Umaid Bhawan Palace

Overview

Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur was built between 1929 and 1943 for Maharaja Umaid Singh and is among the last great palaces built in India. It was designed by the British architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester in a blend of Indo-Saracenic and Art Deco styles, and was also a famine-relief project that gave work to local people.

The palace is now divided into three parts: the royal family's residence, a luxury hotel and a museum. The museum displays royal clocks, weapons, photographs and a vintage car collection.

What to look for

• The great central dome and the sandstone facade
• The museum's royal collections and vintage cars
• The gardens and the view toward Mehrangarh

Visiting tips

• Only the museum is open to day visitors; the hotel is for guests and diners.
• Allow an hour for the museum and grounds.
• It sits on a hill away from the old city, so combine it with Mehrangarh by car.

Why visit with a private guide

A private guide shows you where to stand, when to arrive and what most visitors miss at Umaid Bhawan Palace, and fits the visit around the rest of your day.

More photographs

Nearby

The Blue City Jaswant Thada Mehrangarh Fort Ranakpur Jain Temple Pillars