Lake Palace in Rajasthan
The Lake Palace was built on an island in the huge Lake Pichola. The palace is a magical amalgamation of marble and colored stone, a white tableau that offers a taste of romance to people. The palace was built in 1746 by the ruler of Mewar, Jagat Singh II. The island itself is not very large, occupying around four acres, so the palace grounds are modest compared to other palaces in Rajasthan. This however does not detract from the beauty of the palace. Today, the Taj Group operates a hotel inside the premises, and the place is a hit with honeymooners and those looking for a bit of romance in their life.
The Taj Group does a fine job of maintaining the palace. None of the exquisite décor was tampered with, and today, you can see the lovely frescoes, arches, pillars, and rooftop embellishments in all their glory. All the suites and rooms in the hotel have a different décor, and that is what is the reason so many people choose to stay here. According to many accounts, the architecture of palace borrows heavily from Mughal architecture.
The Taj Group does a fine job of maintaining the palace. None of the exquisite décor was tampered with, and today, you can see the lovely frescoes, arches, pillars, and rooftop embellishments in all their glory. All the suites and rooms in the hotel have a different décor, and that is what is the reason so many people choose to stay here. According to many accounts, the architecture of palace borrows heavily from Mughal architecture.
The white marble façade does remind the visitor a bit of the Taj Mahal. The Lake Palace Udaipur is famous for its frescoes. The marble walls have silver filigree work, and are set in colored stones to create patterns of flowers, climbing vines, leaves, and peacocks. The beauty of Rajasthan comes alive through these frescoes. From the windows and balconies, you have a marvelous view of the lake, shimmering in the desert terrain. The Aravali Mountains, older than the Himalayas, look down somberly at the palace.
The gardens hold beautiful fountains, another style borrowed from Mughal architecture. Once, peacocks roamed the gardens, heralding the arrival of rains by spreading out their turquoise and green plumes. Today, the gardens are a place for rest and recreation, barbeques, and maybe a picnic. Don’t forget to visit the swimming pool, where once the courtiers and princes did laps for recreation and exercise.
For trivia lovers, here is another piece of information: the 1983 James Bond movie, Octopussy, was shot at the Lake Palace Udaipur.
The gardens hold beautiful fountains, another style borrowed from Mughal architecture. Once, peacocks roamed the gardens, heralding the arrival of rains by spreading out their turquoise and green plumes. Today, the gardens are a place for rest and recreation, barbeques, and maybe a picnic. Don’t forget to visit the swimming pool, where once the courtiers and princes did laps for recreation and exercise.
For trivia lovers, here is another piece of information: the 1983 James Bond movie, Octopussy, was shot at the Lake Palace Udaipur.
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