The Palace
Umaid Bhawan Palace is a palace converted into a hotel in the state of
Rajasthan in India. The palace is located in Jodhpur amidst the great Indian
Thar Desert. The Umaid Bhawan Palace is a high tourist attraction in Jodhpur
Rajasthan with all basic amenities for both domestic and foreign tourists.
Umaid Bhawan Place of Jodhpur was built in the 20th century by Maharaja
Umaid Singh. Maharaja Umaid Singh planned the Palace as a centrepiece of his
massive famine-relief scheme. Today, a part of the Umaid palace have been
converted into a hotel and a museum and rest of it is used for residential
purpose by the royal family.
The Structure
Umaid Bhawan PalaceI combines architectural grandeur with aesthetic
triumph, one of its kind. Umaid Bhawan Palace can qualify for several firsts
- the largest private residence in the world, the finest example of
art-deco, the only palace to have paintings from the Ramayana painted by a
Polish artist, the first to use air-conditioning, electricity and elevators,
and the most impressive is its size and dimensions.
The
Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the biggest private residences in the world. A
colossal 347 room structure with two monumental wings separated by a central
dome soaring to a height of 185 feet.
How to Approach
Skyway : Indian Airlines operates flights from Delhi, Mumbai,
Udaipur and Jaipur.
Trackway : Jodhpur is connected by rail with Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and
Lucknow. It is also covered by the famous "Palace on Wheels"
Expressway : Jodhpur is well connected with Delhi (597 km), Udaipur
(260 km) and Jaipur (336 km).
The Most Popular Sights to Visit
Mehrangarh Fort
The 5 km long magnificent fort on a 125 metre high hill is one of the most
majestic and formidable structures. Although invincible from the outside,
the fort has four gates approached by a winding road. Within the fort are
some impressive palaces with amazingly carved panels, latticed windows, and
evocative names.
Jaswant Thada
Here at Jaswant Thada there are a cluster of royal cenotaphs in white
marble. Built in 1899 A.D. in memory of
Maharaja
Jaswant Singh II. Within the main cenotaph are the portraits of various
Jodhpur rulers.
Balsamand Lake and Gardens
A pretty lake built in 1159 A.D. A magnificent summer Palace stands by the
lakeside surrounded by beautiful gardens. An ideal location for excursions.
Mandore
This is the ancient capital of Marwar. It has cenotaphs of the Jodhpur
rulers. The Hall of heroes has fifteen figures chiselled out of the rock on
the wall, which displays Hindu deities. Its beautiful gardens with high rock
terraces make it a favourable picnic spot.
