Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum in Jodhpur is a grand palace turned into a museum. And it offers visitors a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle and royal grandeur. An interesting thing about the palace is that the current royal family of Jodhpur still lives here.
Maharaja Umaid Singh made this palace to employ thousands of villagers distressed due to droughts. The construction was painstakingly slow. He was in no hurry to complete it.
Today, a part of the palace has been set up as a museum opened to the public.
Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum (also known as Government Museum) is within the palace complex. It’s amidst the lush garden of the palace, where you can relax or take a stroll.
The museum is well maintained, and it displays the antiques belonging to the maharajas and the royal family. It also showcases unique charms like stuffed leopards and several other decorative animal parts.
Umaid Bhawan Palace and Museum is popular for its location, architecture as well as historical heritage. A trip to the palace will take you back to the olden days, reminiscing the grand life.
Apart from the museum, Umaid Bhawan Palace also houses a heritage hotel. The Taj Group of Hotels owns an entire wing of the palace, running a lavish five-star heritage hotel.
And another part of the palace serves as the royal residence of Maharaja Gaj Singh II, the grandson of Maharaja Umaid Singh. He lives here with his family, and there’s a good chance you can meet the king during your visit.
Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum Jodhpur Timings
| Day | Timing |
|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm |
| Wedesday | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm |
| Sunday | 10:00 am – 4:30 pm |
Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum Jodhpur Entry Fee
- 30 per person for Indians
- 100 per person for Foreigner tourists
- 10 per person for Children (5-11 years)
Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum Jodhpur Address: Umed Bhawan Palace Road, Cantt Area, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342006, India
Where is Umaid Bhawan Palace located in Jodhpur?
Umaid Bhawan Palace and Museum is housed on a hill, a few kilometers away from “Blue City” Jodhpur. It’s on Chittar Hill. And because of its location, Umaid Bhawan is also called Chittar Palace Jodhpur.
History of Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum
The history of Umaid Bhawan Palace starts long before its conception. It goes back to the time when the nearby Mehrangarh Fort was established in 1459. A saint called a curse that a long period of drought would plague Jodhpur under the good rule of the Rathore dynasty.
Jodhpur faced severe drought and famine in the 1920s for three consecutive years. Thus, the villagers sought the help of the then maharaja, Umaid Singh, to survive the hardship.
The maharaja decided to build a lavish palace to employ the farmers. In 1929, he himself crushed the ground for the palace foundation.
It’s said that the palace construction employed about 2,000-3,000 people. And it was built at a slow pace to keep the villagers employed. The construction continued until 1943, when the palace was completed and made ready for occupancy.
When it was opened, Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur was considered one of the largest royal residences in the world. However, it couldn’t function well as a residential place.
Umaid Singh stayed here for only four years when he died in 1947. Maharaja Hanwant Singh succeeded him, but died in 1952. Maharaja Gaj Singh II succeeded his father, and he decided to convert a part of the palace into a hotel and a museum, later.
Architecture of Umaid Bhawan Palace
Situated on Chittar Hill, Umaid Bhawan Palace and Museum is a blend of Indian and European architectural styles. Maharaja Umaid Singh put architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester to design this place, who worked with Indian architect Budhmal Rai to build the final layout.
The palace was completed under the guidance of chief architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and S.S. Jacob. It’s built in Indo-Deco style.
The palace is built with golden yellow sandstone. And it’s spread over 26 acres of lush, flowery gardens. In the interiors, Makrana marble and Burmese teak wood have been used. It has 347 rooms, a private meeting hall, a private dining hall, and many more halls and courtyards.
While the central dome is inspired by the Renaissance style, the towers are inspired by the Rajput style. Hindu architectural traditions are visible in many parts of the palace.
Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum Display
1. Cutlery collection – Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum has many of the personal belongings of the maharajas and the royal family’s heritage collection of cutleries. It exhibits a variety of glass and porcelain wares, including plates, wine glasses and other crockeries.
2. Painting collection – The museum collection also includes photographs and miniature paintings of the royal family, mythological stories and scenes marking important events. It showcases the history of the royal family and their traditions well. The museum also houses artistic murals and other various pieces of art and cultural items.
3. Weapon collection – In the museum’s weapons collection, you’ll find swords, shields and other armoury of the royal family. You’ll also see various types of rare guns and pistols from the medieval period in the collection.
