Travreviews

Udaipur, the city of Lakes brings forward a beautiful amalgamation of luxury and heritage. The grandeur celebration of royalty is marked with an effervescent style speaking in volumes about style and heritage in each corner of the beautiful city. Here I came along with my daughter to experience royalty at the Shivniwas Palace.

Located in the heart of Udaipur is the Shivniwas Palace, boisterous of its magnificent architecture and legacy that takes you back years ago to the era of Maharana Pratap. The crescent-shaped palace was built in the early 20th century, in the reign of Maharana Fateh Singh (1884-1930), and has been meticulously maintained and preserved.

After a morning flight, we reach Udaipur and were greeted with driver holding a placard. We were whisked off breezing through the highway and having a quick glance at the lakes.

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As the cab pulled over, we were greeted with very warmly by the staff. A garland and a chilled glass of fresh juice was the perfect welcome.

The architectural gem with its heritage building still retains some of its original tiling, flooring, carved furniture and ornate ceilings which have been restored during the hotel’s refurbishment. The building itself looks extremely traditional from the outside.

Rooms

There are 19 palace rooms, 8 terrace, 6 royal suites and 3 imperial suites in total, all designed in the arts and crafts style, with dark woods and rich wall colours, along with ornate fabric, regal though imitation art and all beautifully presented and spectacularly pristine clean.

As we enjoyed the heavenly smell of the marigold flower garland, we were escorted to the most luxurious suite ever experienced. The Royal Suite of Shivniwas palace opens up to a well-lit spacious room with windows offering lovely views of the green space.

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As we entered the suite, we were surprised to see a chocolate cake with my portrait on it. It was the best surprise ever. The table also had chocolates, fruits. nuts and cookies for us to devour.  

As we looked around the Royal Suite, there was luxury oozing in each corner. The period furniture, original miniature paintings and portraits enhanced the wide space of the suite.

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The gorgeous bed was swathed in soft white fabrics and super soft pillows to glide into, whilst the walls with their subtle peach tones provided a welcoming warmth blending well with the craftsmanship and colourful display on the walls.

The ceiling with its subtle tones gave a feeling of royalty. The suite was well equipped with luxury amenities like satellite TV, telephone, tea coffee machine and mini bar with inclusive beverages.

I fell in love with the royal window seat overlooking the vast cover of trees where I could imagine sitting for hours.  The suite comes with a walk-in wardrobe, a large dressing area where we happily kept our jewellery and make-up. Next to the closet was a huge bathroom clad in mosaic tiles that included a large sink and a shower with luxury toiletries. All the bathroom amenities were from a luxury brand.

There was also a small study with a traditional writing desk complete with hidden technology connections (power points, USB, HMDI etc.) and a notepad. There was a large armoire which housed a mini-bar fridge. There was a good quantity of water provided and this was replenished daily.

Dining

We enjoyed a lavish breakfast buffet at their multi cuisine restaurant – Paantya. The dining room is adorned with original paintings of the Mewar school, gold latticework and crystal chandeliers that add charm and royalty to the dining room. The plush dining chairs, vintage style décor and the soothing vibe of the restaurant whisked us to the British era.

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The wide windows of the restaurant open up to a bird’s view of the city. The experience is fantastic as you enjoy the food while taking in the views all around.  The breakfast buffet has options for Indian and continental food lovers. One can enjoy crispy waffles topped with cream and honey or simply devour the Indian dishes like dosa, idli or potatoes with puris.

Fresh seasonal juices, dips, cereals and yoghurts are always placed on the table.

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Service was attentive, the quality of food was excellent and the chef even came out at one point to check everything.

In terms of the overall ambience of the hotel, this was absolutely spot on as was the service from every single member of staff that we came into contact with. The restaurant was great and so was the pool deck where we enjoyed a lavish candle lit dinner.

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The chef prepared a rajwadi thaali  (traditional feast in Rajasthan devoured by guests) which had delicious vegetables, curd and salad paired with breads and rice. The thali is a very heavy meal so it’s always better to order for one.

