Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur — Hotel in Jodhpur

I have only one word to describe the stay: UNBELIEVABLE. Truly, it’s a dream come true. I stayed in the grand royal suite with my grandfather and we genuinely had a blast. From the service to the dining, and the amenities to the room itself: everything was just perfect and did not even feel real. The best part of the stay is the staff. The most caring people I have ever met, ever! I short handed a list of staff who I thought were the BEST in what they do and who really stood out to me and who really genuinely took care of us, they all deserve so much more than just a good review! ||First, to our host Malvika thank you for your warm welcome and for taking care of any of our needs during the stay. Your attentiveness and attention to detail are on point! Your kind and loving attitude enhanced the stay! Ishipreet, while I didn’t get to interact with her too much was also much like Malvika - amazing at heart and service! Ishipreet also helped me plan out one of my days in Jodhpur and it was a blast!||Next, our palace tour guide Srikander. Full of knowledge, he has taken us all throughout the palace to explore its rich history and significance. Srikander was more than just a tour guide - he was there for us whenever we needed. His humble and caring professionalism meant everything for us. He was ready with answers to all of our questions and would always be smiling. Srikander is the definition of what it means to be professional and provide a home-like feel, he is an inspiration in of itself. ||Manisha (from the restaurant) was another staff member who stood out to me! Rather than just serving our food, Manisha got to know us personally, which truly felt like we were eating with family. Her passion for service has not gone unnoticed! Manisha really knows how to engage with the guests, making them feel special and loved especially during meal times. Manisha is always smiling regardless of how special our orders were and always came to check on us. We got to know her and she got to know us which made everything even better!||Chef Gourav and Chef Shobhit are fantastic chefs! Every dinner we had custom made meals and, let me tell you, they went beyond expectations each time! They make regular rounds throughout the restaurant to check on our guests, which made us feel more comfortable that the chefs are actually making food out of love for their guests, which really shines through their dishes they make.||Chef Anushka was also amazing! She was our chef who guided us through the cookie making session. Her thorough descriptions actually gave me a better understanding to all the thought that goes into curating dishes, not just cookies. She was kind and very humble with us and made us feel like we are experts!||Mahaveer from the restaurant was also amazing. I had a very specific juice order (watermelon juice with basil, mint, and one chili) one of the mornings. Without hesitation, the next day he brought the same exact order without having to ask me, which I loved! He clearly pays attention to the details and recalls what guests enjoy to elevate the experience even further.||Sajjan, part of the security staff, was fantastic. He would always be ready to escort myself and my grandfather so we never had to worry about getting lost in such a large palace. He was always ready with the elevator to bring us up or down and always made sure we were doing okay. ||Hukam Singh, our housekeeper, was one of the sweetest people I met. His fine attention to detail and his love for service is clear. Regardless of the time of day or the housekeeping services he is providing, he is always genuinely smiling. His warm and comforting personality was truly felt in the rooms which he provides service for.||Bhagwat Singh was our driver to and from the airport and he was so kind and respectful. During transport, he regularly made sure we were comfortable and that we were well settled in the car. ||Kapil was our mocktail session guide and he did a great job. He went through everything in depth and even sent us some recipes following the session so we can try it at home! ||Now I will mention the staff from the restaurant (as there were so many were just so amazing): Aryaan, Raval, Shashank, Saddique, Twisha, Dashranth, Deepshandi, Narendar, Chandan, Suiville, and Rudresh. Again, there were many more staff, but these were the staff that I noted down that stood out to me the most and provided the best service and hospitality. Whenever we needed anything, whether it be a napkin or an order for main course, they would be quick and attentive. My water glass was also always almost filled and they always made sure we were well fed so we never went even slightly hungry after any of the meals. They were genuinely amazing people and provided that home like and maharaja feeling by engaging in conversation and assuring we are all comfortable all the time. Their fine attention to detail is remarkable and their personalities shine through the service they provide.||If I was to provide one small critique to the hotel and staff, it would be to have any internal conversations (staff to staff) away from the eye of guests. I was walking by the restaurant one time and heard some yelling between staff, so I would recommend to limit the conversations around guests in that way. This incident however does not detract from the overall amazing experience. ||In all, taj umaid bhawan is the place to be! To all the loving and friendly staff: thank you! Thank you so much for your love and care throughout our entire stay. Regardless of your roles, each one of you played a vital role in our experience. I praise the staff I mentioned in this review to keep on being YOU (amazing, kind hearted, loving, caring, and genuine people). I hope the management sees this review and recognizes the staff I mentioned as a hallmark of their services, which I haven’t experienced any where else in the hundreds of properties I’ve stayed in across the world. ||THANK YOU...

