HOTEL UMAID BHAWAN

Jodhpur Hotels : Ajit Bhawan, Balsamand Bhawan, Hari Mahal, Jhalamand Garh,  Karni Bhawan, Khimsar Fort, Maharani Bagh Orchard, Ranbanka Palace, Ratan Vilas, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Quality Inn Chandra, Coralia Ummed, Ratnada Polo

A splendid example of Indo-colonial and the art-deco style of the thirties, Umaid Bhawan is one of the largest and grandest private residences in the world. The palace was built between 1929 and 1943 and over 3000 artisans worked over 14 years to create this magnificent edifice.
If there is one palace that combines architectural extravaganza with aesthetic triumph, it is the Umaid Bhawan Palace. If there is something that is best experienced than described, it is absolutely a stay at the Umaid Bhawan Palace.

From the time of the origin of Jodhpur to the present day, the Rathore capital suffered severe scarcity of water and drought followed with unfailing regularity every third or fourth year. A tradition developed among the Maharajas to alleviate the suffering of people by creating work. The work usually took the form of building canals, roads, temples, stepwells and palaces.

Rosita Forbes, travelling in the 1930s through Jodhpur, experienced firsthand the severe rainless times in Jodhpur, and described the goings-on:

'The scarcity of water in the city has been remedied by the erection of a reservoir with eight pumping stations. Roads are spreading. Fine buildings are springing up on the outskirts of the lovely town…'

Maharaja Umaid Singh conceived the Palace as the centerpiece of his massive famine-relief scheme.  The acclaimed designs of Henry Lanchester for Cardiff City Hall and Law Courts/Central Hall, Westminster, impressed Maharaja Umaid Singh, and Lutyen's protégé was entrusted with the job.

It took 14 years and 3000 men to give shape to this stupendous expression. The Palace was designed as a smooth combination of European classical elements interlaced with oriental ones. Massive sandstone boulders were cut from a quarry at Surasagar near Jodhpur and transported by a special narrow-gauge train to the construction sites. Master masons chiselled these rough stones into blocks of five and seven tons. The blocks were then fitted in an interlocking fashion with no mortar or cement being used in the construction.

Furnished with fashionable Art Deco interiors by the Polish artist and decorator, S. Norblin, the palace consumed one million square feet of the finest marble. The world of Umaid Bhawan Palace contained everything that the royalty required – a private cinema hall, a luxurious swimming pool inlaid with tiles depicting the zodiac, gigantic royal suites, a soaring rotunda, fancy ball rooms, a majestic durbar hall, billiards room, ballrooms, banquet halls, libraries, staff quarters, servant quarters….

In 1977, Umaid Bhawan opened as one of India's grandest luxury hotels.  

Indoor pool with a sun terrace, sauna, private museum, village safaris / camel rides.

LOCATION :  3 kms. from Airport, 5 kms. from Railway Station, 3 kms. from Bus Stand.

ACCOMMODATION : Number of Rooms: Total A/C Rooms 96, Number of Floors: 3 

FACILITIES  :  Double A/C 63, Double Total 63, Suites A/C 33, Suites Total 33, Total Rooms 96, Centrally Airconditioned, 4, 250, 40, 3, 1, Indian, Continental, Chinese, Rajasthan, Business Centre, Room Service, H/C running water, Telephone, CCTV, Mini Refrigerator, Banquet Facilities, Conference Facilities, Beauty Parlour, Shopping Arcade, Health Club, Swimming Pool, Tennis, Golf, In House Theatre, Museum, Palmist Squash. Doctor on call, Laundry, Money Changer, Safe Deposit, Baby Sitting, Valet, Travel Desk Service

ADDRESS : Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur - 342 006 (Rajasthan).