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The Taj Lake Palace was built in 1743 as a summer getaway for the royal dynasty of Mewar, and was transformed into a hotel in the 1970s by the Taj Group. The Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur (Rajasthan’s Lake City) is situated on the tranquil waters of Lake Pichola, with stunning 360-degree views of Udaipur. Guests arrive to the hotel by boat; the residence is both extraordinarily unique and romantic, as it is one of the few hotels in the world to be completely surrounded by water.
Today, the hotel holds 66 opulently decorated suites (each individually designed with the finest Indian silks and fabrics), three fine-dining restaurants, a world-class spa, and a stunning pool area that boasts the most superb views of Udaipur’s City Palace.
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Jaipur City Palace, located in the heart of Jaipur, was the seat from which the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh (Prince of Jaipur) ruled. The Palace’s architectural style is an exquisite blend of traditional Rajasthan and Mughal styles, depicted by its famous vibrantly decorated interiors and romantic gardens and courtyards. Today, the City Palace museum section boasts royal formal costumes, embroidered shawls, Kashmiri pashminas, and silk saris that once belonged to the prince.
Udaipur’s Crystal Gallery, located inside the Fateh Prakash Palace, houses the largest private collection of crystal in the world. This exclusive collection was established by and customized for Maharana Sajjan (King of Udaipur) back in 1877, and today exhibits precious crystal pieces assembled from various parts of the world. The collection includes dining tables, sofa sets, crystal utensils, perfume bottles, decanters, and even a crystal bed!
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The Gem Palace is one of the world’s most exquisite fine jewelry stores and a must-visit when visiting Jaipur, let alone India. The Gem Palace is owned by the Kasliwal family and has been providing fine jewelry for over eight generations to India’s Royals. More recently the store has been visited by Mick Jagger, Jackie Onassis, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Oprah, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Tory Burch, to name just a few.
Entering the Gem Palace is a truly mesmerizing experience within itself. The store, which is beautifully decorated with luxurious Indian wallpaper and ornaments, offers an immense collection of fine jewels, ranging in rare stones, colors, and designs that reflect Indian heritage and style. At the Gem Palace you can find jewels varying from $300 to over $500K.