Symbol of hope
The lavish Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur was established in 1943 by the family of Maharaja Umaid Singh as a private residence for the entire family. It is also one of the last grand palaces to be built in India.
But then, in the 1920s, a severe drought and famine swept through the region. Maharaja Umaid Singh saw an opportunity to boost the economy and set about planning an ambitious 15-year construction project. Funded by his own private funds, Singh employed around 3,000 people to build the world’s largest private residence on Chittar Hill – the highest point of the then Blue City in Jodhpur.
Singh then found a British architect named HV Lancaster to realise his ambition and design the building. The palace was made from pink Chittar sandstone and palm-court marble (similar to the material used in the Taj Mahal). With an art deco facade incorporating traditional Indian accents, while the interiors featured stunning Polish frescoes, marble and a grand central dome, the entire royal family lived in such regal style in the palace just a few years before India declared independence from Britain. Soon after, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi stripped Rajasthani rulers of their powers, annual allowances and titles. As a result, many of the old palaces fell into disrepair over time, but Umaid Bhawan has been beautifully preserved. That was partly thanks to the visionary decision by Gaj Singh II – Singh's grandson – to convert part of the palace into a luxury hotel in the early 1970s, in order to generate more money to offset the high maintenance costs.
In the 1970s, the palace was converted into a hotel and has long been a symbol of prosperity in Jodhpur.
"I want tourists to experience the Indian way of life, so we have Indian food, Indian music and staff who have been with us for generations. The warmth and local interaction is something people appreciate at Umaid Bhawan," he told CNN Travel.
Inside the royal residence
The rooms and suites in this royal hotel will offer guests a special experience and a sense of attraction at first sight, with a breath of old-world charm with all the furniture from the Old World period, luxurious upholstery and impressive animals on the premises.
There is also a library, an elegant dining room, a spacious terrace for afternoon tea and colorful peacock watching. In addition, the hotel offers a Grecian spa in the basement, an indoor pool, a tennis court and a botanical garden on the vast Baradari lawn.
This place has also been chosen as the wedding venue of a number of celebrities, most recently the couple Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas.
While guests are not allowed to “penetrate” the rest of the hotel – the royal family’s private residence, specifically where Singh II still resides – they do have the opportunity to visit the museum, which houses 15,000 items from the royal family’s personal collection, including rare ceramics, antiques, armor, murals and even a few vintage cars. “In India, and especially in Rajasthan, people are very proud of their culture and heritage and are keen to preserve it.”
Right now, you can also experience a royal life with prices starting from 450 USD/night (nearly 11 million VND) right at this special Palace.
