The Leela Palace Udaipur is the lakeshore palace hotel to choose if you want a lake view from your bed and polished, formal luxury at a little less than the top of the Udaipur market. It sits on the western shore of Lake Pichola, next to The Oberoi Udaivilas, with Taj Lake Palace floating in front and the City Palace beyond.
The building is modern but designed in the grand Rajasthani style, with domes, gilded ceilings, crystal and inlaid marble. There are about 80 rooms and suites, including lake-view rooms with balconies, garden rooms with plunge pools and a ladder of suites up to the Maharaja Suite. Sheesh Mahal is the fine-dining restaurant and guests can arrive by boat across the lake.
Booking sites show entry rooms from roughly $480 a night in quieter months, approximate and higher from November to February. It suits couples who want a big-hotel palace experience with lake views from nearly every corner. Couples who want sprawling gardens or a historic building should compare Udaivilas next door or Taj Lake Palace.
Highlights at a glance
- Lake Pichola views toward Taj Lake Palace and the City Palace
- Grande Heritage rooms with lake balconies or plunge pools
- Sheesh Mahal fine dining and the Indo-Victorian Library Bar
- Boat arrivals and easy boat rides into town
- Suites with butler service and the Arq villas
Why Couples Choose The Leela
The Leela makes the lake the centerpiece. Most rooms, the restaurants and the terraces face Lake Pichola, so you see the water from breakfast to the last drink of the night. Its position on the shore gives a classic Udaipur view: Taj Lake Palace in the foreground, the City Palace stretching along the far bank and the Aravalli hills behind.
Inside, the style is opulent rather than rustic. Expect chandeliers, gold leaf, mirrored ceilings and art from Rajasthan's craft traditions. Some couples love the drama; others find it formal. Service is attentive and ceremonial, with welcome rituals and butlers in the suites.
Because the hotel is more compact than Udaivilas, everything is close: the pool, the spa, the restaurants and the jetty are all a short walk from your room.
Rooms and Suites to Book
The Grande Heritage rooms come in four versions: Garden View, Lake View, Lake View with Balcony and Garden View with Plunge Pool. Above them sit Luxury Suites, Duplex Suites, Royal Suites and the Maharaja Suite. The hotel also offers Arq by The Leela, a set of ultra-luxury villas at Pichola.
For a honeymoon, the Grande Heritage Lake View with Balcony is the sweet spot. A balcony over the lake for morning tea and evening drinks is what you will remember. If privacy matters more than the view, the Garden View with Plunge Pool gives you your own small pool in a garden setting.
The suites are generous and well suited to a splurge night, with butler service and larger lake-facing living rooms. Ask for a higher floor and confirm the view in writing.
Food, Drink and Wellness
Sheesh Mahal is the fine-dining restaurant and the setting for a special dinner. The Dining Room serves global cuisine with lake views and a wine cellar and it is the more relaxed choice for most nights. The Library Bar, decorated in Indo-Victorian style, pours wines, single malts and cocktails.
The hotel can set up private dinners on the terrace or by the lake. Ask early, as these spots are limited on busy evenings.
Wellness comes under Aujasya by The Leela. Book a couples treatment on an afternoon after sightseeing; the old city is hot and dusty and coming back to the spa is a real reset. The pool is the other easy afternoon fix after a morning in town.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do in Udaipur
The hotel's boat is the easiest way into town. Take it across to the City Palace in the morning, then walk down to Jagdish Temple and the lanes around Gangaur Ghat for textiles, silver jewelry and miniature paintings. Bagore ki Haveli stages an evening folk dance show that is short, lively and good fun.
A sunset cruise on Lake Pichola, with a stop at Jag Mandir, is the essential romantic hour. The Leela also offers its own palace trail and culinary experiences; ask the concierge what is running during your stay.
For a change of scene, drive up to Sajjangarh, the Monsoon Palace, for views over the lakes at dusk. The guava garden near the hotel is a peaceful spot for a morning walk if you want to stay close to home.
Getting There
Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) is about 45 minutes from the hotel by car. The Leela can arrange transfers and guests can also arrive by boat across the lake for part of the journey, which is worth requesting.
Udaipur has direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai and is about an hour's flight from Jaipur. It is often the last stop of a Rajasthan trip, after Jaipur and Jodhpur, which makes it a good place to slow down before the flight home.
Into town, the boat is quick and avoids the narrow, crowded old-city roads. By car, the City Palace is roughly 20 minutes around the lake.
Good to Know
Visit between roughly October and March for the best weather. December and January evenings can be cool, so pack a layer for dinners outside. April to June is very hot and the monsoon follows from about July.
Udaipur is a major wedding destination. In peak season, the hotel may host large celebrations with music and fireworks; ask when you book whether a wedding is expected during your stay.
At temples, both partners should cover shoulders and knees and expect to remove their shoes. Mosquitoes can be an issue near the lake at dusk. Use repellent; dengue occurs in Rajasthan, so if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
Is It Worth It?
For couples who want a lake-view room and full palace-style luxury without paying Udaivilas rates, The Leela offers good value. Low-season rates are reasonable for what you get and the lake views from the rooms and terraces are as good as any in Udaipur.
The trade-offs are space and character. The grounds are smaller than at Udaivilas and the building is a modern take on a palace rather than a historic one, which some couples feel. The decor is lavish and formal; if you prefer understated design, it may not suit you.
Pick Taj Lake Palace for history, Udaivilas for gardens and pools and The Leela for a balcony over the lake. For a lot of couples, that balcony is the deciding factor.
Insider tips
- Book a Grande Heritage Lake View with Balcony and confirm the outlook in writing.
- Ask at booking whether a large wedding is planned during your dates.
- Use the hotel boat for the City Palace to skip old-city traffic.
- Reserve a terrace dinner early; prime lakeside tables go fast.
