Umaid Bhawan is the last of the great Indian palaces — begun in 1928, finished in 1943, and conceived partly as a famine-relief project that employed three thousand workers for fifteen years. The result is one of the world's largest private residences: a golden sandstone colossus on Chittar Hill whose 105-foot cupola glows above Jodhpur at dusk.
The building splits three ways — the royal family still occupies one wing, a museum fills another, and the Taj-run hotel holds the rest. Art Deco runs pure throughout: the palace furniture was re-commissioned from Polish designer Stefan Norblin after a wartime shipment was torpedoed, and his murals still line the suites.
Why We Place Guests Here
- Staying in a palace the royal family still inhabits changes the register of the visit — this is a residence receiving guests, not a monument converted.
- The subterranean Zodiac Pool, mosaic-lined and lamplit, may be the most atmospheric hotel pool in India.
- Sundowners on the Baradari lawns, with Mehrangarh Fort floodlit across the city, close a Jodhpur day perfectly.
The Table
- Risala — Indian and European fine dining
- Pillars — colonnaded all-day terrace over the lawns
- The Trophy Bar — hunting-lodge era memorabilia
The Elevated India Signature
Private museum viewing with the palace curator, including the maharajaMaharajaA ruling Indian prince — literally 'great king'; a maharani is his queen, or a princess ruling in her own right.Read in the glossary's classic car collection.
Questions, Answered
Does the royal family still live at Umaid Bhawan Palace?
Yes — Maharaja Gaj Singh II and his family occupy a private wing of the palace. The hotel operates in its own wing under Taj, alongside a museum of the palace's Art Deco history.
How many rooms does Umaid Bhawan Palace have?
The palace was built with 347 rooms; the Taj hotel within it offers around 70 rooms and suites, many with Stefan Norblin's original Art Deco murals and furniture.
Journeys That Take You There
Grand Rajasthan: Royal Palaces & Desert Estates
19 Days / 18 Nights
The Royal Rajasthani Circuit: Lakes, Dunes & Fortresses
18 Days / 17 Nights
Explore the destination guide: Jodhpur, Rajasthan ↗