Rajasthan is always known as the place of royal heritages, Grand Palaces, and notable historical marvels. Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur Rajasthan is also one of the most popular places to visit in Rajasthan. The Palace is located in Jodhpur in Rajasthan, and Umaid Bhawan is the first choice of travelers due to its proximity to the Thar Desert. Umaid Bhawan Palace is almost 75 years old, and it is the 6th largest private residence and home of the former Jodhpur royal family in Rajasthan.
This architectural beauty has 367 rooms, and Taj Hotels manages a part of the Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur Rajasthan. The Palace got its name from Maharaja Umaid Singh Ji, the grandfather of its current owner Gaj Singh and 37th Rathore ruler of Mewar. This Lavish Palace is a royal family residence and a museum and famous Hotel in Jodhpur.
In 1929 Maharaja Umaid Singh laid the foundation of the Palace, and all the construction was completed in 1943. The Palace attracts the people by its indigenous art & design, and the architecture used in this building shows the royalty of Indian Kingdoms.
History of the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur Rajasthan
The history of the construction of Umaid Bhawan Palace is linked to the curse of a Saint who said that the drought would pursue the good fortune of the Rathore dynasty. After the end of the reign of almost 50 years, Pratap Singh had faced a cruel drought and famine in 1920 for three years. To avoid this disaster, the farmers sought employment help from Umed Singh Ji for their livelihood.
After seeing such a situation of the farmers, Maharaja Umed Singh decided to build a magnificent palace in Jodhpur to help them so that the farmers could get employment. Henry Vaughan Lanchester was commissioned as the architect and instructed to prepare the plan of the Palace. Approx. 2000 to 3000 people got work in the construction of the Palace. The structure of the Palace is a mixture of Western and Indian architectural techniques, which reflects its grandeur.
Umaid Bhawan Palace Design and Architecture, Jodhpur Rajasthan
The Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur is an architectural marvel, one of the perfect examples of architectural intelligence in Rajasthan. This Palace is built with golden-yellow sandstone, which gives it a radiant sun look. The initial work for the construction of the Palace was slow as the main objective of making it was to employ famine-stricken farmers. The place chosen for the building is known as Chittar Hills, and this place is situated on the outer boundary of Jodhpur.
In the Construction of the Palace, Makrana Marble was used to enhance the beauty, and Burmese teak wood was used for woodwork. At the end of the Palace’s construction, it had 347 rooms with several Courtyards and a huge banquet hall with up to 300 people. The design of the Palace is believed to reflect the box art style, also known as the Dando-deco style. The estimated cost of the construction of Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur Rajasthan was 11 million.
When the Palace was open in 1943, it was considered one of the world’s largest royal residences. The Umaid Bhawan Palace is divided into three parts- Royal Family Residence, Luxurious Taj Hotel Palace, and a Museum which shows the history of the Jodhpur royal family.
Attractions at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur Rajasthan
The Whole Palace is attracting the people towards it, and no one can deny that this is one of the best places to visit in Rajasthan. As we talk about the attraction at this lavish Palace, this Palace works in three different parts. First is a residence of the royal family of jodhpur; second is the most luxurious Taj Hotel Palace. The third and the most attractive museum consists of the 20th-century history of the royal family.
The Palace is spread on 26 acres of land, which consists of 15 acres of various gardens. The inner dome of the Palace is a significant attraction that flares up to 103 feet in the interior. Rathore dynasty coat of arms has been decorated on entry into the Palace. The Collection of the Classic Cars of Maharaja has featured in the front garden of the Palace, where you can take pictures.
Nearby Attractions around the Jodhpur Umaid Bhawan Palace
- Umed Garden
- Shri Ganesh Temple
- Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur
- Umed Heritage Art School
- Jodhpur Camel Safari
- Phool Mahal
Information for Visitors:
- The entry fees for Indian is Rs.30 per person and for foreigner Rs.100 and Rs.10 for the child (5-11 age)
- The Palace opens from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm and opens 7 days a week.
- The Palace is famous as a luxurious Hotel and as a Museum of the Royal Rathore dynasty.
FAQ on Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur Rajasthan
Umaid Bhawan Palace is located in Jodhpur, the Blue city of Rajasthan.
There are many modes of transport by which you can reach the Palace, The nearest Jodhpur airport is just 3 km away from the site, and you can also choose the train as the nearest railway station is just 5 km away. If you want you can also take buses and taxis, private vehicles as the Palace is well connected to other states.
Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum can be visited as a visitor after buying tickets. The Palace is a Taj Hotel and in the private part of the royal palace family still live so you cannot visit the Palace without staying in it.
The Umaid Bhawan Palace was built in 1929 by Maharaja Umaid Singh, and Henry Vaughan Lanchester was the architect of the Palace.
Yes, near the Palace there are many restaurants like KiKi’s Cafe, The Laughing B, Rhythm Restro, Skyzz, Pachranga, On the Rocks, Hanwant Mahal.
You can enjoy and experience the royal culture as the place is a royal family residence, you can visit Museum, Palace has gardens pools, spa. Visit nearby attractions like Mehrangarh Fort.
The estimated cost to build the Lavish Palace was 11millions.
The best time to visit this site is in winter, especially in October and March.