Private, tailor-made tours of Rajasthan, India and Nepal. Support 24 hours a day.+91 9999 777 122
Rajasthan Tour Packages, a unit of Discover India Vacations
A white palace on Lake Pichola, Udaipur

Island palace · Udaipur

Lake Palace, Udaipur

A white marble palace that seems to float on Lake Pichola, built as a royal summer retreat.

LocationJag Niwas island, Lake Pichola
Built1743–1746, Maharana Jagat Singh II
TodayA luxury hotel
Best viewFrom a sunset boat

The story

A little history.

Maharana Jagat Singh II built this summer palace on Jag Niwas island between 1743 and 1746, as a cool retreat from the city. Its marble pavilions, courtyards and gardens cover the whole island.

In the 1960s it became a hotel, and it gained world fame as a location in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy. Today it is a luxury hotel, so the inside is open only to guests and restaurant bookings.

What to see

Don't miss.

  • The view from the City PalaceThe classic photograph of the Lake Palace, framed by the palace balconies.
  • Sunset boat rideBoats on Lake Pichola pass close to the island in the golden evening light.
  • Jag MandirA second island palace further south on the lake, which you can visit by boat.
  • Ambrai GhatA lakeside spot on the western shore with lovely evening views of both palaces.

Our tip: Book the late-afternoon boat, which often stops at Jag Mandir and returns as the lights come on across the lake.

Good to know

Questions travellers ask.

Can non-guests visit the Lake Palace?

The palace is a private hotel, so access is usually limited to staying guests and restaurant reservations.

When was the Lake Palace built?

Between 1743 and 1746, by Maharana Jagat Singh II of Mewar.

Was the Lake Palace in a James Bond film?

Yes. It appears in Octopussy, released in 1983.

More in Udaipur

Udaipur city guideCity Palace Udaipur

Tours that include Udaipur

See it with us.

All tour packages

Plan your visit

Let us take you there.

See tour packagesAsk our experts