Hotel Taj Lake palace

“India is the mother of History, Grandmother of Legend, and great grandmother of Tradition. Our most valuable and most constructive materials in the history of man are Treasured up in India only” Mark Twain.

Taj hotels, resorts and palace has resorted to its pristine glory and are primarily associated with the ability to carry on the royal and rich tradition of our Indian Culture. and lifestyle of our maharajas in the past.

The deep rooted Indian culture can be felt in every nook and corner. Be it the carved pillars, the beautifully lined terraces, the historical gardens, the domes or the masterpiece floating on a lake. Polished with modern luxuries, these glamorous palaces have become true reflectors of royalty, attracting tourists from all over the world.

Settled amidst the beautiful and historical city of Udaipur the elegant hotel Taj Lake Palace continues to be invariably known as one of the most prevailing symbols of Indian architecture. This mystic piece at Udaipur , is 250 years old marble palace, built on 4 acres(16,000m²) of natural rock in Lake Pichola. It gives an impression of floating on the serene water of the lake. Now called Taj Lake Palace (originally was named Jag Niwas), was built in 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh for his own pleasure as a summer residence for the rulers of Mewar for 200 years. It was in 1960 when it became the first palace in the country to be converted into a hotel.

Taj Lake Palace has ten grand royal suites showcasing. One of the most famous royal suite is the Sajjan Niwas. Built by Maharaja Sajjan Singhji, in 1880. Designed with frescoes, depicting the very mighty Lord Krishna, their bedroom spreads the waves of romance.

There is a perfect fusion of color and the palace provides a very soothing and peaceful décor. Hotel Taj hotels take pride in offering a continuation of royal legacy and an authentic palace experience to its guests.

Soul was honored to interview Mr. Balraj, The Director of Sales and Marketing of Hotel Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur and speaking with him helped me uncover the beauty and serenity of Taj Palace along with gaining an insight into their homely hospitality.

Soul : What has been your inspiration behind the Décor of Taj Lake Palace?

Mr. Balraj : To be precise – Luxury, History, and Romance is where the décor gets its inspiration from.

Soul : “ What is the USP of your branch over other Taj branches?

Mr. Balraj : Our Royalty is our USP. I have seen all other palaces but the royalty of the lake palace at Udaipur outstands all. Also, it goes without saying, lying amidst lake Pichola is an add on to the USP of the palace.”

Soul : What is your theme for the décor? Is there any fusion of the indo-western culture to keep up with the changing trends?

Mr. Balraj : The palace is called ‘Dream in Marble’. The entire palace is dominated by white. There is no fusion of any indo-western culture. We intend to keep intact to the purpose of the resort and that is to keep the history alive.

Soul : What are the basic fabrics or materials used in the designing and accessorizing the palace?

Mr. Balraj : Mainly high textured linen is used in our suites. A lot of embroidery is done to add richness. Silk runners add to the beauty and luxury. Crystal chandeliers light up the palace. The walls are either done in glass mosaic or paintings. There is also a lot of thikry(mirror work) used to embellish the walls.

Soul : How efficient is it to coordinate your staff to maintain this high end luxury resort?

Mr. Balraj : We give proper training to each one of our employees we hire. We have been running for almost 45 years and we have become very comfortable in giving our employees an understanding of our culture and now we all don’t work here on professional basis but out of personal choice so everything seems easy.

Soul : Has there been any changes in the Décor ever since it was built?

Mr. Balraj : Yes, we redo the necessary amendments in 4-5 years. But we maintain our theme and royalty.

Soul : How is your hotel different from other hotels who also have their décor inspired by our Indian Culture?

Mr. Balraj : The way we have kept the History alive, I don’t think anyone can match us to that.

Soul : “ Lake Taj Palace is also called the Summer palace. Does the color scheme complement the purpose?

Mr. Balraj : Our palace is dominated by white and white just makes the ambiance cool. Also Marble complements the purpose. And it goes without saying, we are surrounded by a lake, so the blue water complements it perfectly.

Soul : Does the younger generation visiting the palace appreciate the richness of the Indian Culture?

Mr. Balraj : I believe appreciation and respect for your culture comes with age. When I was young(not that I am too old now), even I could not relate much with this traditional approach even though my ancestors have been very oriented towards it. But now it seems like our traditional culture flows in my blood and I am in even more awe of it after I have started working here. So I feel once our younger generation gets out of their rock and hip hop phase, they will develop a taste for our khammagadi’s and hukum.

Soul : Do you get a positive response from your guests for all the effort you put in?

Mr. Balraj : I have atleast 20 clients whose three generations have been making reservations at our hotel for their special days. It gives Taj team immense pleasure when a young couple walks in and requests for the same suite that his great grandfather had booked to propose to his great grandmother. They say we want to experience exactly the same hospitality and service that their parents and grandparents received. There is no better motivation than our clients’ satisfaction.

Thank you so much sir for sparing your time and sharing your thoughts with us.

Soul tip : Though visiting the lake palace at any time of the year is a beautiful experience but it is altogether a different feeling during the Gangaur Festive Season. If it is possible for you, I would suggest you to once plan a stay at the place during this festive season. The aura created in the ambiance send across positive and vibrant vibes. It triggers the joyous hormones and makes us fall in love in the most romantic manner. This place will make you fall in love all over again. The grandeur and hospitality is unmatched and the location of the palace is unbeatable.

Don’t forget to watch this video here to see the beauty of Taj Lake Palace…