There are several luxury hotels that I have reviewed, but my experience at the Taj Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur transcended me to a bygone era of the Royals. Here I was felt immersed inside the history and grandeur of the majestic hotel.
The History –
FatehPrakash Palace celebrates luxury and royalty that began centuries ago by the Maharanas of Mewar. In the present, Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar Maharana Of Udaipur and his family are residing at the Shambhu Niwas Palace.
Constructed by the Maharana Fateh Singh of Mewar, the Palace sits on the eastern shores of Lake Pichola and is managed the HRH Group Of Hotels. The group comprises over 10 hotels in Rajashthan who
pride themselves on top-notch hospitality and cuisine.
First Impressions
Though the hotel is in the main city, it fits seamlessly into the environment, surrounded by the beautiful lake Pichola.
The layout of the property mimics a luxury paradise and is made up of 21 Dovecote Rooms and 44 Dovecote Premier Suites which are located at fair distance apart meaning each is incredibly private and very luxurious. There also are private sitting areas in all rooms and suites at the palace.
As I walked towards the reception, I am welcomed with a garland, rose petals and a tikka on the forehead. The fresh towels, welcome drink on arrival sum up the hospitality and warmth of the palace hotel.
I was in awe with the courteous staff and management already. They escorted to the first floor where the Royal Suite had been booked for me. The beautiful sun light bouncing off in every corner of the suite looked enchanting. Every corner of the Royal Suite was oozing luxury and I could not wait to indulge.
The period furniture, original miniature paintings and portraits enhanced the wide space of the suite.
The gorgeous Queen Size bed was swathed in soft white fabrics whilst the walls with their subtle peach tones provided welcoming warmth along with colorful materials.
The ceiling with its subtle tones gave a feeling of royalty. The suite was well equipped with luxury amenities like satellite TV, telephone, tea coffee machine and mini bar with inclusive beverages.
I fell in love with the royal window seat overlooking the lake Pichola where I could imagine sitting for hours.
There was a walk-in wardrobe where I tucked away my suitcase and a beautiful bathroom clad in mosaic tiles that included a deep soaking tub with jacuzzi, large sink and a huge shower. All the bathroom amenities were from a luxury brand.
The Restaurant
The hotel’s restaurant also entertains walk -in diners so there is just the right amount of tables to fit in. The menu has a wide variety of
healthy salads, sandwiches, wraps, chicken and fish dishes, hot and cold beverages and exotic desserts.
I ordered a Quinoa salad and Foccacia bread sandwich with basil and vegetables. I loved the flavor, presentation and ingredients. The recipe was perfect and light for the palette. After the satiating lunch, I moved towards the reception, where I was graciously escorted to a luxury boat.
Boat Ride on Lake Pichola
The Pichola Lake is one of the oldest yet the most beautiful and picturesque lakes of Rajasthan. Built in 1362 by Pichhu Banjara during the ruling period of Maharana Lakha, it looks more enchanting with its scenic surroundings. Maharana Udai Singh enlarged this lake and constructed a dam made in stone that falls under the ‘Badipol’ region on the shore of this lake.
Shiv Niwas Palace
I was lucky to witness the beauty of the luxurious palace in the evening, where each corner was illuminating and oozing
luxury. Built in the early 20th century, in the reign of Maharana Fateh Singh (1884-1930), the Shiv Niwas Palace has been meticulously maintained by the HRH group.
While entering the main area, I fell in love with the grandeur and heritage of this luxury palace that had stories engraved on each wall. The local artisans played a musical instrument near the fountain area, while I just watched in awe. The crescent-shaped palace is a Grand Heritage Palace that is elegance personified.
The luxury hotel has modern 21st century amenities and offers 19 Palace rooms, 08 Terrace Suites, 06 Royal Suites, 03 Imperial Suites that carry original furniture and portraits that have been with the royal family for generations. All the suites look out onto the natural panorama of Udaipur.
The unique combination of history, luxury, impressive architecture, personalized service and the finest cuisine represent the Shiv Niwas Palace. After soaking in the luxury elements of the Shiv Niwas Palace, we moved towards the second leg of the sightseeing – The sound and light show at the City Palace.
Sound and light show @ The City Palace
The Sound and Light show is truly a sparkle. The show walks you through several centuries’ worth of ‘Mewar’ history during a performance of ‘The Legacy of Honor,’ a multimedia extravaganza narrated by Mewar house member Shriji Arvind Singh.
My experience at this mesmerizing palace was an absolute delight where I was transcended to the bygone era and could feel the courage, valor and prestige displayed by the brave rulers who maintained their sanctity at war. It was a visual delight to watch the performance. The scintillating voice of Shriji Arvind Singh echoes in a dignified tone that cause goosebumps amongst guests. This show should definitely worth watching.
Dinner @ the Sunset Terrace
The cart took me to the Sunset Terrace – a multi cuisine restaurant that displays finesse in their masterpiece dishes that are carefully curate by the Executive chef Mahesh who comes from a strong background in hospitality.
The floors of the Restaurant display artistic finesse of the land of Mewar. The spacious chairs ooze comfort and relaxation. There are ample spaces for private dining for couples and large seating areas for a big family gathering. The floors, square tables, comfortable chairs and soothing music create an elegant, ‘Royal’ moment with a hint of decadence. I was delighted to meet the talented Chef Mahesh who has a wide experience of serving guests with his palette pleasing dishes in several hotels.
The Fresco dining area is a big favorite for romantic couples. The soft breeze near the lakeside takes you to a fairy land and you tend to fall in love with the ambiance. Before hitting the bed, I sat gazing the Pichola lake that seemed to narrate stories in silence.
The reflection of the moon on the Crystal Lake seemed enchanting. I
could sit there for hours, but I had the next day planned for sightseeing. I slept like a baby that night. The next day, I woke up to the shrill sounds of the birds that seemed to be sitting on my window sill for quite some time. It was the most beautiful wake up call. I freshened up and moved towards the restaurant for some breakfast.
The sun was high but it seemed cool sitting by the lakeside. After a healthy breakfast comprising of oatmeal, eggs and fruits, I proceeded for the sight-seeing.
Sight seeing
We visited the temple and shopped for some authentic jewelry from the land of Mewar. Later we moved towards the City palace. It was hot and dry, but the walk around the grand palace of Mewar somehow kept me
intrigued and happy. The City Palace is often distinguished as the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, built by the Maharana Udai Singh that is now refurbished with intricate add-ons by his predecessors.
City Palace, built in granite and marble boasts of the wonderful blend of Medieval, European and Chinese Architecture. The Palace has several towers, domes, arches, courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. The guide from the hotel was absolutely excellent.
I also got to see the beautiful Crystal museum that displays a rare collection of precious crystals from the Royal treasure. After more then 100 years, the display of these precious crystals were displayed in 1996. If you want a taste of the Royal lifestyle, you must choose staying at Fateh Prakash Palace and take back memories of luxury and grandeur.
