A vast golden-sandstone palace — part museum. Part luxury hotel, part royal home.
Umaid Bhawan Palace is in Jodhpur. Entry is ₹30 for Indian visitors. It opens museum open daily. About 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Open all week. The best time is Late morning; the museum. Gardens suit a relaxed visit.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Built | 1929–1943 |
| Built by | Maharaja Umaid Singh |
| Style | Indo-Deco / Art Deco |
| Use | Museum, hotel & royal residence |
| Location | Jodhpur, Rajasthan |
Umaid Bhawan Palace was raised between 1929. 1943 by Maharaja Umaid Singh. Partly to give work to famine-hit locals. Its golden-sandstone bulk is one of the world's largest private residences.
Today it is split three ways: a royal residence. A fabled Taj hotel, and a museum. The museum shows royal artefacts. A collection of vintage cars and clocks.
Sources: Rajasthan Tourism · Umaid Bhawan Palace — Wikipedia.
What makes it special, and what to look for.
Key facts and figures — every data point links to its source.
| Detail | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation laid | 18 November 1929 | Wikipedia |
| Completed | 1943 | Wikipedia |
| Rooms | 347 | Wikipedia |
| Architect | Henry Vaughan Lanchester | Wikipedia |
| Estate | 26 acres (11 ha) | Wikipedia |
| Dome height | 31 m interior | Wikipedia |
| Workers | 2,000–3,000 (famine relief) | Wikipedia |
| Cost | about ₹11 million | Wikipedia |
| Gardens | 15 acres | Wikipedia |
| Interiors | Burmese teak, Makrana marble | Wikipedia |
| Split into | residence, hotel, museum | Wikipedia |
| Style | Indo-Deco / Art Deco | Wikipedia |
| Throne Room | Norblin's Deco frescoes | Wikipedia |
| Museum | vintage cars & clocks | Wikipedia |
| Run by | the Taj group | Wikipedia |
| Among | the world's largest homes | Wikipedia |
| Built as | famine relief work | Wikipedia |
| Crowns | a Jodhpur hill | Wikipedia |
The foundation was laid in 1929. The palace was finished in 1943. It has 347 rooms in all.
Maharaja Umaid Singh built it. It gave work in a famine. Two to three thousand people were employed.
Henry Lanchester designed it. Golden sandstone clads it. A great dome rises 31 metres inside.
It stands on a 26-acre estate. It is a huge private residence. Part is now a Taj hotel and museum.
The palace blends Deco and Indian style. Its lines are clean and grand. Fine marble and teak fill it.
It was a famine-relief project. Thousands earned wages building it. That work spanned fourteen years.
An artist painted its grand halls. Stefan Norblin worked in Deco style. His murals still glow.
The palace crowns a Jodhpur hill. Its golden bulk is vast. It is a huge private home.
It rose to fight a famine. Thousands earned wages here. The work lasted fourteen years.
Today it is split three ways. A royal home, a hotel, a museum. Vintage cars are the museum's stars.
The palace still houses royalty. One wing remains their home. Another is a grand hotel.
The museum tells its story. Old photos show it rising. Vintage cars gleam nearby.
Sources: Rajasthan Tourism · Umaid Bhawan Palace — Wikipedia.
Room by room, and detail by detail.
Sources: Rajasthan Tourism · Umaid Bhawan Palace — Wikipedia.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1929 | The foundation stone is laid. |
| 1943 | The palace is completed. |
| 1947 | Maharaja Umaid Singh dies. |
| 1971 | Part becomes a luxury hotel. |
| 2018 | A celebrity wedding is held here. |
Sources: Rajasthan Tourism · Umaid Bhawan Palace — Wikipedia.
Fees and timings change from time to time. Confirm on the official site before you go.
| Visitor | Ticket |
|---|---|
| Indian (museum) | ₹30 |
| Foreign (museum) | ₹100 |
| Children | ₹10 |
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Museum open daily, about 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. |
| Weekly closing | Open all week. |
| Best time to visit | Late morning; the museum and gardens suit a relaxed visit. |
| How long to allow | One to two hours suits most visits. |
Sources: Rajasthan Tourism · Umaid Bhawan Palace — Wikipedia.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Location | On a hill in the south-east of Jodhpur |
| Note | Only the museum is open to non-guests |
| Mode | Best for | Book / source |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air | Reaching Jodhpur from afar | IndiGo |
| 🚆 Rail | Trains across India | IRCTC |
| 🚕 Taxi / app cab | Door-to-door comfort | Uber / Ola |
| 🛺 Auto-rickshaw | Short local hops | meter / app |
Plan around India's seasons. Late morning; the museum and gardens suit a relaxed visit.
| Season | Weather | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 🍂 Oct–Mar | Cool, dry, pleasant | Best time to visit |
| ☀️ Apr–Jun | Hot on the plains | Go early; carry water |
| 🌧️ Jul–Sep | Warm, monsoon showers | Fewer crowds, green views |
Base yourself in Jodhpur to visit with ease. It has stays for every budget. Book ahead in the cool season. Compare hotels on Booking.com. Find homes on Airbnb. See our Jodhpur guide for the best areas.
The hotel and residence are private.
Pair with Mehrangarh and Jaswant Thada.
Arrive at opening time. You beat crowds, and heat.
A good guide brings the history alive.
Shade can be limited here.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 🎫 Entry (Indian) | ₹30 |
| 🎫 Entry (foreign) | ₹10 |
| 🧑🏫 Local guide | ₹300–800 for a tour |
| 📷 Camera / video | Often a small extra fee |
| 🚕 Transport | ₹100–500 by auto or cab |
Costs are indicative. Confirm official rates on site.
Pair Umaid Bhawan Palace with sights close by. Together they make a full, rewarding day. Start early to beat the crowds and heat.
The museum costs ₹30 for Indian visitors. ₹100 for foreign visitors. Children pay ₹10.
The museum is open daily from about 10 AM to 5 PM.
You can visit the museum. The hotel and royal residence are private.
Maharaja Umaid Singh built it between 1929 and 1943.
Yes for the architecture and vintage-car museum. Though only part is open to visitors.
Location: On a hill in the south-east. Of Jodhpur; Note: Only the museum is open to non-guests.
Late morning; the museum and gardens suit a relaxed visit.
You can also visit Mehrangarh, Jaswant Thada, Jodhpur guide.
Stay in Jodhpur. See our Jodhpur guide.
Keep exploring around Jodhpur.