Quiet hilltop location, a 15-minute drive from the airport and the city center Housed in a 20th-century palace where the Maharaja of Jodhpur still lives Fine-dining restaurant offering Indian and continental cuisine All-day veranda restaurant with Champagne breakfast options and afternoon tea Two pools, one outdoors and one subterranean Luxurious spa with yoga, meditation, massages, and Ayurvedic treatments On-site museum with royal memorabilia and classic car collection Free indoor and outdoor parking Free Wi-Fi throughout See More Pros Cons Limited facilities for children Smoking allowed in some rooms and common areas (pro for some) Not within walking distance of the city center Housed in a huge 20th-century palace (the royal family of Jodhpur still reside in one wing), Umaid Bhawan Palace is a stunning five-pearl property with a regal lobby, sprawling grounds, an upscale spa with Ayurvedic treatments, and a gorgeous underground swimming pool (there's also an outdoor pool for beating Jodhpur's many sweltering days). The 42 rooms and 22 suites here are undeniably luxurious, and most feature lovely Art Deco decor along with big marble bathrooms. However, smoking is allowed in some rooms, which may put some guests off. The two restaurants are equally upscale: one serves fine-dining and the other options serves Champagne at breakfast. There's really nothing comparable to the Umaid Bhawan in all of Jodhpur, though the Vivanta by Taj - Hari Mahal, run by the same group, is a lovely and more affordable alternative. Hotel & Amenities Photos The HotelThe Hotel Maharaja SuiteMaharaja Suite Maharani SuiteMaharani Suite Restaurants and BarsRestaurants and Bars PoolPool AmenitiesAmenities Grand Royal SuiteGrand Royal Suite Amenities Cribs Fitness Center Internet Pool Spa Most Romantic Hotels in India Jaw-dropping luxury hotel occupying part of an enormous 20th-century sandstone-and-marble palace This elegant property run by Indian luxury hotel group Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris attracts wealthy tourists from India and abroad as well as a smattering of domestic business travelers who want the best lodgings money can buy, at least in Jodhpur. The hotel occupies part of the larger Umaid Bhawan, an enormous sandstone-and-marble palace that's the official residence of the titular royal family of Jodhpur, who still live in one wing. It's set on a huge hill at the highest point in the city and is surrounded by a 26-acre grassy expanses of impeccably manicured grounds and fountain-filled courtyards, which it shares with a flock of resident peacocks. The palace features a mix of Beaux Arts and Indo-Saracenic-inspired architectural features and was built over a 15-year span from 1928 to 1943. To this day, it's among the largest private residences in the world.

Guests enter via a colonnade-supported pavilion, into what may be among the most elaborate and detailed lobbies in India, if not on earth. The lobby starts with an enormous double staircase presided over by taxidermied leopards and tigers, continuing into a second room where intricately carved sandstone pillars rise up from a starburst design on the round lobby floor, towering over gold-finished Louis XIV-style furniture. These stop at a mezzanine level, where an additional set of columns and arches lead up to a gigantic cupola that crowns the whole space. Additional seating is located in the expansive Heritage Room, a high-ceilinged salon with Art Deco-inspired chairs and sofas, as well as oil portraits of Maharajas past and present.

Features Indoor and outdoor pools, lovely spa with Ayurvedic treatments, and two restaurants Facilities at Umaid Bhawan are geared toward relaxation and center more around adult travelers than families (although babysitting is available). One of the star features is the Jiva Spa, which offers all sorts of wraps, beauty treatments, and traditional Ayurvedic therapies along with private yoga and meditation...

I have wanted to stay at the Umaid Bhawan for several years, but we have never been able to visit Jodhpur before on previous trips to India.|This stay was still sadly too short, but we were attending a wedding in Mussoorie on the 8th – 11th April.||We arrived at the Umaid Bhawan Palace after a two night stay at the Lake Palace in Udaipur (see review) which was somewhat disappointing due to several large and very loud groups staying in the hotel which detracted from the romance and intimacy of such a lovely hotel.||Our stay at the Umaid Bhawan though exceeded our expectations. || We were greeted by the Rajandani who is absolutely delightful and was so helpful throughout our stay. Once night she very kindly took some time to pin the dupatta of my lehenga before dinner. She said she had noted on my passport that it was my birthday on the 15th April and asked if we would be in India for it. I said sadly not because my Mother was going to be 95 on the 18th April and I needed to get back to England to spend my birthday and her birthday with her.|When we left the hotel, Rajandani very kindly gave me a beautiful ring to give my Mother on her birthday from the hotel. That was very touching indeed. Ranjandani is very much a credit to the hotel and to the Taj Group. After our stay she emailed me a lovely photo she took of my husband and I on our arrival.||After we checked in we were shown to our suite, we were upgraded to Suite 510. It was quite magnificent, and we appreciated the upgrade but if we returned to the hotel, which I hope we will, I would prefer to have a suite with windows directly from the bedroom and living room (they are from the dining room and bathroom in this suite)||The gentleman with all the stars on his waistcoat showed us round the suite and asked my husband if we would like to have a private dinner set up on the private marble terrace or in our room and get room service. This was a very kind gesture but I much prefer to eat in a restaurant when staying in the hotel so you can take in the atmosphere and ambience of the hotel. We ate dinner on the magnificent terrace of Pillars restaurant overlooking the grounds on both nights of our stay. This was very romantic, the food and service were exceptional. Karan served us on the second night along with Manisha who is very efficient and charming.||Parkhee gave us a tour of the Palace which we found fascinating and very informative.||We were very sad to leave the magnificent hotel, our stay was all to short. ||I have no doubt that we will return to Jodhpur and stay in the palace again. All the staff, especially those mentioned in this review were exceptional. Ravi was cleaning the floor one evening and stopped what he was doing to greet us. ||This really is a magnificent hotel in every way. I really do hope to return and enjoy its splendours and see the wonderful...