Lake Palace Palace

Address: Taj Lake Palace (Jal Mahal), Pichola Lake, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001, India

Website: https://www.tajhotels.com/en-in/taj/taj-lake-palace-udaipur/

Admission: No general public entry-Taj Lake Palace is a luxury hotel; access typically via hotel reservation, restaurant bookings or boat transfer (charges apply)

The Lake Palace, locally known as the Taj Lake Palace and originally Jag Niwas, is an 18th-century marble palace built on an island in Lake Pichola in Udaipur, Rajasthan. It was constructed as a summer palace and later converted into a luxury hotel that occupies the entire island.

Guests and visitors arrive by boat; the palace is operated as a hospitality property and is a frequent venue for high-end events and weddings. Its island setting and white marble facades make it one of Udaipur’s most photographed landmarks.

The palace was built in the mid-18th century by Maharana Jagat Singh II as a royal residence. It was subsequently maintained and repurposed over the centuries, eventually opening as a hotel run by a national hospitality group.

The building occupies Jag Niwas island in Lake Pichola at the heart of Udaipur city in southern Rajasthan, with the city shoreline and historic palaces immediately adjacent.

• Boat access: Only reachable by boat from the Udaipur shore; most visitors arrive via short motorboat transfer from the city.
• Film appearance: Featured in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy, which increased its international profile.

The Lake Palace (Taj Lake Palace, Jag Niwas) sits on an island in Lake Pichola, Udaipur. From Udaipur Railway Station or the city bus stand take a taxi or auto‑rickshaw to the City Palace / Gangaur Ghat area (a short 2-3 km road ride from the main station). Boat transfers to the island depart from the City Palace/Gangaur Ghat jetty; the hotel operates boats for guests (the crossing is only a few minutes).

• If you want to go inside the Taj Lake Palace, make a dining reservation (afternoon tea, lunch or dinner) or book a room - the palace does not admit casual walk‑in visitors, so reservations are the practical way to experience the interior.
• For views without a hotel booking, take an early morning or sunset boat from Gangaur Ghat for the best light and fewer crowds; sunset boat rides show the palace illuminated and are the most popular photo times.
• Avoid relying on public shorelines at peak times-book a private boat or a restaurant table at the palace for a less crowded experience, and confirm boat schedules with your hotel or the ghat operator in advance.