Umaid Bhawan Palace sits on Chittar Hill in Jodhpur. It is a golden sandstone palace completed in the 1940s and still home to the Jodhpur royal family. The building is divided into three parts: the family's residence, a Taj hotel and a museum open to day visitors. The museum shows royal memorabilia and a few vintage cars in glass cases. Most of the palace is closed to people who are not staying or dining there, so plan the visit around the museum, the exterior and the views over the city toward Mehrangarh Fort.
Built to give work during a famine
Maharaja Umaid Singh commissioned the palace in 1929, when a famine had hit the state. Construction gave employment to local people, and about 3,000 labourers worked on it over roughly 15 years. The palace was finished in the early 1940s.
The British architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester designed it. While it was going up, it was known as the Chittar Palace, because the stone came from Chittar Hill, the hill it stands on. The name stayed in use afterwards.
The royal family moved in during 1943. Mehrangarh Fort was left empty after that, apart from a short period when Hanwant Singh lived there. Umaid Bhawan is described as the last great palace built in India.
Sandstone, marble and teak
The palace is built of golden-yellow sandstone, with Makrana marble and Burmese teak used inside. The design draws on Indo-Saracenic, Classical Revival and Western Art Deco styles, which is why it is often called Indo-Deco. The result is a mix of Indian and European ideas rather than a copy of either.
It stands on the highest point in Jodhpur and is easy to spot from the city and from the air when flying into Jodhpur. It is surrounded by about 26 acres of gardens with fountains and courtyards, and peacocks walk freely across the grounds. From the hill you look over Jodhpur and across to Mehrangarh Fort.
One building, three uses
The palace is split into three sections: the private residence of the royal family, a heritage hotel run by Taj, and a museum open to the public. Gaj Singh II lives in a separate wing. Part of the building is therefore a working family home.
The hotel rooms are in Art Deco style, and the best look onto the gardens. Guests have access to two pools, including the Zodiac Pool with its astrological murals, a tennis court and the Jiva Grande Spa. The fine dining restaurant serves Rajasthani dishes such as Jodhpuri dal, kachar maans and malai ghewar. Staying or dining is the way to see more of the palace than the museum shows.
What the museum shows
The museum is small and well kept. It displays artefacts and memorabilia from the royal family, with captions that explain what you are looking at. A few vintage cars stand in glass enclosures.
Because it covers only part of the building, the museum suits a short stop of about an hour rather than a half-day visit. If you want to go deeper into the palace's history, a guide is available.
Where it is and what is nearby
The palace is on Circuit House Road in the Cantt area, close to the museum entrance. Mehrangarh Fort is about 3.5 km away, and the white marble Jaswant Thada memorial is about 3.6 km away. Jaswant Thada also gives a view of the palace across the city, which is useful if you want a second look at it from a distance.
FAQ
Can you visit Umaid Bhawan Palace without staying there?
Yes, but only a small part is open. Day visitors can enter the museum section. The hotel and the royal family's residence are not open to the public.
How much is the museum ticket?
The ticket has been ₹100 for foreigners, ₹30 for Indians and ₹10 for children aged 5 to 11. Check the current price at the entrance.
How long do you need at Umaid Bhawan Palace?
About an hour is enough for the museum and a look at the exterior. Staying at the hotel or dining there takes longer.
Does the royal family still live in the palace?
Yes. Gaj Singh II lives in a separate wing. The rest of the building is a Taj hotel and a museum.
Who designed Umaid Bhawan Palace and why was it built?
The British architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester designed it for Maharaja Umaid Singh. Building began in 1929 and gave work to local people during a famine.
