We review Fairmont Udaipur Palace and discover an artisanal hideaway perched on the Aravalli Hills

Palace hotels in India set the bar high, with many of them offering a glimpse into the lives of current royalty. But up in Udaipur, a purpose-built offering has recently opened its doors, giving guests a taste of the good life from a location surrounded by verdant beauty. Local writer and architect Shalbha Sarda checked in to see if the stylish stay is worth the hype.

While this stay was hosted, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Fairmont Udaipur Palace review

Hotel Snapshot: Fairmont Udaipur Palace

Hotel: Fairmont Udaipur Palace
Location: Sisarma, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Rooms: 327 rooms and suites.  
Brand: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (Accor Group)
Year opened: 2023
Style:  Palace-style resort overlooking the hills. A mix of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture.
Family amenities: Family-friendly rooms and suites, kids’ activities, outdoor play areas, multiple pools, mini golf, and expansive open spaces for recreation
Wellness: Full-service spa, fitness centre, yoga and wellness experiences, multiple pools, including infinity and event pools
Price range: Starting from £200 per night, depending on the room and season

Palace, but reimagined

Fairmont Udaipur Palace is easily one of the most ambitious new palace hotels in Rajasthan, India. It is designed for modern royalty and their entourage. As someone from Jaipur, I admit I am a bit biased toward my hometown, the Pink City. But if you are exploring Rajasthan, Udaipur definitely deserves a spot on your bucket list.

For me, growing up in Jaipur somehow dulled the wonder of palaces. Not because they lacked grandeur, but because repetitive familiarity and simply too many of them made me lose the sense of even the most ornate spectacle. Add an architecture degree to that upbringing, and the bar rose even higher.

So when I boarded a short flight from Jaipur to Udaipur, the oft-romanticised City of Lakes, I was not expecting a revelation. I was, at best, curious and kept wondering what could possibly set Fairmont Udaipur Palace apart from the many palatial déjà vu already existing.

I set out to find out.

The entry experience

A liveried guard halted my car at a fortified gate. Moments later, I was escorted up the hill in a jeep, flanked by two fluttering flags that mimicked a nonexistent royal emblem. It still managed to make me feel like part of a royal procession. The drive cut through the folds of the Aravalli Range, one of the world’s oldest mountain systems. On one side, I spotted a sports arena with pickleball and paddleball courts, unexpected and mildly amusing in a palace setting (I’m more used to seeing manicured gardens). On the other side, a swimming pool dotted with palm trees and playful chevrons and stripes on otis-patterned floors appeared. It is not the poised palace where you dress up in a tux and gown for dinner, but the one where you play and have fun; I took a mental note.

A stepwell, called Chand Baori, sits on the same side, borrowing rather audaciously from a 1200-year-old historic structure located a few hundred miles away from Udaipur. And then the façade came into view. It is only from this distance that you can truly register the scale.

“Huge” was my first thought.

What’s inside this grand palace?

With 327 rooms, seven restaurants, multiple pools, a spa, a library, tennis and pickleball courts, mini golf, layered gardens, and pavilions cascading across the terrain, “large” feels like an understatement. But the clever part is that once you move closer, the property reveals itself in fragments. It is terraced along the natural topography, unfolding in layers and stages.

The idea, as Swati and Somesh Agarwal, the owners of Fairmont Udaipur Palace and directors of Rockwood Hotels and Resorts, explain, is to build a narrative from magnitude to detail.

My car stopped at Panther Patio, where the hotel’s feline motif starts to take over. Leopards, or panthers, depending on your poetic preference, appear everywhere. It does not feel like a mere branding gimmick, especially when you are told that nearly 40 still roam these hills. Thankfully, inside they remain in art, prints, and sculptures.

From the patio, after the customary rose-petal showers, I took the elevator to the seventh floor, which is the lobby. It feels slightly disorienting at first, since you expect the lobby to be at the arrival level, but it is all part of the greater plan.

The central lobby is the congregational space and a vantage point. This powder-blue expanse, washed in sunlight through a towering glass atrium, features panoramic windows that bring the distant hills right into the room.

