1. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India
Udaipur,
the jewel of Rajasthan, has a regal feeling even in the streets and
marketplace, a sense of pride surrounding every shop and square. Lake Palace
(formerly known as Jag Niwas) is a luxury hotel, of 83 rooms and suites
featuring white marble walls, located on a natural foundation of 4 acres rock,
which sits on a private island in the middle of Lake Pichola. The hotel
operates a boat which transports guests to the hotel from a jetty at the City
Palace.
2. Summer Palace, Beijing, China
The
Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. Its
Chinese name, YiHeYuan, translates as ‘Garden of Nurtured Harmony’ or ‘Garden
for Maintaining Health and Harmony’. As its name implies, the Summer Palace was
used as a summer residence by China’s imperial rulers – as a retreat from the
main imperial palace now known as the Palace Museum (or ‘Forbidden City’) – a
pleasure ground in the countryside, yet near to the city.
3. Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
Schönbrunn
Palace is a former imperial summer residence in Vienna, Austria. Schönbrunn
Palace with its surrounding buildings and the huge park is one of the most
significant cultural monuments in Austria. The castle was build to rival French
Versailles in Baroque beauty and importance.
4. Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
The
Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, located at the European side of the
Bosporus, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. The
palace is composed of three parts; the Mabeyn-i Hümâyûn (the quarters reserved
for the men), Muayede Salonu (the ceremonial halls) and the Harem-i Hümâyûn
(the apartments of the family of the Sultan). The palace has an area of 45,000
m2, and contains 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths and 68 toilets.
5. Chateau de Versailles, Versailles, France
The Palace of
Versailles was the official residence of the Kings of France. It was originally
a hunting lodge, built in 1624, by Louis XIII. It was expanded by Louis XIV
beginning in 1669. He used it as a little lodge as a secret refuge for his
amorous trysts with the lovely Louise de la Valliere and built a fairy tale
park around it.
