Raffles Udaipur

The first foray into India for the Singapore-based Raffles Hotels & Resorts is a suitably monumental hotel — Raffles Udaipur is set on a 21-acre private island in the middle of Udai Sagar Lake, and guests arrive at the lakeshore launch for an unforgettable arrival by boat. The gardens and grounds are spectacular, and the entry hall, with its soaring columns and marble floors, is nothing short of regal — as is the service, which is as devoted as you might expect from the conjunction of Raffles and a Rajasthani palace.

Meanwhile the hotel’s 101 rooms and suites are scarcely less extravagant; there’s nothing the least bit minimalist about any of them, and lake views, happily, can be found all up and down the range. Some come with private gardens, still others with private pools, and the suites are practically self-contained residences. At every level they’re

The common facilities include a very extensive spa and wellness program as well as a multitude of meeting and events spaces, suitable for anything from a conference to a wedding. A handful of restaurants serve everything from upscale Rajasthani flavors to coffee and pastries at the Raffles Patisserie; the hotel’s highly polished nightspots include the swanky English-style Writers Bar.