Palaces, royalty, grandeur have always attracted the common man and kindled in him the desire to partake in and experience it for self. All desires have ways of fulfilment, and the travel industry has ensured that travellers have an option of experiencing royal living at their chosen destinations. Palaces have been converted into hotels for this very purpose in many places, and at other places properties have been built to emulate palace-like atmosphere, offering all the comforts in a lavish style.

 Let’s look at a few.

1. Lake Palace

Udaipur

A stunning vision in white, the palace is made out of luminous marble and suspended in the middle of Lake Pichola. A period architecture, a gorgeous lake that provides the seclusion from the world, combined with extremely congenial hospitability, make Lake Palace every romantic’s dream. Earlier known as Jag Niwas, this palace was inaugurated back in the year of 1746, and used to serve the royal dynasty of Mewar as a royal summer palace. Udaipur, also known as the Venice of east, offers this opportunity to sail the lakes into the purple, orange sunsets, thus making this lake palace a preferable choice for honeymooners.

2. Fernhills Royale Palace

Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Image Credit: Flickr @David_Brossard

This is the summer palace of the Maharajas of Mysore. Constructed by Captain F. Cotton in 1944, it changed hands several times till mid 1800s when it was turned into a club hotel. It was in 1873 that Ferrnhills’ fortunes turned and the property was purchased by a young prince, Chamarajendra Wadiyar X, who bought the 40-acre property for 10,000 rupees. Since that time, the Ferrnhills Royale Palace has been in the hands of the Wadiyars and is currently under the supervision of Her Highness Promoda Devi.  The palace has been beautifully built with a Burmese teak finish and is surrounded by lush green valleys and gardens.

3. Umaid Bhawan

Jodhpur

The very glimpse of this property oozes luxury and affluence. Spread over an expanse of 26 acres, this yellow sandstone palace has been gracing the land of Jodhpur since 1943. Umaid Bhawan is one of the favourite destinations for the guests seeking to dwell amid luxury. This period hotel boasts of the fine services it provides to its guests. The guests claim that they are spoilt to the core with the ultra-luxurious treatment they get. The 347 rooms of the Palace are divided into three functional wings and serve as residence to the royalty, a museum and a luxury Taj Palace hotel.

4. Noor-us-Sabah

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

The Noor-us-Sabah or ‘the light of dawn’ is undoubtedly the finest palace hotel in Bhopal. It was built by Nawab Hamid Ullah Khan for his daughter Begum Abida Sultan. Though built around the 1920s, the aura and grandeur of the palace speaks of the old royalty of bygone times. The view from the palace is breathtaking! The palace overlooks the vast expanse of the Bhopal Lake and the Vindhya Hills. The palace, now a heritage hotel, has all the comforts and amenities of a luxury living and is located in a quiet and peaceful environment.

5. Shivavilas Palace

Sandur, Karnataka

Situated near Hampi, a world heritage site, the Shivavilas Palace is a place of luxury and grandeur fit for a king. Commonly referred to as ‘the palace’, the property was rebuilt in 1941 over 20 acres. The Shivavilas palace is located in Sandur, a beautiful former princely state. The peaceful valley of Sandur has been referred to by Mahatma Gandhi as an ‘oasis’ and it lends its calmness and beauty to the Shivavilas Palace. The palace property offers its guests royal treatment and comfort, transporting them to an era of enchanted living.

6. Rambagh Palace

Jaipur

Image Credit: Flickr @Garrett_Ziegler

A visit to the land of Rajputs definitely calls for a stay at this hotel, errr a palace, for sure. A hunting lodge was brought down in early 20th century to build this palace for the Maharajah of Jaipur. Rambagh Palace offers the quarters once inhabited by the then kings and the other royalty, as hotel suites for guests so that they can live their dream of ‘living like a maharajah’. The lavish quarters, magnificent gardens, gem of architecture and a royal walk through the property will definitely transport you in to a bygone era.

7. Woodville Palace

Shimla

At 7000 feet above sea level, the Woodville Palace is a timeless, exotic property on the mountains of Shimla. It showcases the grandeur of the maharajas and the elegant style of the British Raj. The palace is impressive with its vintage tradition portraying the royalty of the Jubbal family spanning a thousand years. Located at the heart of a deodar forest Woodville Palace speaks of a long history and many changes of hands, starting with Sir William Rose Mansfield, chief of Imperial British Army. Ultimately, in 1926, Maharaja Sir Bhagvat Singh, Great Commander of the Star of India, bought it. The Victorian building was torn down and a grand summer palace was built in which the Jubbal royal family used to reside. Later, Raja Kumar Uday Singh converted part of the palace into a heritage hotel.

8. Royal Oasis and The Residency Wankaner

Gujarat

The Royal Oasis on the banks of the Machchu River on top of the Gadhio hill is a fine heritage hotel. This hotel is part of the Wankaner Palace, also known as the Ranjit Vilas Palace. The royal family currently stays in this palace itself and this palace is a major tourist point. The Royal Oasis was designed by Maharaja Amar Singh and it exudes a royal charm. The property offers a great view of the Wankaner town and a royal stay.

9. Baradari Palace

Patiala, Punjab

This hotel was designed by Sahib Ranbir Singh way back in the 1800s. The hotel portrays a Singh-Mughal combination of architecture and was the residence of the royal family of Patiala. Baradari got a few impressive touch ups along the years and still stands in all glory. The suits and rooms of this hotel have been named after the kings of Punjab and this gives a regal feel to the hotel atmosphere. The spacious rooms and royal style give the guests an impression of living in a palace.

Do try out one of these royal heritage hotels for an experience of a lifetime!

Anjali Nayyar

Anjali loves to read, philosophize, travel and spend time with her family. With a Masters in Sociology, Anjali ended up as a writer instead of a sociologist. She believes that writing is a channel through which one can express one's innermost self and express one's uniqueness, the gift of life, for all to savor.

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