Umaid Bhawan Palace/ Hotel, Jodhpur, History, Images & Built by
Another popular tourist destination in Jodhpur is Umaid Bhawan Palace, which was voted the Best Hotel in the World. In addition to being a history hotel, it is also a museum and the home of Raja Gaj Singh’s royal family. It is also known as the Chittar Palace due to its position atop the Chittar Hill, Jodhpur’s highest point. Constructed in 1943 after being commissioned in 1929, the palace took longer to finish since it was intended to give jobs to the area’s grieving and drought-stricken farmers. In addition to providing exceptional accommodation, Umaid Bhavan Palace offers historic tours and memorable dining experiences. It was recently in the news for being the site of the Bollywood Superstar Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas – a renowned Pop Star from the Band – One Direction.
The 347-room palace is currently separated into three sections. Tourists are not permitted to access the royal family’s home in one section. The second is home to a museum that features a vast array of royal family artefacts, including plush animals, clocks, arms, and photos. The third section of the palace has been transformed into a five-star hotel that provides its guests with the finest services. In Jodhpur, it is among the most well-liked hotels. This palace, also known as the Chittar Palace, is perched atop the powerful Chittar Hill. The palace’s exterior is enhanced by a lovely garden that features a variety of flowers and luxuriant vegetation.
Umaid Bhavan Palace Jodhpur HistoryÂ
The wellbeing of the populace was the primary driving force for the palace’s construction. Following the wealthy Rathore dynasty, Jodhpur was doomed to three years of drought due to a saint’s curse. The farmers begged Umaid Singh, the monarch at the time, for assistance as they faced severe starvation conditions. Umaid Singh ordered the Umaid Palace to be built in order to serve his subjects and provide them with work. The task of conceptualising the design fell to architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester, who modelled the palace after the government complex in New Delhi. Both traditional Indian architectural elements and western technology were integrated into the palace’s design.
The palace was constructed relatively slowly because the primary goal was to give struggling farmers jobs. Only in 1943 was the actual construction finished, having started in 1929. At the time of its construction, it cost 11 million rupees and consistently employed about 3000 people.
Architecture of Umaid Bhavan PalaceÂ
The palace has two wings and was constructed in the Beaux Arts style. The elaborate woodwork inside the palace was made of Burmese teak wood, Makrana marble, and golden yellow sandstone. The palace featured a banquet hall that could accommodate 300 people, 347 rooms, and multiple gardens. A throne chamber, a private meeting room, a Durbar Hall for public gatherings, a vaulted banquet hall, a swimming pool, a spa, private dining rooms, two special marble squash courts, a ball room, a library, an indoor billiards room, four tennis courts, and lengthy passageways are all features of the palace.
In 1971, his father’s successor, Gaj Singh II, made the decision to turn a portion of the palace into a hotel. The Maharaja and Maharani Suites are among the hotel’s 70 guest rooms. While the Maharani Suite features parquet flooring and a stunning view of the garden, the Maharaja Suite features black marble flooring and a curved mirror dome. The hotel’s huge restaurant now occupies the former function hall.
Umaid Bhawan Palace HotelÂ
The Umaid Palace Hotel is a physical example of impeccable hospitality and will treat you to the joys of the opulent lifestyle like no other. The opulent views of the verdant grounds from the suites and apartments here will make you feel like a king or queen. For the convenience of the visitors, the hotel offers a number of first-rate amenities on its grounds. Delicious Indian and continental fusion meals are served at the hotel’s fantastic in-house restaurant. Body washes and wraps, Ayurvedic treatments, yoga and meditation, cosmetic treatments, and spa indulgences are just a few of the many experiences available at Jiva Grande Spa.
In addition, there are kiddie and outdoor pools for enjoyable outdoor time, a fitness centre for a quick workout, billiards and pool tables, croquet facilities, marble squash courts, cemented tennis courts, golf, polo, and horseback riding, a doctor and nurse on call around-the-clock, and facilities for the disabled. You may reserve your stay here, and the accommodations cost about INR 22,000 per night.
The Royal ResidenceÂ
Gaj Singh of Jodhpur and the royal family reside in the Umaid Palace, which is hailed as one of the biggest private homes in the world. One of the palace’s main attractions is the sapphire inner dome, which is housed inside the central dome. The outside dome is thirteen meters high, and the inner dome is thirty-one meters high. The royal family’s coat of arms is displayed at the palace’s entrance, which leads to a foyer with a polished black granite floor. The lounge room features marble floors and pink sandstone. The interior of the palace was designed by J.S. Norblin in art deco design and has a fresco – decorated throne room in the east wing. However, this section of the palace is not open to the public.
Umaid Bhawan Palace MuseumÂ
The Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum is a sumptuous display of luxury and antiques never seen before. Stuffed leopards, glass and porcelain items, and souvenirs like a historic flag that Queen Victoria herself gave to King Jaswant Singh are all on display in the museum. A vast collection of clocks and images that depict the Palace’s interior in its finest shape are also kept in the museum. The Maharajas’ vintage vehicles are also on show in the garden in front of the museum. In addition to kaleidoscopic paintings and murals, the museum’s Darbar house features armour and household items from the 1930s. The greatest time of year to visit the palace and museum is during the winter months of October through March.
Things to Do at Umaid Bhavan Palace Jodhpur
While at Umaid Bhawan, you can engage in a variety of revitalising activities. You may see the exquisitely carved marble Jaswant Thada. It honours Maharaja Jaswant Singh II and is set against the magnificent background of Jodhpur. Domes, portraits, and a part honouring the peacock that is said to have flown into the Maharaja’s cremation pyre are all used to decorate this memorial.
The “Heritage walk” is another activity to do here; it takes visitors directly into Jodhpur’s illustrious history. During a guided tour of the grounds, you may listen to fascinating
Best Time To Visit Umaid Bhawan PalaceÂ
Morning hours are perfect for a visit to this destination. The best season would be the Winter months of October- March.
How To Reach Umaid Bhawan PalaceÂ
All across Jodhpur, there are luxury and private buses as well as government buses. The most practical modes of transportation for local travel are taxis, autorickshaws, and tongas. The Umaid Bhawan Palace is 3 km from the main bus stop.
