T

he idea behind Udaivilas is that a custom-built fake-old palace, on the shores of Lake Pichola just across from the city of Udaipur, can be as good as or better than the real thing. It’s an admirable sentiment, and judging by its execution, not unjustified — though built by local craftsmen in a more or less authentic Mewari style, the place gleams in the sunlight, spotless and meticulously perfect. If it’s gritty realism and messy history you want, after all, India suffers from no shortage: just go to Bombay and throw open a window. Udaivilas is a fantasy, an idealized India freed from any but the loosest historical context.

It’s also impossibly luxurious, which is the key to its appeal. It takes a lot to impress us, as the traditional concept of luxury becomes a bore upon a certain number of repetitions — but this kind of plush overkill is far from common. There are no fewer than nine swimming pools, for a start, some semi-private, and the humblest rooms here are vast enough to be sold as studio suites in most lesser hotels. Bathrooms are completely modern and the tap water is clean — a side benefit of building a brand new palace instead of retrofitting an old one.

The service is over-the-top as well, with staffers who literally drop everything to attend to your real or potential needs. The spa is an outpost of Singapore’s Banyan Tree chain — again, the latest in state-of-the-art luxury. And the cuisine is international too, with Thai, Mediterranean, and Western options alongside Udaimahal’s traditional Indian offerings. In a way, it’s the best of all possible hospitality worlds: Far East service (and spa), stunning traditional Indian architecture in a gorgeous natural setting, and first-class facilities quite up to the standards of pampered Westerners.

How to get there: Udaivilas Oberoi is (27 km) approximately a 45 minute drive from Udaipur-Dabok Airport. The drive from Jaipur takes approximately 8 hours. There is also a train from New Delhi that takes approximately 12 hours by Mewar Express. The Oberoi is 8 km. from Udaipur railway station.