House proud

See how some of India's most creative people draw on art, history, memories and careful planning to create spaces that reflect exactly who they are

- Urvee Modwel

Go ahead. Put up that Live Love Laugh sign. Set out those essential oils. Arrange all the laughing Buddhas in plain sight. Set up Castle Grayskull and He-Man on the living room coffee table.

Everyone deserves a room or corner in their home, to which they can retreat or where they know they can thrive. For some it's a tiny nook - a balcony with a green view, a book-lined shelf that's entirely their own, or a wall lined with personal treasures. For others, it's the complete opposite, a place to welcome new people, spark new fires. And for a few, it's a whole palace, as this story will show.

Brunch spoke to four creative people, Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, philanthropist and executive director at Historic Resort Hotels; architect Dikshu Kukreja; interior designer Minnie Bhatt; and singer Shilpa Rao, about the one spot where find their calm. Come check this...

Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar

Maharana of Udaipur

Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar is a philanthropist, educationist, and sports patron. So, where does someone like that go to unwind? To his palace, of course.

It's not just any palace. Udaipur's Jagmandir Palace was built in 1624 and is situated on one of the two islands in the Pichola lake. "It was purely built for entertainment," says Mewar. "It's still being used for that purpose, and as a family, that makes us happy. I escape there as much as possible, to unwind and to work."

The palace features a courtyard, domes, a colonnade of cusped arches, fountains, pools, gardens and terraces. "The architecture is the most beautiful part about it. And the water that surrounds it adds a touch of romance, "Mewar says. The Jagmandir Palace was not built by one person. "Udaipur was founded in 1559 by Maharana Uday Singhji, and since then, until my father, everybody has added their own space to it," he adds.