Although "Palace" makes it sound very grand, this is an old summer house converted into a hotel. They have large, old-fashioned rooms with verandahs and large but old-fasioned bathrooms. They offer buffet meals that are very good.

The rooms at the front (be sure to ask for them!) have a fantastic view of the lake and the mountains beyond.

The only drawback to the hotel is the access: it is at the top of a VERY steep climb, and the approach road is very narrow. Two elderly people we had with us needed a car each time they wished to go anywhere at all (the hotel offered us this facility for free, though, as long as it was only a drop and pick-up at the lake).

The property is very well managed. The service standards are excellent.

We planned to stay here 3 nights in early April 2007 but left after the first night because it was so incredibly noisy at this end of Nainital (the Mallital end). Hundreds of dogs barked all night, and some crazed sounding man ranted over a loudspeaker for hours and hours—hateful shouting. We never did find out where it was coming from—everyone we asked the next day had no idea what we were talking about. How they could sleep through it beats me. So despite the fact that Palace Belvedere itself was nice—a restored raja’s palace with lovely common areas and rather ragged animal skins hanging here and there—we discovered that Nainital was just way too noisy for us to spend any more time in (we’d already spent two nights elsewhere there). Our room at the Belvedere itself was spacious, with a clean bathroom and good shower, nice view of the lake, and sitting area. Food in the restaurant was good, though we were the only ones eating there. In fact, two snarling mounted leopard heads watched us as we ate breakfast shortly after checking in. Daytime was also noisy here, with horns honking, dogs barking, and pigeons scrabbling all over the metal roof. The hotel’s entrance is gated and manned with guards wearing uniforms and red berets. A very narrow, steep, winding “road” leads up to the hotel—make sure your taxi has good breaks. I’d recommend this hotel only if you are a good sleeper and don’t mind 24-hour noise.

If you want to experience what it was like in the 20's than this is your place. Nothing has changed. The corridors and walls are still adorned with all of the original taxidermy.

The rooms with a lake view certainly do have a lovely outlook however they really do need to be renovated.

The bed (which was a king) does not have linen that fits it so they use single sheets and single blankets. This does not make for a very comfortable nights sleep when their are two of you.

The bathroom was very basic with the tiniest hot water system you have ever seen or tried to shower with. Two people cannot have a shower without having to let it refill and reheat.

The restaurant was a bit of a joke really - you were requested to order your meals in advance i.e. at breakfast you were asked what you would like for dinner. Don't waste your time - their are great restaurants down along the lake which is about a 10 minute walk.

I had a theory when travelling in India - if there was a female involved at Reception, the hotel would be good, if not, pretty ordinary. Their were no women involved in this hotel.