The old town of Udaipur is criss-crossed with atmospheric crammed lanes lined with shops, havelis, hotels, monuments, hostels and hole in the wall cafes. Cows, tourists and locals occupy every inch in a wonderful characterful chaos – a delightful to explore on foot. But that also means that a whole day roaming can be torturous for the legs. Booking an accommodation smack dab in the middle of town has huge benefits. The Neem Tree delivers to the traveller who wants a charming oasis – close enough to everything that he or she needs to explore, yet with an ambience that makes one wind down in peace away from the throbbing streets. It is definitely a relief that this is not one of the properties by the lake in Udaipur as they are likely to be more buzzing, stripping away the joys of a sedate holiday. Yet, this is one of the best stays in Udaipur for a number of other reasons.

The eight-room property hits the perfect balance of modern comforts, including a pool, along with a heritage ambience in the rooms. Accommodations with a swimming pool in Udaipur are a much-coveted breed. Well-designed, spacious rooms in bright colours with stone-carved stained glass windows are just right to come back to. But it’s the pool area and the sun-drenched terrace that guests find hard to rip themselves away from. We vouch both for these spots to sink in with a good book and the wonderful coffee! The hotel is ideal for families, couples and even a group of friends.