A Maybach escorts us into the patio, the rain-soaked Aravallis stretching beyond. Inside, soaring lattice walls, chandeliers, and daybed swings announce our arrival. At the new Fairmont Udaipur Palace, Rajasthan’s grandeur doesn’t ease in—it leaps out, much like the panther statue guarding the gates, a tribute to the big cats that roamed these hills long before dynasties settled.
Despite its scale, the palace doesn’t feel opulent for opulence’s sake. Every detail is steeped in craft and heritage, from the thikri work on the walls to the marble inlay accents and Shrinathji pichwai paintings that honour the nearby temple in Nathdwara, a 45-minute drive away.
Designed by Kuala Lumpur-based architect Jeffrey A Wilkes, the palace, which has been in the making for six years, showcases Indo-Islamic architecture dressed in tones of taupe and white marble. Yet with modern touches, it never feels austere: poolside loungers pop with fuchsia and stripes, and corridors feature peacock-shaped chairs. “We wanted to do away with ornate interiors, and build a palace with a modern soul,” says Swati Agarwal, director, Fairmont Udaipur Palace, who has poured a lot of her personal style into the space. “The hotel isn’t just a structure. An entire village on the outskirts of Udaipur was commissioned to create the palace’s 550 hand-carved marble columns, generating livelihoods and reviving Rajasthan’s crafts.”
The lobby sits under the main 54-foot dome, where a massive chandelier crowns a fountain. Its pièce de résistance? A skylit atrium bar that offers sweeping views of the Aravallis by day. As night falls, we step onto the terrace to watch the sky shift colours, while Rajasthani folk music fills the air as artists perform by the pool a level below.
The hotel features 327 rooms and suites, some with private plunge pools, terraces and cabanas. Others range from signature twin and king rooms with balconies. Each room is sumptuously kitted out with marble tables, chandeliers, Venetian mirrors, but the soul remains Rajasthani: thikri panels, carved wooden artwork, and vibrant folklore paintings sourced from local artists. Thoughtful touches complete the space: sensor lights that guide you at night, handheld steam irons neatly tucked into walk-in wardrobes, and vanity mirrors designed to hold plenty of makeup and knickknacks for wedding preparations.
Mehfil, as the name suggests, is the heart of the hotel and where all the action unfolds. The open-air courtyard features an infinity pool that tips over the city and the Aravallis beyond. Marble chhatris on either side house hot tubs made for lazing and uninterrupted views. Surrounding this courtyard are the hotel’s many dining destinations.
Bahaar is the all-day dining, where breakfast spreads are made of Rajasthani or north Indian staples dal kachori and stuffed parathas, but equally good south Indian fare, including fluffy thatte idlis and crispy Pesarattu dosas.
When in Fairmont, wear loose pants because the thali of your dreams awaits, featuring Rajasthani specialties dal baati churma, laal maas, safedh maas, matera hara pyaaz (a watermelon sabzi prepared with onion), and an array of regional pickles. Daastaan is a tearoom that harks back to an era bygone with cosy sofas, a library, decorative telescopes, and gramophones. Here, we sipped on an array of tea blends infused with first-flush tea, saffron, rose and tulsi, and paired them with blueberry tarts served on Charlie tea stands. It also features a chef’s table that showcased Asian-inspired fare—think Sichuan chicken baos, avocado-basil salad, and lemongrass prawns, each plated in front of our eyes and paired with the perfect wine. The menu can also take a modern Indian turn, if you like, with mustard salmon grilled in a tandoor, laal maas tucked in bajra tacos, or butter chicken reimagined as bite-sized tacos. At the design-forward bar Dahaad, experimental cocktails, from citrus-smoked whiskies to fat-washed cocktails are served. In the coming months, Asian bistro Celeste, and Mediterranean and Italian restaurant Alchemist are set to join the repertoire of restaurants at the palace hotel.
Dining at Fairmont goes beyond its restaurants. You could find yourself under a candlelit chhatri by the pool or at a private table perched above the Aravallis.
Beyond intimate celebrations, the hotel is designed with weddings at its heart, offering over 1,40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor venues that cascade across the hillside, putting the unevenness of the land to good use. At the foothill, the Ivory Pool & Gardens is made for sun-drenched pool parties, with sunshine-yellow deck chairs and a DJ-ready setup setting the tone for a sundowner. Chand Bawri is a modern reimagining of a stepwell in black and white marble, providing a striking backdrop for pheras. The Jewel Ballroom is touted to be the largest in Rajasthan.
The hotel is located just 15 minutes from the city centre, should you feel like stepping out. But there’s plenty to keep families entertained on site, from mini-golf and pickleball to padel courts, plus a dedicated kids’ play area and den.
When the celebrations wind down or the feet grow tired, there’s also a space to retreat and reset. The hotel’s 20,000 square-foot wellness sanctuary comes with eight treatment spaces, each with a steam room. The aromatic oils are blended in-house by Charu Lal, the director of spa and wellness, using notes of vanilla, oudh, leather, caramel, and more. Treatments draw on a range of global and traditional techniques, from hot stones and potlis to deep-tissue massages. I opted for the one with hot bamboo sticks, each knot in my back kneaded out like a rolling pin smoothing dough.
As the stars climbed an inky night sky, we ambled around the palace and spotted the panther—in thikri artwork, on wall murals, and a life-size one on a back-lit onyx bar at Dahaad—a reminder that beneath all the pomp and splendour, the soul of Rajasthan still prowls.
