In a city already known for its historic palace hotels, each more opulent than the last, how does a hotel up the game? The Leela Palace Udaipur is placing its bets on a trio of luxury villas catering to those looking for a more bespoke, intimate kind of stay. These private spaces are for guests who want a five-star experience, but are tired of cookie-cutter suites and don’t want to bump into other guests dashing for the breakfast buffet.
I was recently invited on a tour of The Leela’s Arq at Pichola villas, which the iconic hospitality brand launched earlier this year. These range in size from 360 to 803sq m (a luxury especially for those of us coming from Polly Pocket-sized Mumbai apartments) and, based on the package, can cost upwards of ₹3,51,000 per night.
Your arrival at the private one- or two-bedroom stays begins with a boat ride across the scenic Lake Pichola. Entering the rooms, you might admire the details—the floors inlaid with brass, walls embedded with lapis lazuli and intricate mosaics, gilded mirrors—finishes fit for a Rajput king or, today’s equivalent, a Loewe Flow Runner-wearing urban traveller. The villas are built around the site of a 16th-century Omkareshwar Temple, a focal point that architects PG Patki Associates were careful to preserve. According to Shweta Jain, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at The Leela group, the mood board centred around the idea of creating, “an environment where heritage and high-end luxury coexist seamlessly.”
After freshening up, you could dive straight into your private jacuzzi overlooking the lake or order a floating Champagne breakfast. Given all the space, you might not want to leave the room at all, in which case, says Jain, you can make use of personalised mixology sessions, where guests can create their own signature cocktails under the guidance of expert bartenders. “We also offer BBQ evenings tailored to the guest’s preferences, and a curated dinner that showcases the region’s flavours. For those interested in exploring traditional arts, we have pottery and block-printing sessions that take place right inside the villa,” she adds.
