Shiv Niwas Palace, Udaipur

5-Star Heritage Royal Palace | HRH Group of Hotels - Historic Resort Hotels

Udaipur, India

From Rs.35,000 - Rs.90,000 per night Best: October to March (peak: November-February) Up to 500 guests across Lawns, Pool Deck & Panera Terrace

"The crescent-shaped royal guest house within the iconic City Palace complex - 36 palace rooms + 17 suites, 500-guest Lawns and the famous marble Pool Deck featured in James Bond's "Octopussy", managed by the HRH Group of Hotels of the Mewar Royal Family."

Shiv Niwas Palace Udaipur  -  HRH royal palace wedding venue inside City Palace complex

Shiv Niwas Palace is where royalty stays. Originally built as a crescent-shaped guest house for guests of the Maharana of Udaipur, it is now a Grand Heritage Hotel managed by the HRH Group of Hotels - the hospitality arm of the Mewar royal family. Located within the majestic City Palace complex on the eastern bank of Lake Pichola, it offers an ambience that is undeniably aristocratic. It is famous worldwide for its spectacular marble "Pool Deck," which featured prominently in the 1983 James Bond movie "Octopussy" (the swimming pool sequence). With its hand-painted Mewar frescoes, inlay work, original royal furniture, vintage portraits and views of Lake Pichola, it offers a wedding experience that is authentically royal and steeped in 400 years of Mewar history. Sister property to Fateh Prakash within the same complex; combined weddings with Jagmandir Island are also possible.

Room Rates & Wedding Booking Cost

Deluxe Room

Rs.35,000 - Rs.90,000 per night

($420 - $1,080 per night)

Suite

Rs.1,20,000 - Rs.8,00,000 per suite/night

($1,440 - $9,600 per suite/night)

Minimum Stay: Minimum 3 nights (full buyout typical)

Booking Includes: Room accommodation, breakfast, taxes, Wi-Fi, City Palace museum access, Crystal Gallery tour, HRH Royal Butler

Charged Separately: F&B for wedding events, venue rental (Pool Deck commands premium), decor, Jagmandir combined bookings, fireworks

Best Season for Weddings

Recommended

October, November, December

January, February, March

Peak Months

November, December, February

Book 8-12 months ahead

Avoid

May, June, July

Udaipur enjoys the most pleasant winter in Rajasthan - 12-26 deg C. Avoid May-Aug (monsoon).

Location & Accessibility

Located inside the City Palace complex. Guests enter through the historic Tripolia Gate or Samor Bagh gate. About 3 km / 15 minutes from Udaipur Railway Station and 25 km / 45 minutes from Maharana Pratap Airport. Central old city location.

Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR)

25 km / 45-minute drive

Udaipur Railway Station

3 km / 15-minute drive

Nearby Attractions for Wedding Guests

City Palace Museum

0 km (same complex) - Royal Museum

Fateh Prakash Palace

0 km (same complex) - Sister Heritage Palace

Jagmandir Island Palace

0.5 km (across lake) - Sister HRH Island Palace

Jagdish Temple

0.5 km - Heritage Temple

Wedding Types & Services

Ceremonies Supported

Hindu Wedding Sikh Wedding Marwari Wedding NRI Wedding Christian Wedding Jain Wedding Royal Wedding Heritage Wedding Celebrity Wedding

NRI Friendly Perfect for NRI & International Couples

  • HRH Group royal welcome
  • Multi-currency invoicing
  • Virtual venue tours
  • Visa support letters
  • Crystal Gallery private tour
  • Jagmandir Island combined bookings
  • International chef collaborations
  • Royal Butler service

Venue Policies & Permissions

Outside Decorators Yes
Outside Catering No
Alcohol Served Yes
DJ / Music Yes
Fireworks Yes
Baraat Procession Yes
Baraat with Horse Yes
Outdoor Pheras Yes
Pre-wedding Photoshoot Yes
Overnight Events Yes
Veg Only Veg & Non-Veg Both
Jain Food Available Yes

Music/DJ cutoff: 12:30 AM

Event Spaces

Pool Deck Shiv Niwas  -  iconic James Bond Octopussy wedding venue

The Pool Deck

Capacity: Up to 300 guests

Outdoor (Heritage Marble Pool Deck)
Cocktails Sangeet Pre-wedding

The most iconic venue in the palace, set around a marble swimming pool with lighted fountains - featured prominently in James Bond's "Octopussy". Perfect for a glamorous cocktail or sangeet on the very deck the film was shot.

The Lawns Shiv Niwas Palace  -  500 guest royal wedding lawn

The Lawns

Capacity: Up to 500 guests

Outdoor (Front Lawn)
Pheras Reception Grand Sit-down

Lush green lawns set against the backdrop of the crescent-shaped palace facade, offering a regal setting for the wedding ceremony or reception with royal Mewar architecture as backdrop.

Panera Bar Terrace Shiv Niwas Palace

Panera Bar Terrace

Capacity: Up to 100 guests

Outdoor (Rooftop Terrace)
Intimate Cocktails Sundowner High Tea

An elevated terrace offering panoramic views of Udaipur city and Lake Pichola, ideal for intimate gatherings, high tea or sundowner cocktails.

