Taj Lake Palace
Jag Niwas was built between 1743 and 1746 under Maharana Jagat Singh II as a pleasure palace on the lake. It became a hotel in the 1960s and has been run by Taj since the 1970s. Arriving by boat from the jetty below the City Palace sets the tone, and the view back across the water to the palace walls and ghats is what guests remember.
Rooms differ widely, so we book lake-facing rooms or historical suites; a courtyard view is not the reason to come here. The hotel was a location for the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy, which still draws questions. Two nights is right for most guests, often paired with a night or two at The Oberoi Udaivilas for contrast. Lake levels drop in dry years, so check current status before you travel.
Why we book it
- A palace on its own island, reached only by boat
- Direct views of the City Palace and the old city ghats
- Strong sense of history in the public rooms and courtyards
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is the Taj Lake Palace really on an island
Yes. The palace covers almost the whole of Jag Niwas island in Lake Pichola, so every arrival and departure is by the hotel's boat from a jetty near the City Palace. The crossing takes a few minutes. Guests come and go freely, and the hotel runs boats through the day and evening.
Taj Lake Palace or The Oberoi Udaivilas
The Lake Palace is history on the water: smaller rooms in many categories, a boat to every outing and views of the City Palace. Udaivilas is newer, with larger rooms, more space and some private pools, looking across the lake from the eastern shore. For two nights, the Lake Palace; for four, we often split them.
When should I book the Taj Lake Palace
For October to March, and especially Christmas, New Year and Diwali, book 6–9 months ahead for lake-facing rooms. Wedding season can close parts of the hotel to individual guests on some dates. Summer and the monsoon are easier and often better value, with the lake fullest from August to October in a good rain year.
Journeys
Routes that stay here
Also in Rajasthan
Other stays
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