A Breath Of Fresh Air

From private boat charters to indulgent spas and leisurely meals by the lake— Simone Singh finds the ideal retreat from city life in Udaipur

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HAVING JUST FINISHED FILMING for a web series and on the verge of beginning a new movie project, it was time for me to escape the urban jungle for a few days to relax and rejuvenate.

I was skeptical at the suggestion of a weekend in Udaipur as I’d been there before to attend destination weddings that had proved to be as frenetic as they were festive.

But my fears were belied as my husband Fahad and I alighted the boat that ferried us across placid Lake Pichola to the resplendent Oberoi Udaivilas.

A warm Rajasthani welcome awaited us, replete with nagada drummers and twirling dancers, while the affable general manager Amit Kaul explained that this sprawling 30-acre property was designed as a serene sanctuary away from the din of the modern world.

A sense of tranquility set in upon entering our opulent suite, which came with an al fresco dining pavilion and swimming pool whose azure waters reflected dappled sunlight as brightly hued bougainvillea rustled in the mid-day breeze.