Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

Umaid Bhawan Palace Overview - Jodhpur Location
Umaid Bhawan Palace is perched high above the desert capital of Jodhpur and stands tall at a distance of 5 kms from both railway station and airport.

Perched high above the desert capital of Jodhpur, Umaid Bhawan Palace is the last of the great palaces of India and one of the largest residences in the world - set amidst 26 acres of lush gardens. The palace hotel is a blend of eastern and western architectural influences, blending the Renaissance with Rajput tradition.

Rooms
Guests can savour the grandeur of one of the world's most spectacular palace hotels with a choice of 64 luxurious rooms and suites.

Maharani Suite
The Maharani Suite, originally designed for and graced by Umaid Singhs' Maharani, is aptly dominated by a Norblin mural of the Goddess Kali etched on shining black glass. All in pink, black, chrome and mirror, the suite includes spacious private drawing and dining rooms with an attached kitchenette, a large balcony with a spectacular view of the palace gardens and the Mehrangarh Fort, a dressing room with a wardrobe, and a bath carved out of a single piece of pink Italian marble designed by Norblin.

Maharaja Suite
The Maharaja Suite, once Maharaja Umaid Singh's private chamber exudes a masculine panache with dramatic Noblin frescoes of leopards, tigers, horses and monumental art deco furnishings. It includes a living area with a charming secret bar, a dining area, a spa therapy room, a luxurious bathroom with adjoining steam room and a large verandah which overlooks one of the palace courtyards.

Royal Suites
Luxurious Art Deco style offering with mirror finished terrazzo and large bedroom and sitting area, overlooking Palace Lawns and fountain courtyard. These are extremely spacious with a living room (area), a bedroom, bathroom, dressing area and a broad balcony. These suites overlook the well-laid out gardens of the palace (in the mornings peacocks strut on the lawns); and in the distance the city and the spectacular Mehrangarh Fort, perched atop a hill. Since the palace is built with a melding of Art Deco and Indian elements, these design styles run through these suites.

Paintings of Marwar/ Jodhpur royalty and nobility adorn the walls and herald a regal welcome for those entering this space. A mock fireplace adds to the sense of drama of these suites.

Historical Suites
The hotels Regal Suites, designed in Art Deco style, were once reserved for visiting royalty. Each suite is different, with subtle underlying themes of a favourite colour or princely passion. These suites have a private sit-out with stunning palace views of the panoramic lawns or courtyards.

Palace Rooms
Embellished with Art Deco interiors and equipped with modern conveniences, these rooms meet the expectations of the modern traveller even as they offer a glimpse into a privileged bygone lifestyle.

Room amenities at Umaid Bhawan Palace are in keeping with what is expected of a luxury 5 star hotel - television, telephone, tea/coffee maker, electronic safe and a hair dryer, shaving mirror and toiletries like soap, shampoo and moisturiser in a spacious bathroom, among other offerings. Guests can also avail of 24-hour room service.

Dining
From casual, all-day dining to formal, fine dining, guests can look forward to a wide array of delectable culinary delights and refreshing beverages. Risala is an elegant ala carte menu open for lunch from 1 pm to 3 pm and dinner from 7:30 pm to 11 pm. The Pillars is the coffee shop that is open from 6:30 am to 11 pm and the Trophy Bar serves the choicest spirits and beverages from 11 am to 3 pm and 6 pm to 11 pm and Sunset Pavilion is the alfresco restaurant that offers royal barbeque and delectable international grills.

Conferences & Banquets
There are four venues available for conferences that can comfortably accommodate from 40 to 300 persons in a theatre seating style. The palace hotel is a popular venue for weddings and social events with its sprawling lawns and courtyards along with indoor venues - Marwar Hall, Rathore Durbar Hall and The Princes.

Spa & Fitness
On offer at the Taj Spa is the best in Indian rejuvenation therapies ranging from Indian aromatherapy massages, time-honoured Indian treatments, body scrubs and wraps, Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation as part of an extensive menu. A separate wet area for men and women includes a Jacuzzi, steam, sauna and chilled shower. The hotel also has a fitness room, temperature controlled indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis and marble squash courts and a jogging track.

Facilities
Business facilities at Umaid Bhawan Palace include a business centre, laptop and mobile phones on hire, multimedia services, a library, secretarial services and internet connectivity.

Other guest facilities at the hotel include an astrologer, palace museum and library, shopping arcade, jewelry boutique, book shop, laundry service, travel desk, currency exchange facility, beautician and doctor on call and a private auditorium, among others. The hotel can also arrange for golf, horse riding and polo on request.