At the southern end of the City Palace complex, Shiv Niwas Palace was the personal residence of Maharana Fateh Singh in the early 20th century and is now a heritage hotel run by the Mewar royal family. The crescent-shaped facade with its arched verandahs faces directly onto Lake Pichola.
Non-guests can stop in for high tea on the courtyard lawn or a drink at the Paantya bar — both are open to the public and surprisingly reasonably priced for the setting. It is one of the easiest ways to see the inside of a working palace.