The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur

Situated on the shores of Lake Pichola, the unapologetically opulent Oberoi Udaivilas was built in the style of a local palace, complete with fountains and courtyards. Its rooms and suites recreate the stately ambience of a royal residence, with fine Indian textiles and handcrafted furniture, views of the City Palace and the Aravali Hills, and lavish marble bathrooms with freestanding bathtubs that overlook private courtyards. Some rooms have direct access to the hotel’s semi-private pools, accessed via a dreamy terrace with sun beds, bright yellow parasols and a wall draped in flowers. The Oberoi Udaivilas has two restaurants, including Udaimahal for traditional Rajasthani fare, and picnic lunches aboard a private gondola.

Behind the scenes, low-impact water recycling systems, solar power, and low-impact lake protection measures to safeguard the delicate marine ecosystem of the lake, keep things green. The property also adjoins a small wildlife reserve where peacocks, wild boar and deer roam.