Udaipur, known as the City of Lakes, is one of the most beautiful cities in Rajasthan and with seven lakes it is obviously the most verdant in the desert state of India. Traditional white-washed homes also lend it the name of the White City as opposed to the Pink City, Jaipur.
Located by the banks of the tranquil Udai Sagar Lake, Zana Lake Resort is a plush hotel offering amazing views of the mountains framing the shimmering lake that is home to exquisite migratory birds. Shibani Bawa checked in to find out more.
Hotel
‘Udai’ is the Hindi word for sunrise, and the spectacular location of Zana Lake Resort offers the most beautiful views of both, the sunrise as well as moonrise.
The serene and beautiful surroundings are complemented with the warmth of the hospitality team. Bespoke pre-arrival service ensures that the team understands your requirements well via a questionnaire that is shared at the time of booking. From a hassle-free in-room check-in to an array of welcome drinks, including a premium selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in your welcome trolley, you’ll feel pampered right from the word go.
The resort fits the bill for various types of getaways whether you are seeking a peaceful holiday or a destination hotel for grand celebrations. The lush lawns overlooking the lake, ‘Santa Maria’ and ‘Sao Gabriel’ are named after two famous ships. Together they offer over 50,000 sq. ft. for any outdoor parties or for hosting big Indian weddings.
Zana Lake Resort welcomes your furry and feathery companions as well. That is to say that only dogs (non-aggressive) and caged birds are allowed as pets at the resort. Only one pet is allowed per room at an additional charge for which an advance payment is collected upon check-in. The charges include a pet bed and food that is naturally available at the resort.
Room
One of the best aspects about Zana is that all the rooms offer a beautiful view of the lake. There are 30 well-laid out lakefront rooms, with a choice of either a private garden or a balcony. The rooms have a chic modern design, with pleasing furnishings. A large glass door allows natural light to flow in, giving the rooms an airy and spacious feel.
It is also worth mentioning that the light fittings are also well thought of, some concealed behind mirrors or faux panels that accentuate mood lighting. The ensuite bathrooms too have a contemporary look and fittings. And if you worry about getting a good night’s sleep while travelling, rest assured that the beds and linen are of fine quality and you will undoubtedly wake up feeling refreshed.
Food and drink
Food and drink is of prime importance at Zana Lake Resort, and here, fine taste is matched with a conscious culinary philosophy. Handpicked local ingredients find their way into a thoughtfully-curated menu that is a celebration of authentic flavours for a global palate, from Thai to Italian, and of course local gastronomic dishes are all part of an extensive choice.
Special requests, like local ‘kachoris’ and ‘pakodas’ are also catered for. The resort serves only vegetarian food, but take our word for it, the team goes all out and ensures that you will not miss non-vegetarian fare at all.
While the all-day multi-cuisine diner, Mayfair, is very inviting with its floor to ceiling bay windows opening out to lakeside views and a spacious terrace, there are various outdoor dining spaces for picture-perfect dining experiences, or a romantic starry-night dinner. And we’d recommend that you order in-room breakfast on at least one of the mornings to enjoy a lazy start to your day.
An enjoyable experience that is offered at the resort is a Liquor and Liqueur Tasting. We really enjoyed the session with mixologist, Mohit Ola, who not only made us taste some fine liquor and liqueurs paired with an assortment of cheese and fruits, but also made the evening interesting with equally fine conversation spanning various topics.
To do
As much as you’d like to spend time at the resort, there are plenty of lovely experiences that the hotel organises to enjoy an immersive experience in Udaipur. Take your pick from a guided tour at the City Palace that stands high on the banks of Lake Pichola or a village walk engaging with the locals and discovering the culture of Rajasthan.
After learning about the rich history of Udaipur during our visit to the City Palace, we headed for a specially organised picnic lunch to Sajjangarh Palace. Also known as the Monsoon Palace, this is a former royal residence belonging to the Mewar dynasty.
It was originally built as a getaway during the monsoon season and is the highest constructed structure in Udaipur from where you get of spectacular views of the white city and its stunning lakes, mountains, and palaces. We were escorted by a hotel executive who laid out a delicious meal of biryani and kathi rolls for us while we soaked in the gorgeous views of Udaipur on a glorious sunny day.
Back at the resort, a lavish set-up awaited us by the beautiful lake on a full moon night. We ended the evening with a ‘surprise ritual’ – but let us not spill all the beans – we’ll reserve some information for you to experience for yourself when you visit this lovely resort.
Factbox
Address: Near Udainiwas, Lakadwas, Rajasthan 313004, India
Phone: +91 294 294 1500
Website: zanaresorts.com
