The Oberoi Udaivilas is the best all-round honeymoon hotel in Udaipur: a palace-style resort on the western shore of Lake Pichola, with about 30 acres of gardens, domes and courtyards facing the City Palace across the water. Where Taj Lake Palace is about history, Udaivilas is about space, privacy and service so smooth you barely notice it.
The resort was built in a traditional Rajasthani style, with domes, arcades and reflecting pools and many of its rooms open onto semi-private pools that run along the terraces. At the top end, suites have pools of their own. There is Mewar by Vineet for Indian food, the Asmi spa and two temperature-controlled pools, one of them kid-free. It holds two Michelin Keys and is a regular in Condé Nast Traveler readers' rankings.
Booking sites show entry rooms from roughly $600 a night in quieter months, approximate and much higher from November to February. It suits couples who want a lakeside palace with gardens to wander and a pool steps from the door. Couples on a tighter budget can find similar views from old-city havelis for a fraction of the price.
Highlights at a glance
- About 30 acres of gardens and courtyards on Lake Pichola
- Rooms with semi-private pools facing the City Palace
- Luxury Suites with private pools and the Kohinoor Suite
- Mewar by Vineet and lakeside pavilion dinners
- Asmi spa and a kid-free temperature-controlled pool
Why Couples Love Udaivilas
The resort is designed to make you slow down. Long arcades open onto courtyards with fountains, peacocks and deer roam the gardens and every few steps there is a new angle on the lake. In the evening, the City Palace lights up across the water and lamps glow along the paths.
Service is the other reason. Oberoi is known for anticipating what guests want and Udaivilas is one of its flagships. Butlers remember how you take your coffee, drivers appear when you need them and small honeymoon touches arrive without fuss.
Because the resort is large but has relatively few rooms, it rarely feels crowded. You can spend a whole day here, between breakfast by the lake, a spa treatment and a dinner in the pavilion and never feel the need to leave.
Rooms and Suites to Book
Categories climb from Premier Rooms and Premier Rooms with Pool View to Premier Garden View and Premier City Palace View Rooms with Semi-Private Pool, then Luxury Suites with Private Pool and the Kohinoor Suite, the resort's grandest accommodation.
For most honeymooners, the Premier City Palace View Room with Semi-Private Pool is the one to book. You step from your terrace into a long pool shared only with a few neighboring rooms, with the palace view across the lake. The garden-view version is a little cheaper and quieter but misses that view.
If you want true privacy, a Luxury Suite with Private Pool is the splurge; it gives you your own pool and more living space. Entry Premier Rooms are elegant but without the pool, which is the reason to stay here. Ask for a room away from the main path if you want silence.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Mewar by Vineet is the resort's Indian restaurant, created with chef Vineet Bhatia and the place for a celebratory dinner. Suryamahal serves international dishes through the day and Chandni offers international cuisine in a quieter setting. The Bar is the spot for a drink indoors, while The Promenade is the lakeside bar for sunset.
The resort also arranges Lakeside Pavilion dinners with live music and private poolside dinners. Either one makes a good honeymoon night.
Asmi by Oberoi is the spa, with treatments drawing on Indian traditions. There are two temperature-controlled pools, one kept kid-free, plus a fitness center and private yoga sessions. Cooking sessions with the resort's chefs are a fun shared activity and a miniature painting school is available for couples who want to try a local art form.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do in Udaipur
The resort's boat makes Lake Pichola part of your stay. Use it to reach the City Palace and the old city, where Jagdish Temple and the lanes around it are good for textiles, silver and miniature paintings. A sunset boat ride past Jag Mandir is a must.
For a quieter morning, visit Saheliyon ki Bari, the garden of fountains, or walk around Fateh Sagar Lake. The drive up to Sajjangarh, the Monsoon Palace, gives a wide view over the lakes at dusk.
Day trips are worth considering if you stay three nights or more. Ranakpur's marble Jain temple and the hilltop fort at Kumbhalgarh are about two to three hours away and make a long but rewarding day. One of you may prefer to stay behind with the spa; the resort is easy to enjoy alone.
Getting There
Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) is about 26 km from the resort, around 30 to 50 minutes by car depending on traffic. The resort can arrange a car and also offers a private boat transfer across Lake Pichola, which is a memorable way to arrive.
Udaipur has direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai and is about an hour's flight from Jaipur. It fits neatly at the end of a Rajasthan route, after Jaipur and Jodhpur, as a place to rest before flying home.
Getting into town takes a few minutes by boat or about 20 minutes by road around the lake. The resort's drivers know the narrow old-city streets, which helps.
Good to Know
The best months are roughly October to March, with warm days and cool evenings. December and January can be chilly after dark, so pack a layer for outdoor dinners. April to June is very hot and the monsoon follows.
The resort is relaxed by day, but most couples dress up a little for dinner at Mewar by Vineet. When visiting temples, both partners should cover shoulders and knees and remove their shoes.
Mosquitoes can appear around the lake in the evenings. Use repellent; dengue occurs in Rajasthan, so if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
Book early for the cool season. Udaipur is a popular wedding destination and the best rooms go months ahead around peak dates.
Is It Worth It?
For most couples, Udaivilas is the safest splurge in Udaipur. The semi-private pools, gardens and service deliver what a honeymoon in a palace city should feel like and the views of the City Palace are as good as any in town.
It is expensive, especially in peak season and the cheapest rooms skip the pools that make the stay special. Budget for a semi-private pool room at least.
Couples who want the story of sleeping inside a historic palace should book Taj Lake Palace for a night, then move here. Those who want similar polish at a slightly lower price could compare The Leela Palace Udaipur next door. Couples on a modest budget will get the same sunsets from an old-city haveli rooftop.
Insider tips
- Book a Premier City Palace View Room with Semi-Private Pool for the best balance of view and price.
- Take the resort boat to the City Palace instead of driving.
- Reserve a Lakeside Pavilion dinner early in your stay.
- Use the kid-free pool for quiet afternoons during holiday weeks.
