The erstwhile residence of the Maharaja of Kashmir from the Dogra dynasty is now a luxurious hotel where you can stay and feel like royalty. The Gulab Bhawan is located in the Eastern part of the city and overlooks the Dal Lake. The palace was built in 1910 by Maharaja Pratap Singh and was further beautified and decorated by Mahara Hari Singh. In 1956, Maharaja Hari Singh moved to Mumbai and the Gulab Bhawan was converted into a hotel. The hotel was taken over by Bharat Hotels in 1998 and in 2008 it was rebranded as the Lalit Grand Palace. Guests at the hotel continue to get the same royal treatment which the Maharajas and Maharanis received at the Gulab Bhawan.

The open air restaurant at the Gulab Bhawan called Chinar Garden is a multi-cuisine eatery shadowed by the magnificent Chinar trees. With gorgeous views of the Dal Lake, and the salubrious climes of Srinagar, the Chinar Garden is an ideal setting where one can relax with a steaming cup of Kahwa.

If you decide to stay at the palace, choose the rooms on the second floor as they offer the best views of the Dal Lake.