It was dark when we arrived in Udaipur so we couldn’t make much out from our speeding tuk tuk, but we as we drew up outside the hotel, even in the dark we could tell it was a bit special. As we walked through the gate of this old palace we entered a courtyard. The main building rose up on one side, a white facade with beautifully decorative windows and balconies. Around the courtyard were some lower buildings and a decorative colonnade that opened into a garden. In the centre of the courtyard a fountain was running and lights lit up the space, it was magical.

After we’d checked in the porters carried our bags (we’re still not really used to this) across the courtyard and up some steps guarded by two carved elephants to a decorative wooden door – this was our room. A large white cube space with high ceilings and stone cauble holding up a roof beam. Through a decorative arch we enter the bathroom. Around the room there are carved recesses in the wall and at the centre sits a large bed with a carved wooden frame. A lovely window seat in a window juts out into the courtyard. When we woke this morning the sun was shining through the stained glass of this window. We’re only here for two nights but we shall sleep like princes while we are.