Stay at Udai Bilas, Dungapur

Udai Bilas, Dungapur, India

Our rating: Medium

The Udai Bilas Palace is only partly converted into a hotel, the rest is still lived in by the royal family of Maharaja Kumar Harshvardhan Singh of Dungarpur. Built in the 18th Century, the interiors seem unchanged since that era: rich furnishings, intricate miniature paintings, ornate motifs and architectural detail abound. No two guest rooms are alike, but each is en suite and fitted with air-conditioning as well as other modern amenities. Meals are served either in the dining room or the banquet hall, resplendent with hunting trophies and crystal chandeliers. Outdoors is a swimming pool adjacent to the lake, on which you may go boating. Alternatively you might like to quietly observe from the Shiva Temple the many bird species found in the area.