web analytics

Umaid Bhawan Palace review with photos. 

April 3, 2013
By Torgeir Johansen

Text and photos updated December 2022.

The Umaid Bhawan Palace was built between 1929 and 1943 by Maharaja Umaid Singh. The palace was built as a welfare project, building material is sandstone. The Jodhpur royal family palace is divided into a royal wing, a Taj hotel, and a museum. The Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace hotel was a Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Award Winner in India 2022.

The Umaid Bhawan Palace is located close to Jodhpur Airport and Jodhpur Junction railway station. Google Maps

All photos on this page by Torgeir Johansen, March 2013. Nikon D700 with Nikon AFS 17-35/2.8, Nikon 50mm/1.8, Nikon 85mm/1.8, Nikon AFS 300mm/4.

Photos from inside and outside Umaid Bhawan Palace, Mehrangarh Fort. Blue city, Jaswant Thada Maharaja Memorial, Mandor Garden and Wildlife Guda Bishnoiyan.

This review was posted on Tripadvisor 29th March 2013 under NikTrav 700.

The Ultimate Palace Experience.

“Arrival at The Umaid Bhawan Palace was a very special experience. Roseleaves drops from above, while four men are holding a red baldachin. Our arrival was only a short drive from Hari Mahal hotel where we had stayed for 5 nights. The Umaid Bhawan Palace was the highlight on our Rajasthan vacation this year. Our passport detail was kindly transferred from the Hari Mahal hotel management for convenient check in.

We had booked a Palace Room for three nights, from 5th -8th March; surprisingly we were upgraded to a suite on arrival. Suite 302 is in the tower with view to pool and terrace. This suite was very comfortable and quiet with a large bedroom, office desk, sitting area, luggage room and a luxury bathroom. We were not able to hear anything from next room.

 

A guided tour in Palace a few hours after arrival was included. Tour started with refreshments, sparkling wine or juice.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner were excellent, with very high quality. Having dinner on the roof restaurant at sunset was an experience we never will forget with the sights of Blue City and Mehrangarh Fort at distance. This time of the year it was very comfortable to sit outside.

Preparations for the Jodhpur One World Music festival were going on and last day of our stay breakfast area outside was closed. But breakfast inside had same high quality. It is nearly always weddings or other large arrangements going on in upscale hotels in India. Check with hotel before booking. Hotel was booked via the Taj website.

Pool area was very quiet and clean with view to the city and Mehrangarh Fort. All areas we visited inside Palace and gardens where very well maintained with fresh flowers in the hall and inside suite.

 

 

On departure to train station breakfast restaurant staff made a lunch pack for our 6 hour long train journey to Jaipur.

Service in the Umaid Bhawan Palace was very correct and discrete; staff always had a solution to our questions, they respond within minutes. Check in and check out was very efficient.

We have also visited the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur in 2011, these two establishments is a must if you are visiting Rajasthan!”

 

 

This was our sixth journey within India and third visit to Rajasthan. Hotel bookings and airport transfer was done directly at hotel websites or by e-mail to hotels. Train tickets were bought in New Delhi at International Tourist Bureau.

Our first stay in Jodphur was at Vivanta by Taj – Hari Mahal.