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They have a lovely bar named Panera, with its authentic décor of glass inlay work, huge chandeliers and ornate mirrors that offers a wide selection of snacks and drinks. The name ‘Panera’ is derived from Paani or water, and refers to the storehouse for water and liquor in the royal household.

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In the premises of the city palace lies the Palki Khaana where we were invited for a gourmet dining experience.  This European-style café offers a relaxed and informal ambience. The coffee bar and heritage liqueurs are highly recommended.

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After a long walk through The City Palace Museum, we were elated with the luxurious dining experience where the chef crafted some fabulous dishes to satiate the palette. For the amuse bouche we relished some watermelon feta with olives soil and chicken cigar roll with cilantro chilli sauce. The black quinoa salad was something we loved the most. We enjoyed the thyme infused risotto that came with blue tea sauce.

We loved dining at all these places as each time the chef took extra care in preparing delicious meals for us.

Panghat Spa

The spa at Shivniwas palace offers holistic therapies for the mind, body and soul. Their team of experienced therapies are trained well to give a therapeutic massage to guests. The spacious spa room is equipped with a steam and sauna and a shower. The luxurious aromatic oils reverberate the senses whilst the experience whisks you off to an oasis of calm. Soothing music and fragrant oils create a calming experience that reverberates the senses.

Sight seeing and activities

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When you stay at the Shivniwas palace, you get an easy access to the city palace along with the guide. You get to visit the palace and witness the most amazing moments of the Mewar family. The rooms, weapons used and the facilities they had during that time was something that is worth experiencing. The palace hotel also arranges special seats to witness the sound and light show.  

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Boat ride to the Jagmandir palace is another unique experience. Guests are taken to the other property by HRH hotels that boast of luxury and hospitality. A grand welcome at the Jagmandir palace swept us off our feet. A welcome drink by their pleasing staff and a Chandan tikka impressed us at the first sight. We came to experience the spa at Jagmandir palace and loved the experience.

Spa experience at Jagmandir Palace

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In homage to the history of the local it is situated in, the spa is surrounded by references to Mewar heritage and culture. The garden area of Jagmandir Palace has marble statues of huge elephants at the entrance that looks spectacular. As I walked towards the garden, I could feel a majestic vibe. Upon entering the lobby of the spa, the spacious lobby exudes a sense of calmness and serenity.

The spa room is a joyous area of utter relaxation accentuated by the dim lighting and luxurious setting of exotic textures and materials such as pearl granite. Switching into the robes and sinking my feet into their soft slippers, I waited for my therapist. I opted for the coconut scrub followed by a potli massage.

She honed in on these areas as she expertly worked her hands, effortlessly resulting in a wonderful feeling of relaxation. Later, she started using the potlis. The Potli Massage is one that can whisk away your aches and pain in a matter of 30 minutes. It is a combination of hot compression “Ayurveda Herbal Compression” (called potli) followed by a luxurious body massage.

I could feel each muscle relaxed and at ease after the therapy. The relaxation further accentuated after the shower that completely took away the tiredness and rejuvenated me. I moved towards the reception area where the therapist offered me herbal tea. This spa is highly recommended if you are looking for a touch of luxury. The service is warm and friendly, and I emerged refreshed, recharged and ready to witness the beauty of the Jagmandir Palace.

I was highly impressed with the Darikhana Restaurant, Picholi Bar and all-day café that overlooks the  Lake Pichola and the City Palace. Jagriti, a heritage museum walks you through how the Jagmandir Island Palace was built.

Dinner by the lakeside

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An exquisite dining experience was crafted by the team of Jagmandir palace where the chef delighted us with his masterpiece creations. From the starters to the mains, the Indian fare comprised of flavor and delectable taste that went well with the serene calming lakeside. The soft breeze and soulful classical music only elevated our experience at the Jagmandir palace. If you love culture and heritage this place must be visited.

We enjoyed the hospitality at Shivniwas palace and would highly recommend it for their cultural heritage and exquisite world class hospitality. You can contact them here for booking and reservations.