aravalli Mountains. It has a rich history. Visitors swear by the romantic sunsets in the backdrop of its lakes. There are three interconnected lakes within the town - the Fateh Sagar Lake, the Pichhola Lake and the smaller Swaroop Sagar Lake. Pichhola is home to one of the most romantic hotels of the world, the Lake Palace Hotel. Watermarked by whimsy and splendour, the Venice of the East holds stage as one of India's truly seductive cities. Udaipur is an international destination unto itself, with splendid Lake Pichola lapping against shimmering white buildings, and the Aravalli hills closing in to savour the view.The centrepiece of the city is the floating Lake Palace – brash enough for a Bond film (parts of Octopussy were filmed here), yet refined enough for his majesty's pleasure. Packed with princeliness and passion, Udaipur is raw Rajput dreaming, with palaces, havelis and temples at every turn.Formerly known as Mewar, Udaipur was founded in 1559 when Maharaja Udai Singh II took flight from the final sacking of Chittor by the Mughal emperor Akbar. As Udai Singh and his contemporaries resisted Muslim might, the city grew a reputation for patriotic fervour and an aching love of independence. In 2006 a record rainfall returned the lake to its natural splendour and restored the heart to Rajasthan's most romantic city. When the monsoon is poor though, the lake feels more like an abandoned quarry, and the swarming tourist trade of the old city goes into damage control. Don't despair though, fair traveller; the surrounding countryside is an untapped Rajasthan highlight.