It's time to experience the richness and the luxury of the Rajasthani heritage. And there is no better place than the Umaid Bhawan at Jodhpur to feel the majestic life of the Rathore Maharajas and Maharanis.

It will be a grand treat to your eyes and fantasies with the carvings and the unmatched architecture of Rathore Royal Kings, to tantalize your taste buds with the most luscious ethnic delicacies of Rajasthan, to soothe your mind, body and soul in the calm and serene environment of Jodhpur and much more.

Umaid Bhawan is a single spot destination to pacify your many urges and to make you feel like a Royal King yourself. 

In a widespread area sprawling across 26 acres with 15 acres of the lush green garden, it's a real masterpiece in Jodhpur. The entry of the palace is decorated with the Coat of arms of the Royal Rathore family. The entrance takes you to the black granite floored lobby.

The lounge area is with the pink sandstone and the marble floors. The interior with art-deco designs depict the features of Hindu and Buddhist edifices inspired from the Temple Mountain-palaces of Burma and Cambodia, in particular of the Angkor Wat.

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When Was Umaid Bhawan Palace Built?

Umaid Bhawan Palace was built between 1928 and 1943. It's a grand palace representing Rajasthan's heritage and culture in real sense. It is rightly known as the portrait of new Jodhpur.

The palace has three functional divisions: The residence of the Royal family, a Museum on the history of the twentieth-century history of the Jodhpur Royal Family, and a luxury Taj Palace Hotel known as Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur.

How Umaid Bhavan Got Its Name?

It is named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, the grandfather of the present owner Gaj Singh. In 1971 a part of the hotel was converted to a five-star Taj Hotel by him.

It was the home of the erstwhile Royal family of Jodhpur and is considered as the sixth-largest private residence of the world. Palm court marble used in its construction provides it with a collective identity with the Taj Mahal at Agra, as it was also constructed with the Palm Court Marble.

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Where Is Umaid Bhawan Palace Situated?

The Umaid Bhawan is constructed at the highest point of the Jodhpur and is perched on Chittar Hill. 

How To Reach Umaid Bhawan?

Umaid Bhawan is easily approachable from Jodhpur airport. It is close to a twenty-minute drive from the airport. It's proximity to the shopping areas, Kalyana and Balsamand lakes provide it smooth commutation from the airport.

What's Great About Umaid Bhawan Palace?

Umaid Bhawan is located amidst 26 acres of lush gardens, with resplendent beauty of dancing peacocks, a subterranean Zodiac Pool and the luxurious Taj Heritage Hotel with latest Stylish rooms and suites to add to the comfort and the convenience during the visit.

Taj offers the Rajasthani as well as the complete Indian cuisine to tantalize your taste buds. One could have the European as well as the Mediterranean delicacies at Pillars, which is there in a collonaded veranda.

The Trophy bar unleashes your desire of enjoying alcoholic beverages and cigars. The refreshing and rejuvenating signature treatments and therapies of the Jiva Grande Spa are no less pampering.

It's the best place to soothe the body and the mind with meditation and yoga. The heritage walk through the bygone era would remind you of the Rajasthani rich heritage and culture and would take you deeply soaked in the majestic world of those days. Maharani Badan Kanwar of Jodhpur used to live there once upon a time.

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Why Was Umaid Bhavan Built?

It was the curse of a saint which seeded the Umaid Bhavan Palace. A Saint cursed this area to be a drought sick area forever after the great rule for the Rathore Dynasty. After the end of Partap Singh rule of about 50 years, Jodhpur faced the severe drought and famine in 1920 consecutively for three years.

This drought led to the farmers dying of hunger and scarcity taking them to the verge of suicide. To overcome this situation, King Umaid Singh, the 37th Rathore ruler of Marwar at Jodhpur thought of employing the farmers to prevent them from starving by having some employment to survive this famine. He decided to go for building a majestic lavish palace of its kind. 

Who Architected The Umaid Bhavan?

Henry Vaughan Lanchester was appointed as the architecture to design and prepare the blueprint of the palace. He adopted the theme of domes and columns and planned the palace in line with the new building complex, which was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, of whom Henry Lanchester was contemporary. He decided to blend the western technology with Indian architecture and come out with what we today call as Umaid Bhavan.

How Was It Built?

Umaid Singh Palace was built with 'dun-coloured,' which is golden-yellow sandstone with two wings. The Burmese teak wood was used to do the interior woodwork to give it the real Rajasthani architectural impression and the look.

Makrana marble was also infused to add to its luxurious look and to provide it with a majestic sophisticated look.

The palace was initially built to accommodate three hundred people. With 347 rooms, several courtyards and a large banquet hall it finally emerged out as the world's largest palace of its time.

It represented the Beaux-Arts Style which was in vogue in those days, which is also known as Indo-Deco Style.

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Conclusion

Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the best places to have a glimpse of Western culture blended with Indian architecture. With a five-star hotel inside, it's a unique palace of it's kind, and it is one of the sixth-largest private residences of the world. 

Indian Travel Store curates Vacation Tours within different budgets across pan India and is catering to the entire pan India from the last more than ten decades.

They have expertise in customizing itineraries and travel packages as per their custom, culture, and interest. They have years of experience in delivering the best experience over the board to all their clients.

Here you can pick from their Jodhpur Tour Packages and could visit their other 'Best destinations in Jodhpur.' Otherwise, you could pick from their Best Rajasthan Tour Packages to enjoy your vacations or relish your holidays.

Their Rajasthan Tour Packages are the most sought for packages with Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur topping the list.