Umaid Bhawan, Jaipur

Location
Located in the heart of the city, Umaid Bhawan enjoys proximity to all places of tourist and commercial interest within the city. It is just 2 kilometres away from the railway station and bus stand while the airport is 16 kilometres away. M I Road, the main commercial street in Jaipur, is just a kilometre and half away.

An eighty five-year-old haveli, Umaid Bhawan was converted into a hotel in 1993. Built in the traditional Rajput style architecture, Umaid Bhawan has beautifully carved balconies, attractive courtyards, open terraces, a lovely garden and comfortable rooms with antique furnishings. Its ornate architecture and the use of bold colours ensure that it stands out in the quiet residential area where it is located. The graceful elegance of its former residents reflects in the ethnic decor and furnishings. Walls of the reception area as well as the lobby are lined with old black & white photographs and traditional paintings while the furniture is ornate and stately.

Facilities and Services
Umaid Bhawan has a multi-purpose hall that can be used for conferences and banquets. Besides this, the hotel also offers business facilities like fax, photo copy and internet access. The hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity and pick-up from railway station/bus stand. The hotel also has two computers and two laptops that can be used by guests.

Recreational facilities include a swimming pool which can be used by guests from 7 am to 8:30 pm. The hotel also has a souvenir shop where one can pick up ethnic artefacts and gift items. Other facilities available at the hotel include a travel desk, 24 hour car rental service, safety deposit lockers and same day laundry service.

Room Amenities
Designed and furnished to display the skill and expertise of Rajasthani artisans, the rooms are traditionally decorated. Comfortable accommodation is offered in 30 rooms that are divided into 5 Deluxe rooms, 20 Royal Deluxe rooms and 10 Royal Suites. While the Deluxe rooms are equipped with a television, telephone and study table, the superior categories enjoy additional amenities like an air conditioner besides individual balconies. Each floor has a common sit-out area that guests can use to lounge or dine.

Each Royal Suite has a separate living area and a bedroom with individual air conditioners for each section of the room. The living room is furnished with a 3 piece sofa set and dining table while the bedroom is equipped with a study table, television, direct dial telephone, mini bar and foot rest placed against the bed. Each suite has a dressing area that comprises a cupboard and a cushioned stool placed against a table that has a full length mirror with an ornate wooden frame.

Washroom amenities are common across categories and include soap, shampoo, moisturiser, dental kit, shaving kit, tissues and linen. Each washroom has a separate shower cubicle while some Suites have a Jacuzzi style bathtub. The washrooms receive a continuous supply of hot and cold water.

Dining
Umaid Bhawan boasts of a rooftop restaurant, Mehfil, where guests enjoy the choice of covered, enclosed as well as alfresco dining. Open from 7 am to 10:30 pm, Mehfil serves Indian, Chinese and Continental delicacies but more than the food, the decor and setting of the restaurant creates a magical aura, especially in the evening. While a puppet show is organised on the terrace every evening, folk dance and music performances can also be organised on request.

Guests can also opt to dine in the comfort of their rooms through room service which is available from 7 am to 10:30 pm. Beverages are served round the clock.

Don't Miss
Besides the intricate carvings and traditional architecture, the recreational facilities at this hotel are what one must watch out for. It boasts of a numerous comfortable sit-outs and a swimming pool that is enclosed by the hotel structure on one side and a traditionally painted wall on the other side.