Zana Lake Resort Udaipur: A Serene Getaway - The Hotel Explorer

Located on the tranquil Udai Sagar Lake, Zana Lake Resort is a 30-room boutique hotel in the city of lakes, Udaipur, that makes for a beautiful holiday retreat.

What makes a hotel truly luxurious is when it takes into account little things to make the experience hassle-free. Zana offers in-room check-in and check-out service, which meant we could go straight to our room and could settle in a jiffy. Not without our welcome drink though!

Our welcome drink came on the wheels, a selection of premium drinks, delivered straight to our room. The bartender did a fine job of mixing our drinks and we knew we are only going to have a good time for next two days.

The rooms, with their vintage design are reminiscent of the Victorian era. And its not using the usual numbers that you identify your rooms with, every room has a Victorian name. Ours was called 'Philips' - Lakefront Room with a private garden. All thirty rooms come with the view of the lake and mountains, and either have a private garden or a balcony.

Zana Lake Resort serves only vegetarian fare. I was pleasantly surprised to have so many delicious options to choose from at their restaurant Mayfair. The restaurant serves a variety of dishes from Indian and international cuisine, all made from fresh and locally sourced ingredients. On our special request, Chef even did a special Rajasthani meal for us, a sumptuous spread of gatta curry, daal, baati, churma and papad ki sabzi along with local chutneys.

We kicked off our experiential stay, with a Liquor and Liqueur Tasting Session in the evening with an experienced sommelier. It was great to learn different tricks of how you can drink up your tequila shots or how adding ice changes the taste of your Baileys. We sampled different liqueurs and the best way to have them. The heady but immersive experience gave us a glimpse into our Zana Life, that we would be living for next two days.

The hotel offers yoga session, aquatic sessions and you could go cycling around its verdant gardens at your own pace. Morning and evenings offered the best weather to cycle by the lake. One of the afternoons the resort organized a picnic lunch for us at the Sajjangarh Fort, another evening live grills by the pool at its property. So if you are at Zana, you can just trust them to curate an itinerary full of experiences for you.

The infinity pool is beautifully designed, with stunning views of the lake and the surrounding hills. One can spend hours lounging by the pool, reading a book and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

Since this was family trip my little explorer was happy to discover the kids play area 'Toddle Wobble'. The resort with its array of activities to choose from encourages the guests to experience an active outdoor life away from the screens. It is a perfect getaway for urban dwellers like us.

The staff at Zana is not just friendly but walks an extra mile to ensure guests have a memorable stay. For an occasion that we were celebrating, the resort did a beautiful dinner set up by the lake, adorned with candles and flowers and ensured we had the best three-course meal. The picturesque setting will remain etched in our minds for a long time.

Udaipur, with its rich culture and royal heritage is a tourist's delight. The royal City Palace, kitschy markets and many restaurants.

German fashion designer, Jil Sander, known for her minimalist designs once said, "I am convinced that there can be luxury in simplicity."

What makes Zana a truly luxurious experience, is its simplicity. There isn't anything over-the-top or inordinate; yet it leaves you spellbound.

Zana Lake Resort Udaipur: A Serene Getaway: overview