Umaid Bhawan Palace, located in Jodhpur, India, is a magnificent heritage hotel with a rich history. Completed in 1943, it was built by Maharaja Umaid Singh to provide employment during a severe famine. The palace boasts stunning Indo-Art Deco architecture, lush gardens, opulent interiors, and offers guests a royal experience.
Umaid Bhawan is a gem of Jodhpur City, built by Maharaja Umaid Singh between 1929 and 1943. It is an architectural masterpiece designed by Henry Lanchester, a renowned British architect. Maharaja Gaj Singh II and his family currently reside in a part of the palace. However, the other two sections of the palace have been turned into a museum and a luxurious hotel, managed by The Taj Hotels. Additionally, it serves as a magnificent wedding venue where Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas tied the knot in 2018.
Spread over an impressive area of 26 acres, Umaid Bhawan is built on Chittar Hill, overlooking the entire ‘Blue City’. There are 350 rooms, a meeting hall, banquet hall, ballroom, library, spa room and an internal swimming pool. For entertainment, the palace has four tennis courts, a billiards room and two squash courts. The entire palace is beautifully adorned with artefacts, antiques, relics, stuffed animal heads and huge paintings depicting a historical scene.
Umaid Bhawan Palace is the last palace that was built in India before Independence. It is believed that Maharaja Umaid Singh ordered the construction of this palace to employ thousands of farmers to survive a crisis. Today, the Umaid Bhawan Palace stands as a heritage building and a symbol of hope for the working class.
Highlights
• Admire the grand architecture of Umaid Bhawan, a mix of Indian and European styles.
• Explore the museum and witness exquisite displays like porcelain wares, swords and stuffed animal heads.
• Visit the Vintage Car Museum and take pictures with luxury cars including the 1938 Cadillac, Rolls Royce and Buick Super.
• Live like royalty at the grand Umaid Bhawan Hotel and enjoy top-notch facilities like an indoor swimming pool, gaming courts and well-equipped rooms.
• Relish in an authentic Rajasthani Thali at the lavish restaurant while listening to live folk singing.
How To Reach
By Road: Umaid Bhawan is located at a distance of around 10 km from Jodhpur. You can reach the palace in approximately 20 minutes via the NH62 route. You can either take a taxi or drive yourself to reach the palace. Another convenient and budget-friendly option to reach Umaid Bhawan is by an auto rickshaw or Tuk-tuks. These are easily available from any corner of the city that will directly take you to the palace.
Best Time To Visit
Umaid Bhawan offers unique experiences and can be visited throughout the year.
1. Best Day of the Week: You can plan your visit to Umaid Bhawan Palace during the weekdays if you wish to avoid the crowds of the weekends.
2. Best Time of the Day: Plan your visit to Umaid Bhawan Palace either during the early morning or late afternoon so that you can comfortably explore the palace without the crowds.
Other Essential Information
Visitor Tips
- It is recommended to wear light clothes and comfortable shoes as the palace is spread across a large area.
- Remember to keep your environment clean and avoid throwing garbage inside the property.
- Apply sunscreen and carry a hat to protect yourself from skin burns, especially if you are travelling in the summer season.
- Follow the dress code by wearing modest clothes that should not reveal your shoulders and knees.
- Make sure to carry sufficient water with you as there are limited water facilities inside the palace.
- It is advisable to opt for a guided tour so that you can gain insights and valuable information about the palace.
Marvel at The Stunning Architecture
Umaid Bhawan is an architectural masterpiece which was designed by Henry Lanchester. Sprawling over an area of 26 acres with 15 acres of lush garden, the palace is a 110 ft tall structure. It boasts a perfect blend of Indian and European architectural styles. The structure of the palace is built with yellow sandstone whereas Makrana marble and Burmese teak wood are used for the interiors.
Inside the palace, there are around 350 rooms, a throne chamber, a meeting hall, a dining room, a banquet hall, a ballroom, courtyards, a spa and a library. Additionally, there are four tennis courts, two squash courts, a billiards room, a cinema hall and an indoor swimming pool for entertainment purposes.
Explore The Museum
The middle section of Umaid Bhawan Palace has been turned into a museum for the general public. Inside the museum, you will get to see the exquisite cutlery collection of the royal family including glass and porcelain wares. You will also get to admire stunning paintings of the royal family, historic events and mythological stories. Witnessing the impressive weapons collection at this Rajputana palace is a must, where you will get to see swords, guns, pistols and shields.
A fascinating section of the museum is the trophy collection which displays stuffed animal heads, tiger cushion, boar tusk and elephant feet stool. Some other collections of the museum include vintage clocks from all around the world and garments of the royal family.
Admire Vintage Car Collection
The car collection is a separate museum at Umaid Bhawan which boasts the grand collection of vintage cars of the royal family. There are a total of 22 luxury cars in this museum which are still in perfect condition. Some of these cars include 1938 Cadillac, 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom, Cadillac Convertible, Buick Super, Morris Minor, 1936 Vauxhall and rare Mercedes.
Some of these cars are one of a kind as they were customised on the request of the royal family members. It is a must visit museum for all the car enthusiasts where you can even click pictures with your favourite luxury car.
Experience a Luxurious Stay
A significant section of Umaid Bhawan Palace was taken over by The Taj Hotels. Out of 350 rooms, 64 rooms are a part of this hotel including Maharaja Suite, Maharani Suite, Royal Suite, Regal Suite and deluxe rooms. This hotel offers you an opportunity to experience the royal lifestyle along with the lively culture of Rajasthan. The rooms are well-equipped with top-notch facilities like flat screens, DVD player, mini bar and a royal bed. Additionally, you can enjoy the spa and wellness sessions for a soothing experience. You can even enjoy a luxury dining experience at the lavish restaurants of the hotel like Risala, Trophy Bar, Pillars and Sunset Pavilion. Another popular activity at the hotel is to feed the peacocks in the lush gardens which is a unique experience that you should not miss.
Participate in Outdoor Activities
You can make your stay at Umaid Bhawan Palace even more memorable and fun by trying the outdoor activities. The hotel offers a number of indoor sports that you can enjoy such as tennis, squash and billiards. It is an ideal place for bird watchers as it is home to several species of birds such as pied kingfisher, white browed fantail, whiskered tern, Himalayan griffon, garganey and purple heron. You can also enjoy a cycling tour around the palace, admiring the beautiful views of the entire city of Jodhpur. For an even more adventurous experience, the palace also offers horse riding to its guests.
Experience The Vibrant Rajasthani Culture
Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the best places in Rajasthan to experience the vibrant and welcoming culture of this state. As soon as you enter the hotel, you will be welcomed by the sound of dhols, flower garlands and refreshing drinks. Moreover, there are live folk singing performances that you can enjoy while relishing in a huge and delicious Rajasthani Thali. The hotel even organises Rajasthani folk singing and dancing events in the evening to entertain the guests as well as to show them the beautiful culture of Rajasthan. Attending these events while admiring the beautiful sunset of Jodhpur city is a truly phenomenal experience.
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