This is where Fairmont feels different from the state’s historic palaces. Those turned inward for obvious security reasons. In the modern world, not worried about royal invasions, Fairmont Udaipur Palace flaunts large glass windows and an open plan. The view of the hills forms a living backdrop. In the distance, I could see Sajjan Garh, an erstwhile Monsoon Palace of the royals (and the location for the James Bond movie Octopussy).

At the centre of the lobby is an indigo frescoed dome, with a crystal chandelier suspended beneath it and a star-shaped marble fountain below. A deliberate large swing is cleverly positioned to recline and admire the roof details.

As Swati Agarwal puts it, the idea is to give Udaipur a global edge, a place not just to stay, but to celebrate, unwind, and experience Rajasthan in a new way.

Design detailing

If the phrase “the devil is in the details” needs an anchor point, Fairmont Udaipur Palace does the job well.

A team of artisans and craftsmen lived in a temporary on-site village for nearly five years to execute the work. Forgotten techniques, such as thikri (hand-hammered mirror art), seen in historic palaces such as the Amber Fort in Jaipur and the City Palace of Udaipur, have been incorporated into the walls and interiors. A slew of local artisans created mosaic paintings for the property. The furnishings are all block-printed and bespoke for the hotel, and stone carvers came together to hand-carve marble pillars.

Rooms and suites

The rooms at Fairmont Udaipur Palace continue the same narrative. I stayed in a Deluxe Suite, which also had another room that could be conjoined, making it perfect for a family of four, with one living room between the two bedrooms. The suite itself had a powder room, a walk-in closet, a dresser, and a sumptuously large bathroom. 

While it feels like a modern luxury suite, heritage details are woven into the design. Elephant-themed block-printed cushions, thikri work on the walls, and scalloped arches in the balcony are all nods to Rajasthani arts and crafts.

Dining and drinks

Fairmont Udaipur Palace can spoil you with the number of dining options. Bahaar keeps things easy with global comfort and a touch of local flavour. This is also the place for your morning breakfast.

Dahaad, which translates into the roar of a leopard, features a full-bodied sculptural leopard standing tall on a backlit onyx counter. The cocktails are made with hyperlocal ingredients.

Dastaan is part lounge, part library, where you can settle in with one of the many books on African wildlife and lose track of time.

Sitara has an open terrace to enjoy sunsets. There is high tea, live folk performances every evening, and even a palmist who will happily predict your future. My advice is not to take your predictions too seriously.

Zaika is for Indian classics. If you feel like indulging fully, ask for the 56-dish signature platter, the “Mahathaal.”

Celeste and The Alchemist were set to open when I visited, adding Mediterranean and Asian options to the mix of restaurants.

Invited to a big Indian wedding here? Do not think twice. Just go. Or better, run.

And if you know anyone getting married here, it might be worth calling in a favour or two to get on the invitee list.

The staggered venues across the property make it a dream for florists, lighting designers, and event planners. A dedicated events pool sets the scene for sunset soirées. The stepwell becomes a dramatic backdrop for vows and ceremonies, and a gram-worthy photo opportunity.

The ballroom, Jashn, which fittingly means celebration, is one of the largest in the country. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the Aravallis right into the room, so the view becomes part of the décor.

What else to do

Weddings should not be the only reason to come here. The hotel works just as well for a family getaway. Bring everyone along, kids, grandparents, and extended family. They will be busy playing pickleball, horse riding, waving from a carriage, taking baking classes, practising yoga, or simply relaxing at the spa. There is so much to do here. 

While there is no reason to step out, in case you feel like a change of scene, do ask the property to arrange a visit to the Monsoon Palace for high tea. It is their signature experience.

Final thoughts

Fairmont Udaipur Palace breaks away from a lot of the tired tropes of traditional palace aesthetics. It feels light, airy, and playful. At the same time, it still retains that palatial splendour and design.

It’s also the kind of place where you’d rather enjoy a staycation than go out sightseeing. My take? Stay at one of the other palaces in the city for the sightseeing, and then extend your stay here by a day or two to unwind and relax, and you’ll be all set for your further Indian adventures.

Frequently asked questions: Fairmont Udaipur Palace

Discover more about Fairmont Udaipur Palace or Book through Booking.com Book through Expedia Book through Agoda

But wait, there’s more…

• Discover the best things to do in Jaipur for art and design lovers
• These are the tastiest restaurants in Delhi
• And take a look at these eco-friendly hotels in Sri Lanka