4. Textile collection – Another interesting display in Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum Jodhpur is the textile collection. It has shawls, turbans and other garments belonging to the royal family. You’ll find the fine embroidery works of the artisans awe-inspiring.
5. Trophy collection – A unique collection in this museum is found in the trophy bar. It showcases items like an elephant feet stool, a tiger skin cushion, a tusk of boar, and many more fascinating pieces of work. The museum also has an enormous flag gifted to Maharaja Jaswant Singh by Queen Victoria in 1877.
6. Clock collection – The museum also has an extensive collection of antique and ornamental clocks from around the world. The gallery is adorned with invaluable vintage clocks in different shapes and sizes.
7. Car collection – The highlight of Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum is its collection of vintage cars owned by the maharajas. You’ll see different models of Rolls Royce, Mercedes-Benz, Austin Martin and many other cars.
Other things to do at Umaid Bhawan Palace
1. Admire the architecture – Umaid Bhawan Palace is a stunning example of Indo-Deco architecture. While the museum has displays and photographs that highlight the magnificent architecture of the palace, you should explore and see the corners with your own eyes. Hire a guide to enjoy a well-informed exploration. It offers a chance to admire the intricate carvings and designs, the majestic dome and the grand staircase.
2. Explore the gardens – Once you’ve completed your exploration, stroll through the garden and try spotting the birds around. The palace has a beautiful, green garden, and it’s open to visitors. You can enjoy the greenery, photograph the fountains, or simply take some rest.
3. Enjoy a stay in the hotel – If possible, book a stay in the Umaid Bhawan Palace hotel and enjoy the hospitality of the Taj Group. You can have lavish dining, calming spa & wellness sessions, and a good night’s sleep tucked in a royal bed. It’s a combination of modern facilities and old-world charm, and it upholds the royal tradition quite well.
Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum Timings and Entry Fee
The visit timing of Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum in Jodhpur is from 10 AM to 4.30 PM. It’s open every day, throughout the year, except for public holidays.
And the Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum entry fee is ₹30 per person for adults and ₹10 for kids (5-11 years old). For foreign nationals, the museum entrance fee is ₹100 per person.
Best time to visit Umaid Bhawan Museum
Winter is the best time to visit Umaid Bhawan Palace and Museum. During winter, from November to February, the weather in Jodhpur is the most pleasant. You’ll be able to explore the entire collection comfortably and understand the intricate details of the palace architecture.
Time to explore Umaid Bhawan Museum Jodhpur
Umaid Bhawan Museum takes up only a fraction of the space of Jodhpur palace. You can explore the collection in around an hour. If you want to explore the parts of the museum well, have 2 hours for your visit.
Things to keep in mind when visiting Umaid Bhawan Museum
- Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Carry a bottle of water.
- Keep hats and sunglasses.
- Take your camera with you.
- Hire a guide to know the museum better.
How to reach Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum Jodhpur?
Umaid Bhawan Museum is 10 km from Jodhpur city center and about 5 km from the old town. And it’s about the same, around 4-5 km away from Jodhpur railway station, the bus stand and the airport. The nearest international airports are at Jaipur (340 km away) and Delhi (630 km away).
And here are the different ways to reach Umaid Bhawan Museum in Jodhpur –
By auto-rickshaw – Auto-rickshaws are available all around the city, modern as well as old. You can take one, and reach the museum.
By taxi/cab – Hiring a taxi or cab is the most comfortable way to visit Umaid Bhawan Museum. You can hire a cab from the top car rental companies in Jodhpur for a convenient pick-and-drop. And then take it to explore the museum and other tourist spots nearby.
Interesting Facts about Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum
- During the construction of Umaid Bhawan Palace, it employed 2000-3000 farmers affected due to continuous droughts.
- It was designed by architects Henry Vaughan Lanchester and Budhmal Rai, and it was completed under the guidance of architects Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and S.S. Jacob.
- It took almost 15 years to complete, from 1929 to 1943.
- Umaid Singh could stay here for only four years, as he died in 1947.
- Maharaja Gaj Singh II, the grandson of Maharaja Umaid Singh, turned a part of the palace into a hotel and a museum.
- Gaj Singh II still lives in the palace with his family.
- The palace is also called Chittar Palace because it’s located on Chittar Hill.