Umaid Bhawan Palace

Historic sites

Rajasthan

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History
Places to visit
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Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the world's largest private residences and is situated in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. The palace comprises of 347 rooms and is home to the former royal family of Jodhpur. As per historical records, it was on 18 November 1929 that Maharaja Umaid Singh broke ground for the building's foundations and works were completed in 1943.

The Umaid Bhawan Palace is the main residence of the former Jodhpur royal family. The building of the palace is set in about 26 acres of land, of which 15 acres (6.1 hectares) are gardens.

The Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur entry fee is INR 30 for Indians and INR 100 for visitors from abroad and INR 10 for children between 5-11. The ticket fee for admission into and tour of this location during its opening hours is the official fee. The best time to visit this place is the months between October and March.

Umaid Bhawan Palace History

The construction of the Umaid Bhawan palace is said to be related to a saint. It is believed that at the end of Pratap Singh's 50-year reign, in the 1920s, there was a great drought in Jodhpur for three consecutive years. The farmers had to face a period of famine and sought the help of King Umaid Singh, so these farmers asked the king for work in order to survive and feed their children. It was then that the king decided to build the Umaid Bhawan Palace and be able to employ all those farmers.

King Umaid Singh appointed Henry Vaughan Lanchester as the official architect to prepare the plans for the palace. Notably, this architect was a contemporary of Sir Edwin Lutyens, who drew up the plans for the government buildings in New Delhi. The palace was designed with a mix of Western architectural features and Indian architectural features.

Major Attractions in and Around Umaid Bhawan Palace

Jodhpur is Rajasthan's second-largest town and is commonly referred to as the 'blue city.' Most of the city's infrastructure is true to its term, painted in blue shades, and dates back to the Rathore clan in the 1400s. Let us look at some of the places to visit in Jodhpur.

1. Mehrangarh Fort. Mehrangarh fort is one of Jodhpur’s exotic sites. It used to be the home of the royal family of the area and now became a museum. The building blocks' workmanship is obvious, and the most challenging of the visitors is sure to be amazed. Located on a hill (around 410 meters above the town) with breathtaking views, it is considered to be one of Jodhpur city's top locations.

2. Jaswant Thada. Jaswant Thada is a rare artistic marvel situated right next to the Mehrangarh Fort. It was designed to honour Jaswant Singh's life as a Maharaja. The cenotaph here is made from precious white marble and contains several portraits of the Rathore kings, which add to its overall glory and appearance.

3. Tripolia Market. Tripolia Market is a reliable shot candidate for one of Jodhpur’s leading shopping destinations and is a one-stop destination to fulfill all your local shopping needs. Here you can buy a variety of things, from antiques, sculptures, ribbons to sarees in the Rajasthan style, and other textiles. The most commonly shopped articles are textiles and handicrafts. Don't miss the chance to visit these lively and busy streets where locals and visitors shop their heart out!

4. Rao Jodha Rock Garden. This is also a protected ground for some plant species from the Thar district. It was established in 2006 to protect the rough terrain of the Mehrangarh Fort. The park, spread over two hundred acres, brings a little greenery to the fort and is a treat for your eyes. Do not skip this while visiting Jodhpur.

5. Ghanta Ghar. Considered by many the most important landmarks in Jodhpur, this Ghanta Ghar is indeed an ideal place for a peek into Jodhpur’s vibrant yet simple way of life. The tower lights up beautifully after sunset, adding magnificence to the area.

6. Balsamand Lake. In 1159 Balak Rao Parihar built this artificially constructed lake, which initially served as a drinking water source. The lush green spots and the rugged roads across the lake make it a rustic natural charm. It's situated approximately 5 km from Jodhpur's village and is a lovely spot to explore in Jodhpur.

How to Reach Umaid Bhawan Palace

Umaid Bhawan Palace is 598 km, 1888 km, 975 km, and 1944 km distant from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bangalore respectively. Here is how you can reach Umaid Bhawan Palace.

By Air. Jodhpur Airport is closest to Umaid Bhawan Palace, therefore you can consider deboarding there. Various airlines offer affordable flight services to Jodhpur airport from the metro cities of India. After reaching the airport, you can easily take taxis that will take you to Umed Bhawan Palace.

From Delhi: Airlines like Vistara, Indigo, Go Air, and Air India provide flights from Delhi to Jodhpur within the price range between 3000 INR to 12000 INR.
From Kolkata: You will find flights of Spicejet, Indigo, Air India and Vistara from Kolkata to Jodhpur that cost between 4000 INR to 12000 INR.
From Bangalore: Vistara, Indigo, and Air India have available flights that go to Jodhpur from Bangalore at an average cost of 4500 INR to 11000 INR per person.
From Mumbai: Indigo, GoAir and Air India provide flights for passengers from Mumbai to Jodhpur at a price range between 3000 INR and 7000 INR.

By Train. Different trains are available from the metropolitan cities to Jodhpur Station. After getting off at the station, consider booking some means of public transportation to reach here.

From Kolkata: You can board Jodhpur express or Howrah Jodhpur Special from Howrah Station.
From Delhi: Mandor express, Runicha Express, Delhi Jodhpur express, Ranikhet express, Salasar SuperFast express are available from Delhi to Jodhpur.
From Bangalore : SBC Jodhpur express, SGNR Humsafar SF and Jodhpur Express can be boarded from Bangalore to Kolkata.
From Mumbai : DDR Bikaner Express, Suryanagari Express, BDTS Jaisalmer Express,and Vivek Express are some of the available trains from Mumbai to Jodhpur.

By Road. A road trip to Umaid Bhawan Palace from the metro cities of India will be quite a great idea. You can also board buses that travel to Jodhpur from Delhi and other nearby cities and states. Otherwise, you can also book private cabs or self-drive here.