ARQ AT PICHOLA UDAIPUR

The Leela Palace Udaipur's luxury villas on Lake Pichola are all about their immersive experiences, finds Jasreen Mayal Khanna

- Jasreen Mayal Khanna

The anticipation was real on my journey to Arq at Pichola. I got off a delayed flight and was driven through Udaipur's winding roads to reach the jetty at dusk. The moment I boarded the boat, I felt my city-weary shoulders relax. After 10 minutes of gliding over the serene waters. The Leela Palace Udaipur, glimmering against the lake was a welcome sight. The magical Lake Pichola in Udaipur is one of India's most premium hotel addresses and its newest luxury offering is Arq at Pichola by The Leela Palace Udaipur-three grand villas complete with private butler service, chefs and mixologists on call, 24-hour breakfast, a private temperature-controlled pool with a Jacuzzi, and more.

In typical Leela style, Arq at Pichola has a special welcome for villa guests. As I entered my lake villa, my butler popped a bottle of Champagne. Indoors, a masseuse was waiting to give my tired feet a relaxing foot bath in a rose-petal-filled bowl. All three mansions have been named after the lotus flower. I stayed in Varija, the lake villa.