Taj Lake Palace

Taj Lake Palace seems to float on Lake Pichola in Udaipur, a gleaming white marble palace that you can reach only by boat. It was conceived in the 18th century by Maharana Jagat Singh II, under its old name of Jag Niwas, and became a heritage hotel in the 20th century.

With 65 rooms and 18 suites, the palace keeps the guest list close-knit. For the wedding itself, the hotel offers Jagmandir, another island on the lake, with a marble palace ringed by gardens across 3,456 square metres and space for up to 1,500. Mewar Mahal is about 77 square metres and holds up to 75.

Jagmandir is the place for a large celebration, with its palace and gardens as the backdrop, and the hotel lists it for weddings, dinners and glittering evening parties. Mewar Mahal suits a smaller ceremony or a private family gathering of up to 75 seated theatre style.

The hotel's Timeless Weddings service covers the full run of events, from haldi and mehendi to sangeet, as well as vow renewals and photo and film shoots. Lake Pichola itself is part of the day, as a boat ride across it is the classic Udaipur experience. Ask the team about ceremony rituals, catering, music, moving guests across the water and the finish time.

You can stay at the palace in 65 rooms and 18 suites. There are three restaurants, Jharokha for all-day dining, Bhairo for European fine dining and Neel Kamal for Rajasthani and Indian cooking, plus the Amrit Sagar bar. The fine dining is kept for resident guests. J Wellness Circle offers Ayurvedic and international therapies, and there is a heated pool and an outdoor pool.

The drive from Maharana Pratap Airport takes about 50 minutes, and the hotel arranges pick-ups with 24 hours' notice, with limousine and yacht transfers on request. The best time to visit Udaipur is from September to March, while April to June is the hottest stretch.