Rajasthan palace hotels compared

This table compares the hotels we use most often. All are excellent; the right one depends on your route and what you value. Room categories matter more than the hotel name in the real palaces, so we always book specific rooms rather than the cheapest category.

Rambagh Palace was the residence of the Maharajas of Jaipur and became a hotel in 1957. It sits in large gardens about 15 minutes from the old city, with long verandas, marble corridors and the Suvarna Mahal dining room, once the banquet hall. For a first visit, it is the obvious choice: grand, central and full of stories. Book a Palace room or a historical suite; the entry category does not show the building at its best.

The Oberoi Rajvilas, on the eastern edge of the city, was built in the late 1990s as a fort-village of courtyards, tents and villas, some with private pools, around an old Shiva temple. It is quieter and more private than Rambagh, and service is outstanding. The drive into the old city takes 25–35 minutes. Families and honeymooners often prefer it; history lovers usually choose Rambagh. Many guests split three nights between the two.

Umaid Bhawan Palace, completed in 1943, is one of the last great palaces built in India and still home to the royal family of Marwar in one wing. Its golden sandstone dome, Art Deco interiors and gardens make it unique among Rajasthan's hotels. It sits on a hill outside the old city, so every outing is by car, but the views to Mehrangarh at night are memorable.

RAAS is a boutique hotel inside the old city, built around a restored haveli directly below the fort. Rooms are smaller and more contemporary, and the setting is the opposite of Umaid Bhawan: you walk out into the blue lanes and eat in the bazaar. We use RAAS for design-minded travellers and walkers, and Umaid Bhawan for those who want a palace. For two nights, one of each works well.

The Taj Lake Palace was built in the 1740s as a royal summer palace on an island in Lake Pichola. It is reached only by boat, and its courtyards, lily pools and lake-facing rooms make it the most romantic hotel in India. Rooms vary in size and view, so we book lake-facing rooms or historical suites. Two nights is ideal for most guests.

The Oberoi Udaivilas, on the eastern shore, opened in 2002 in the Mewar style with domes, courtyards and rooms opening onto semi-private or private pools. It has more space, a superb spa and views across the water to the City Palace. It suits honeymoons and longer stays. The Leela Palace Udaipur, also on the lake, is a strong alternative with large rooms, and Raffles Udaipur, on an island in Udai Sagar, offers seclusion further from the city.

• Two nights: Taj Lake Palace
• Three or four nights: split Lake Palace and Udaivilas
• Honeymoon: Udaivilas pool room, with one night on the island
• Families: Udaivilas or The Leela for space

Some of the most memorable nights in Rajasthan are in smaller family palaces. Samode Palace, an hour from Jaipur, has painted interiors that rival anything in the state. Deogarh Mahal, between Udaipur and Jaipur, is a 17th-century hilltop palace run by the family, with terraces over the town. Narendra Bhawan in Bikaner and Six Senses Fort Barwara near Ranthambore are newer conversions with strong design. Alila Fort Bishangarh, near Jaipur, is a restored hill fort.

These hotels vary more than the big names, and rooms within each can be very different. We know which rooms to book and which to avoid, and we pair them with the larger palaces so each journey has rhythm: a grand palace, then a quiet one.

A journey made entirely of palaces can feel repetitive, and the best routes add a different kind of luxury. In the desert, Suryagarh, about 15 km west of Jaisalmer, is a new building in the form of a fortress, designed for the Thar, with courtyards, a spa and a full programme of dune dinners, village walks and drives. SUJÁN The Serai, a seasonal luxury tented camp in the desert, is the finest camp in Rajasthan when it is open.

For wildlife, The Oberoi Vanyavilas in Ranthambore has large tents in landscaped gardens and is the most polished base near the park. SUJÁN Sher Bagh and Aman-i-Khás are smaller seasonal camps with excellent naturalists, and Six Senses Fort Barwara is a restored fort turned wellness retreat about 30 km away. In Jawai, SUJÁN Jawai is a small tented camp among the granite hills, where leopard drives are part of the stay.

These properties change the rhythm of a journey. After two palace hotels in Jaipur and Jodhpur, three nights under canvas in Jawai or Ranthambore feel completely different, and the return to a palace in Udaipur feels new again. Several of the camps are seasonal, closing in summer or the monsoon, so check current status before you travel.

In the great palaces, the experience depends heavily on the room. A historical suite at Rambagh or Umaid Bhawan, with its own sitting room, original furniture and garden views, is one of the most memorable rooms in India. A standard room in the same building can be small, with a courtyard view. We book the category that matches the experience you expect, and we tell you honestly when an upgrade is worth the money.

Service at the Taj and Oberoi palaces is formal and attentive, with butlers in many categories. Family-run palaces such as Samode and Deogarh are more personal and relaxed, with the owners often present. Food is consistently good, with royal Rajasthani dishes alongside international menus. Most hotels can arrange private dinners, spa treatments and cultural evenings on request.

Start with your route, then choose one palace experience in each main city. If you want history, choose Rambagh, Umaid Bhawan and the Lake Palace. If you want privacy and pools, choose Rajvilas and Udaivilas. Balance long drives with hotels where you can rest.

Book early. For October to March, the best rooms at the Lake Palace, Rambagh and Umaid Bhawan sell out 6–9 months ahead, and weddings can close hotels on some dates. Christmas, New Year and Diwali carry the highest rates and minimum stays. The monsoon and summer offer better value, especially in Udaipur.