buildings on Jag Niwas were starting to fall down and basically the Lake Palace was turned into a hotel because it seemed the only viable way that it could be maintained ... It was really a job of conservation. Maharana Mahendra Singh, the current head of the Mewar dynasty was managing the Lake Palace Hotel when it got its 5 star rating. In 1971, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces took over management of the hotel and added another 75 rooms. In 2000, a second restoration was undertaken. The "Royal Butlers" in the hotel are descendants of the original palace retainers. Former guests have included Lord Curzon, Vivien Leigh, Queen Elizabeth, the Shah of Iran, the king of Nepal and US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. The palace was used to film several movies: 1959: Fritz Lang's The Tiger of Eschnapur and The Indian Tomb as palace of Chandra, the maharajah of the fictitious town of Eshnapur. 1983: the James Bond film Octopussy, as the home of titular character Octopussy (played by Maud Adams). It was also shot in the other palaces of Udaipur: Jag Mandir and Monsoon Palace. References Literature External links Palaces in Rajasthan Royal residences in India Hotels in Rajasthan The Leading Hotels of the World Tourist attractions in Udaipur Heritage hotels in India Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces Hotels in Udaipur Houses completed in 1746