Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

No haveli in the city occupies as enviable a position as this one, on the northern shore of Lake Pichola. The mansion was built in the early 18^th century using materials left over from Jagat Niwas palace, and is textbook Mughal-Rajput style. Aside from the glorious architecture, its main USP is the view across the water to the Sisodia’s great palace and temple towers of the old city. You can dine by candle light under original cusp arches as the setting sun gilds the ochre walls and whitewashed domes opposite – truly one of India’s most romantic vistas.