The Leela Palace Udaipur
Udaipur

Leela Palace Udaipur features on Ampersand's Top 10 Hotel Spas.

A killer location on the edge of Lake Pichola, overlooking the Aravalli Hills, the City Palace and the beautiful Lake Palace, the opulent Leela Palace Udaipur is one of our top hotel choices in India. With some of the best views in town, all of the 80 rooms and suites, the spa and Sheesh Mahal, the open-air fine dining restaurant, enjoy the stunning vista, either towards the mountains, the glistening Lake Palace or the spectacular Maharana’s Palace on the edge of the city.

A masterpiece which took fourteen years to complete, the palace-like design is a result of a collaboration between architect Bill Bensley and interior designer Jeffrey Wilkes, built to exemplify classic Rajasthani palace architecture and evoking the grandeur of Udaipur’s rich and royal heritage. This design is reflected in the incredible, sumptuous detail that has gone into the artwork throughout the hotel and the intricate murals in the courtyards. The contemporary interiors in the spacious rooms and suites are embellished, no detail spared, with elements of traditional Rajasthan design and artistry alongside gadgets for the tech savvy with complimentary Wi-fi available in the rooms. The staff here are incredibly kind, and the generosity of spirit is profound.

The luxurious award winning ESPA spa (a highlight not to be missed!) is handily close to the centre of the hotel and is set beside the pristine lake facing swimming pool (the largest in Rajasthan), complete with beautiful Art Deco detailing. The nine luxurious tented treatment pavilions, capped like pith helmets, are arranged around a plunge pool and are linked by a cool black and white tiled pathway. Guests can enjoy Ayurvedic therapies, international treatments by ESPA, a steam room and a sauna. There are also several ‘Spa & Spiritual Journeys’ packages which include specially created wellness programmes such as yoga and meditation sessions, traditional temple rituals at the 150-year-old Hindu shrine, healthy spa cuisine and visits to spiritual abodes, each one aimed to balance, nurture and rejuvenate mind and body.

Whilst here make sure you indulge in the Sheesh Mahal restaurant; it not only offers the best views in Udaipur over the majestic City Palace, Lake Palace, Jag Mandir and the Aravalli mountains, but also has some of the finest Indian cuisine in the city. There is also the Dining Room, an all-day dining restaurant which serves world cuisine overlooking the outer courtyard and lake, and a swanky bar for sexy après-dinner drinks. The Leela Palace Udaipur can also create innovative and personalised ‘destination dining’ experiences at various venues around the hotel, including terraces, patios, alcoves and lawns, with either lake or mountain views to choose from.

The Leela Palace Udaipur is conveniently located 4 kilometres from the city centre, and just 26 kilometres (or a 45-minute drive) from the airport. Udaipur is the perfect spot to either begin or end a tailor-made tour to Rajasthan.

The traveller sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.
G. K. Chesterton