Lake Pichola Hotel

The room view gets two stars from me. The property looks beautiful outside and in the pictures, but inside it smelled bad near the entrance and throughout the corridors. The room and washroom hadn’t been cleaned properly, including the carpet, floor, curtains, and commode. Used plates were left on the floor outside our door all day, and were still there when we checked out. There are serious hygiene and cleanliness issues. We also had lunch upstairs at upre, where the staff were unprofessional and irresponsible. This could be a beautiful stay if it were maintained properly.

This is an antique property with a nice Rajasthani touch, and the view is the main draw. It’s right on the banks of lake Pichola, opposite gangaur ghat, with mesmerising lake and landscape views, though they charge like bomb for it. Check-in was smooth, but they forgot the welcome drink. You can’t get there by your own car or taxi, so coordinate with the hotel and they’ll pick you up and drop you off by auto. The large reception area is split into two parts, and the breakfast buffet is in the second. The spread is limited but has meaningful, tasty local options. With flute music in the background and the lake beside you, breakfast is a treat. The deluxe lake-facing rooms were just okay for space, but clean and had amenities, plus a separate balcony with superb views. Go for an upper floor room if you want more space and a private balcony. We also tried a non-lake-facing room, which was quite spacious and had a good market and courtyard view. There are no kids activities or pool, which is a downside. The biggest problem was upre. It’s famous with locals and travelers, but the service and taste were equally poor. The pizza was super spicy, orders took almost 40-50 minutes, and the staff and manager didn’t seem interested in listening to issues, as people were waiting. They charge like a fine-dine Taj property, but the service can ruin your evening. Apart from upre, the stay was good.

The flute music at breakfast made for a relaxing, atmospheric start to the day. I loved the rooftop restaurant at night, and the whole place felt like it belonged in a movie, with the look of a museum or art gallery and truly superb architecture. The food may be suspicious, since two of us got food poisoning after eating here, but there are plenty of local food options, so it wasn’t the end of the world. Take the sunset boat tour, it was one of my favorite memories. And have plenty of chai from the local tea stalls around the hotel, it’s so yummy!

The location is great, the rooms are awesome, the view is great, and the service is perfect. It’s all in one place. You’ll love it if you prefer not to have lunch and dinner where you’re staying.