A
splendid example of Indo-colonial and the art-deco
style of the thirties, Umaid Bhawan is one of the
largest and grandest private residences in the
world. The palace was built between 1929 and 1943
and over 3000 artisans worked over 14 years to
create this magnificent edifice.
If there is one palace that combines architectural
extravaganza with aesthetic triumph, it is the Umaid
Bhawan Palace. If there is something that is best
experienced than described, it is absolutely a stay
at the Umaid Bhawan Palace.
Hotel Umaid Bhawan
Palace
From the
time of the origin of Jodhpur to the present day,
the Rathore capital suffered severe scarcity of
water and drought followed with unfailing regularity
every third or fourth year. A tradition developed
among the Maharajas to alleviate the suffering of
people by creating work. The work usually took the
form of building canals, roads, temples, stepwells
and palaces.
Rosita
Forbes, travelling in the 1930s through Jodhpur,
experienced firsthand the severe rainless times in
Jodhpur, and described the goings-on:
'The
scarcity of water in the city has been remedied by
the erection of a reservoir with eight pumping
stations. Roads are spreading. Fine buildings are
springing up on the outskirts of the lovely town…'
Maharaja
Umaid Singh conceived the Palace as the centerpiece
of his massive famine-relief scheme. The acclaimed
designs of Henry Lanchester for Cardiff City Hall
and Law Courts/Central Hall, Westminster, impressed
Maharaja Umaid Singh, and Lutyen's protégé was
entrusted with the job.
It took 14
years and 3000 men to give shape to this stupendous
expression. The Palace was designed as a smooth
combination of European classical elements
interlaced with oriental ones. Massive sandstone
boulders were cut from a quarry at Surasagar near
Jodhpur and transported by a special narrow-gauge
train to the construction sites. Master masons
chiselled these rough stones into blocks of five and
seven tons. The blocks were then fitted in an
interlocking fashion with no mortar or cement being
used in the construction.
Furnished
with fashionable Art Deco interiors by the Polish
artist and decorator, S. Norblin, the palace
consumed one million square feet of the finest
marble. The world of Umaid Bhawan Palace contained
everything that the royalty required – a private
cinema hall, a luxurious swimming pool inlaid with
tiles depicting the zodiac, gigantic royal suites, a
soaring rotunda, fancy ball rooms, a majestic durbar
hall, billiards room, ballrooms, banquet halls,
libraries, staff quarters, servant quarters….
In 1977,
Umaid Bhawan opened as one of India's grandest
luxury hotels.
Indoor pool
with a sun terrace, sauna, private museum, village
safaris / camel rides.
LOCATION :
3 kms. from Airport, 5 kms. from Railway Station, 3
kms. from Bus Stand.
ACCOMMODATION : Number
of Rooms: Total A/C Rooms 96, Number
of Floors: 3
FACILITIES
:
Double A/C 63, Double Total 63, Suites A/C 33,
Suites Total 33, Total Rooms 96, Centrally
Airconditioned, 4, 250, 40, 3, 1, Indian,
Continental, Chinese, Rajasthan, Business Centre,
Room Service, H/C running water, Telephone, CCTV,
Mini Refrigerator, Banquet Facilities, Conference
Facilities, Beauty Parlour, Shopping Arcade, Health
Club, Swimming Pool, Tennis, Golf, In House Theatre,
Museum, Palmist Squash. Doctor on call, Laundry,
Money Changer, Safe Deposit, Baby Sitting, Valet,
Travel Desk Service
ADDRESS :
Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur - 342 006 (Rajasthan).
