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.

Named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present Maharaja of Jodhpur, this golden-yellow sandstone monument was conceived on the grandest possible scale, in the fashionable Art Deco style of that time. After 15 years in construction, the 347-room palace was finally completed in 1943 – and has served as the principal residence of the Jodhpur royal family since.

Designed by renowned Edwardian architect Henry Lanchester, the palace is a blend of eastern and western architectural influences. Its majestic 105-foot high cupola is influenced by the Renaissance, while the towers draw inspiration from Rajput tradition. The lavish interiors with gilt furniture and elegant artwork follow the Art Deco style, complemented by the exotic murals of the self-exiled Polish artist Stefan Norblin.



Awards and Accolades

Aug 2010Travel + Leisure, USA 15th Annual Reader's Survey - World's Best Awards 2010 - Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur in the Top 15 Resorts in Asia.
Jan-2010TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards 2010, USA. Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur is No.21 in the Top 25 Hotels in India.
Jan-2010The Editor of The Gallivanter's Guide has voted the Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur - "Hotel of the Year" in the 2009 Gallivanter's Awards for Excellence.
Apr-2009Features in the Best List of Vanity Fair, U.K as the Best Palace in The 2009.
Feb-2009Receives the Ministry of Tourism for National Tourism Awards – 2007 – 08 in Best Five Star Deluxe Hotel Category.
2009Gallivanters Guide Editor’s Choice Award for Hotel of the Year 2009
2009Best in Luxury, Luxury Spa Finders’ Award FY 2009
Dec-2008Features in the IT LIST of Travel+Leisure, The Travel+Leisure Editors Choice Awards 2008 – Winner best hotel renovation.
Oct-2008Selected in the 2008 Forbes Traveler 400 list of The World’s Luxury Hotels and Resorts.
Oct-2008Features in the Conde Nast Traveler, USA, Reader’s Choice Awards 2008 – Top 100 Asia Hotels list.
Sep-2008Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, is featured as The 10th Most Romantic Retreat in the World by Conde Nast Traveller, UK.
Sep-2008The splendid Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur is the only Indian Hotel to be featured in the Romantic Retreats Hotel category in a special section in the 2008 Conde Nast Traveller UK Readers Travel Awards edition.
Jun-2008Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur is featured in Travel + Leisure, USA "IT List" June issue. The It List includes the editors' picks of the best new hotels in the world. Just 30 hotels are on this list, and Umaid Bhawan Palace is a top pick for "renovation".
Jun-2008Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur – Travel +Leisure June issue “IT LIST” OF 30 Best New Hotels around the Globe by T+L Editors’ Top Picks for 2008, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
May-2008Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur has been awarded the Gold E Award of Excellence in recognition of being selected as one of the World’s Best Hotels by ENTRÉE.
Apr-2008Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur features in the Conde Nast Traveler USA Gold List 2008
Jan-2008Tatler Travel Guide- best 101 hotels - within the "Crazy Beautiful" section - ‘monumental palace with serious wow factor'.
Jan-2008Conde Nast Traveler, USA - Gold List 721 World's Best Places to Stay - Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur 87.2 Asia, Australia & Pacific Nations.
Winter 2007Robb Report Luxury Hotels - 100 Ultimate City Escapes Hotels - Asia and the Pacific.
Apr-2007SpaAsia’s Connoisseur Collection of the World’s Finest Spas
2007Umaid Bhawan - 150 World-Class Spas - SpaAsia's Connoisseur Collection of the World's Finest Spas
Jan-2007Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur - Conde Nast Traveler, USA Gold List World's Best 700.
Jan-2007Selected in the Travel + Leisure 500 list of The World’s Best Hotels.
2007Tatler Travel Guide’s 101 Best Hotels in the World, 2007
Aug-2006Umaid Bhawan Palace - recipient of the World Monuments Fund's 2006 Hadrian Award for architectural restoriation, selected by the editors of Robb Report Luxury Hotels as one of the world’s 100 most exceptional properties
May-2006House and Garden, UK – Best Hotels in the World list
Apr-2006Australian Gourmet Traveller – Selected by the editors in the Best of the Best list of 20 hotels from around the world
2006Conde Nast Traveler Hot List Hotels 2006