Paantya Restaurant Courtyard Shiv Niwas

Paantya Restaurant Courtyard

Capacity: Up to 150 guests

Outdoor (Restaurant Courtyard)
Welcome Dinner Family Dinner Sit-down

Heritage Paantya multi-cuisine restaurant courtyard with city views - ideal welcome dinner venue.

Sample Wedding Itinerary

4 days, 3 nights | 200-400 guests | Est. Rs.5,00,00,000 - Rs.15,00,00,000

Day 1 Royal Welcome & Paantya Dinner

Welcome with royal Marwari guards, shehnai and ceremonial garlanding at the City Palace gates. Private Crystal Gallery and City Palace museum tour. Dinner at Paantya restaurant with city views.

Day 2 Mehendi & Octopussy Sangeet

Mehendi in the palace courtyards with henna artists. Afternoon HRH Spa. Sangeet at the iconic James Bond Pool Deck with live band, marble pool reflections and lighted fountains - the signature Shiv Niwas wedding experience.

Day 3 Wedding Day - Royal Baraat

Grand Baraat through the City Palace gates with elephants, horses and Mewar musicians. Pheras on The Lawns with crescent palace facade backdrop. Royal sit-down dinner with Mewar traditional cuisine.

Day 4 Jagmandir Boat Brunch

Optional boat tour to sister HRH property Jagmandir Island Palace for farewell brunch - the iconic Mewar combined heritage experience.

Expert Insights & FAQs

Q: What is the wedding cost at Shiv Niwas Palace?

Rooms Rs.35,000-90,000 per night, suites Rs.1,20,000-8,00,000. Full buyout (53 rooms x 3 nights) typically Rs.2.5-5.5 crore. Total wedding budgets range Rs.5-15+ crore including F&B, fireworks, decor. Pool Deck venue rental commands premium.

Q: Is this the James Bond hotel?

Yes - Shiv Niwas Palace was a primary filming location for the 1983 James Bond movie "Octopussy", and the Pool Deck is the exact spot featured in the swimming pool sequence. A sangeet on the Pool Deck is a 007-themed wedding experience.

Q: Can we use Jagmandir Island for events?

Yes - since both Shiv Niwas and Jagmandir Island Palace are managed by the HRH Group of the Mewar royal family, you can seamlessly combine venues for different functions (e.g., Jagmandir Boat Baraat + Shiv Niwas Pheras + City Palace Sangeet).

Q: Is it open to the public?

The hotel is exclusive to guests, but being part of the City Palace, there is tourist movement in the outer complex during the day. However, the hotel areas (Pool Deck, Lawns, Panera Terrace, room wings) remain private and access-controlled for wedding guests.

Q: Does it have a lake view?

Yes - many suites and the terrace areas (Panera Bar Terrace) offer stunning views of Lake Pichola and the island palaces (Taj Lake Palace, Jagmandir).

Q: Is the decor authentic?

Absolutely - the palace retains its original royal furniture, portraits, frescoes, marble inlay work and decor from the era of the Maharanas, offering an unmatched authentic 400-year heritage feel - unlike modern luxury hotels that replicate aesthetics.

Q: Are camel and horse baraats allowed?

Yes - horse and elephant baraats are permitted through the City Palace courtyards (camels typically not as the cobblestone heritage paving doesn't suit). Boat baraats from Jagmandir are also a signature option.

Q: How does Shiv Niwas compare to Fateh Prakash within City Palace?

Shiv Niwas is the crescent-shaped royal guest house with the Pool Deck (Octopussy fame); Fateh Prakash houses the Durbar Hall Sabhagaar (1,000kg crystal chandeliers) and Crystal Gallery. Both are HRH-managed sister properties in the same complex. Couples often combine: Shiv Niwas accommodation + Fateh Prakash Durbar Hall sangeet.

Q: What is the best season for a wedding here?

October to March (peak Nov-Feb). Avoid May-Aug (monsoon).

Q: Does Shiv Niwas allow outside decorators?

Yes, outside decorators are permitted with prior HRH approval. Heritage protocols apply - no damage to centuries-old architecture, frescoes or original furniture.

At a Glance

Room Rate:
Rs.35,000 - Rs.90,000 per room/night
Capacity:
Up to 500 guests across Lawns, Pool Deck & Panera Terrace
Setting:
Crescent-Shaped Royal Palace inside City Palace Complex
Rooms:
36 Palace Rooms & 17 Suites (53 keys total)
Best Season:
October to March (peak: November-February)
Category:
5-Star Heritage Royal Palace

Key Features

  • Located inside the iconic City Palace Complex of Udaipur
  • Managed by HRH Group of Hotels (Mewar Royal Family hospitality arm)
  • Famous filming location for James Bond's "Octopussy" (1983) - Pool Deck
  • Authentic 400-year royal interiors and furniture preserved
  • Paantya - signature multi-cuisine heritage restaurant
  • Close to Jagmandir Island Palace (sister HRH property, boat across lake)
  • Sister property to Fateh Prakash Palace within same complex
  • Crescent-shaped royal guest house architecture
  • Royal Butler service (descendants of original Mewar palace staff)
  • Outside decorators permitted with heritage protocols

Concierge Note

Ideal for sunset ceremonies. The best weather window is October to March (peak: November-February). Popular with NRI couples planning from abroad.

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