The
erstwhile princely state of Jodhpur has preserved the genius of its
sculptors in the form of forts, palaces and havelis. Though there is a lot
to see and experience, the Umaid Bhawan Palace represents the finest of
architecture, talking about the well-versed craftsmen of yore. While you
make a visit to this stunning piece of history, you also come to witness a
traditional lifestyle and interact with a people who are truly a tender and
smiling lot.
Glimpses From The Past
Jodhpur has a long but fascinating past. The city was founded by Rao Jodha
when the Rathores required a more secured headquarter than Mandore. There is
a long list of Rathore rulers who held control of the city in due course.
One of the last rulers was Maharaja Umaid Singh who held the rein of Udaipur
between 1918 and 1947.
Maharaja Umaid Singh had great appreciation for western styles. Owing to
the reason, he hired the renowned Edwardian architect, Henry Vaughan
Lanchester to erect a palace that would define the aesthetic sense of the
Rajput rulers. Another reason that accounts for the construction of this
palace is the fact that the maharaja wanted to provide employment to the
famine-hit populace.
Architectural Attractions
Also
known as the Chitar Palace, the Umaid Bhawan Palace has the distinction of
being one of the grandest private residences in the world. Erected between
1929 and 1943, the palace was designed by Henry Lanchester, the president of
the British Royal Institute of Architects. Around 3,000 craftsmen and
sculptors were employed to work on the palace which took 14 years to
complete.
The palace was designed taking in the essential elements of the European
classic and oriental styles. Huge sandstone boulders were procured from a
place called Surasagar close to Jodhpur. The boulders were taken to the site
through a narrow-gauge train. Famous Polish designer did the interiors of
the palace. Around one million square feet of the finest marble was used to
create the art deco interiors.
Brimming with all the luxurious comforts, the Umaid Bhawan Palace was
converted into one of the finest palace-hotels in 1977. Boasting a total of
300 rooms, the luxury hotel also houses a museum. In one section of the
palace still lives the royal family. A deluxe swimming pool, a private
theatre, eight dinning halls, banquet halls and ballrooms add to the
amenities of the hotel.
Reaching There
The airport at Jodhpur operates regular flights to places like Delhi,
Mumbai, Udaipur and Jaipur. The Indian Airlines and the Jet Airways are the
two airlines that operate at the Jodhpur Airport. By rail network, Jodhpur
has links with Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Lucknow. Road routes of the city
are also easily accessible. Regular buses run to Jodhpur to/ from Delhi (597
km), Udaipur (260 km) and Jaipur (336 km).
Best
Golden Traingle Tour (7D) 
