Elite Traveler Summer 2023

LEADERS IN LUXURY HOTELS

Fit for royalty

If you’ve ever wandered the halls of a particularly grand hotel and pondered the old adage “if walls could talk,” then consider the tall tales that could be told by the world’s fi nest palace hotels. Often built upon a gargantuan history, many of the properties you’ll fi nd on these pages were originally imagined as a residence for royalty before being transformed into a hotel. These long histories mean each has its own unique story to tell; some acted as refuges for retreating stars, others welcomed diplomatic greats. What they share to this day, however, is a level of elegance that cannot be replicated.

by KimAyling and Samantha Coles

This image and below The Taj Lake Palace in the middle of Lake Pichola; the Grand Presidential Suite

THE TAJ LAKE PALACE The ridiculously romantic Taj Lake Palace is located in Udaipur, Rajasthan and, more speci fi cally, on a four-acre island in the middle of Lake Pichola — so the only way to get to the hotel is via a boat caught from the property’s own jetty. A smooth glide across the freshwater lake’s serene surface will deliver you to the palace. Formerly known as Jag Niwas, Taj Lake Palace was built between 1743 and 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II (the Maharana of Mewar Kingdom, which was established around 530 AD and lasted for over 1,400 years, until India’s independence in 1947). Constructed as a summer retreat for the Indian royal family, it was designed by the Maharana himself. Maharana Jagat Singh II was revered for his keen architectural eye and love of art — some believed he was more involved in enjoying the worldly pleasures of life than ruling his empire, but he was also remembered for his forward-thinking reforms and welfare projects. The resulting palace is a marvel: a rare blend of Mughal and Rajasthani styles embellished with detailed carvings, exquisite frescoes and superb marble works (the marble was sourced from Rajnagar and traveled some 40 miles by bullock carts). In 1857, the palace became a refuge for European guests

during the Indian Rebellion. Later, in 1963, the Taj Group of Hotels took over the property and converted it into a hotel, carefully renovating and restoring it to its former glory. Today, Taj Lake Palace is still renowned for its avant-garde architecture, divine views and peerless amenities including a fl oating spa boat so you can indulge in treatments out on thewater. Each suite is suitably decadent, but the Grand Presidential Suite (aka the Shambhu Prakash suite, named after the Maharana Shambhu Singh) spans over 1,734 sq ft and features a spacious living room with a grand piano, dining area, master bedroom and bathroom with a Jacuzzi. The decor is unabashedly regal — handmade furniture, antique paintings, detailed frescoes and intricate carvings. The private terrace o ff ers exceptional views of Lake Pichola and the Aravalli Hills. Guests of the Presidential Suite also have the 24-hour services of a butler and an on-call doctor andnurse. Grand Presidential Suite from $15,000 per night. Contact Hitesh Ameta, reservations manager, lakepalace.udaipur@tajhotels.com, +91 294 242 8800, tajhotels.com