The history of India is replete with the grand life of the Maharajas and their extraordinary feats. Although those days of the royals have passed long before today, the vivid remains of their lifestyle still remain as many breathtaking palaces and heritage buildings, which have been transformed into luxury hotels and lodging options.
Let us know about the most amazing royal palaces in India that provide an unprecedented glimpse into the grand lifestyle as well as the social and cultural aspects of Regal life.
Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur
The Umaid Bhawan Palace , located on the Chittor Hill, overlooking the blue city of Jodhpur, was completed in 1943. Built on an area of 26 acres, it is one of the largest private dwellings in the world, with 347 rooms. It is currently owned by Maharaja Gaj Singh, with an exhibition of stuffed leopards, classic cars that were used by the Maharajas. A part of the palace (about 64 rooms) has been converted into a heritage hotel which is managed by Taj Hotels.
The palace is divided into three functional parts – the residence of the royal family, a luxury Taj Palace hotel and a museum focused on the 20th century history of the Jodhpur royal family.
Jodhpur Junction railway station and Jodhpur Airport are located at a distance of 15 minutes drive each. It takes about 15 minutes by car from the Landmark Clock tower (Clock Tower) of the city center.
There is a beautiful underground zodiac pool there, with a long outdoor lap pool amidst the hotel’s wide grasslands, which provides a pleasurable pleasure throughout the year. Here outdoor recreation takes place on the spacious grass lawn of the palace. Inside, it also has a game room with a large billiard table in its center, as well as a table for playing chess from one side and a few spots for lounging. One of the star facilities is the Jiva Spa, which offers all types of beauty treatments and traditional Ayurvedic treatments along with yoga and meditation instruction. The palace also has a historical museum which houses a collection of historical memorabilia, Rajasthani art, and classic cars of the Maharaja.
Mysore Palace
The Mysore Palace is a historical palace and is a royal residence in Mysore in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty and the seat of the Kingdom of Mysore. Mysore Palace , also known as Amba Vilas Palace, is one of the most magnificent and largest palaces in India.
The palace was built in the 14th century and has been renovated and rebuilt many times for maintenance purposes. The palace is one of the finest monuments in India and is known for its enormous tourist attraction. During the reign of Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the palace was expanded in about 1930 (including the current public court hall wing). Although the construction was completed in 1912, the fortification continued to beautify and its inhabitants were gradually moved away from the palace to the new extension.
Things to see in Mysore Palace
There are many fascinating things to see in and around the Mysore Palace, each of which bears testimony to the wealth and grandeur of the Kingdom of Mysore. Such as the Gombe Thotti or Gudiya Mandapa, a collection of traditional dolls, Golden Howard, the elephant seat of the Maharaja made of 85 kg of gold and the Kalan Mantap or Vivah Mandapa, an octagonal shaped hall with a glass ceiling.
The nearest major airport of Mysore is the New Bengaluru International Airport, which is about 170 kilometers away. Bangalore is very well connected to all major cities in India. It takes about three hours by road to reach Mysore from Bangalore. You can take a KSRTC bus, train or taxi from Bangalore.
City Palace – Jaipur, Rajasthan
The magnificent City Palace of Jaipur is situated in the heart of the old city of Jaipur . This vast complex of courtyards and gardens mixes Rajasthani and Mughal styles. The City Palace was built in 1732 by Rajput king Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. You cannot miss seeing Mubarak Mahal, Armory, Chandra Mahal and Diwan-i-Aam, uniquely designed peacock gateways and museums and galleries. The City Palace also hosts many activities, events and festivities.
It now houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and is home to the Jaipur royal family. The royal family of Jaipur is said to be a descendant of Lord Rama.
The City Palace complex consists of Mubarak Mahal (the Palace of Reception) and the Queen’s Palace (Queen’s Palace). Mubarak Mahal now houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and displays a vast collection of royal costumes, delicate Pashmina (Kashmiri) shawls, silk sarees of Banaras, and other costumes with Sangeri colored prints and folk embroidery. The clothes of Maharaja Sawai Madhosingh I are also on display.
City Palace has excellent connectivity with the city and you can reach this place by bus, taxi or auto rickshaw depending on your starting point. The palace is 12.8 km from Jaipur International Airport and 3.9 km from Jaipur Railway Station.
Lake Palace – Udaipur, Rajasthan
Named after Maharaja Jagat Singh II, first known as Jag Niwas, this palace is one of the four islands of Pichola Lake in Udaipur. In 1963, Maharaja Bhagwat Singh converted Jag Niwas into the first luxury hotel in Udaipur and in 1971 shifted his management to the Taj Group of Hotels, Resorts and Palaces. The very famous James Bond film “Octopussy” was filmed in this beautiful complex.
Built in the 18th century, the Lake Palace is situated amidst the beautiful Lake Pichola. Once used as a winter palace of the royal Mewar dynasty, this palace is now a magnificent white marble hotel, managed by the Taj group. It has 83 rooms and suites. It is considered among the most romantic and royal hotels in the world.
With 24-hour room service, Taj Lake Palace offers three elegant restaurants and a beautiful bar – Amrit Sagar – offering tapas and cigars with a large selection of wines and liquor. Jharoka is the main restaurant and offers European, Asian and Indian food from morning to late night. Neil Kamal opens only at meal time. There is a seasonal terrace restaurant – Bhairo, which serves European food.
In addition, there is a beautiful outdoor courtyard pool treadmill and a compact fitness center. Jeeva, a luxurious spa at the Lake Palace, offers all types of traditional Indian massage and beauty treatments. Free parking is available on the shore, but note that there is room for only 10 cars.
Falaknuma Palace – Hyderabad, Telangana
Falaknuma Palace or Taj Falaknuma Palace is a large and magnificent palace situated near Charminar. Owned by the Nizam of the princely state of Hyderabad, Falaknuma Palace was converted into an ultra-luxe hotel in 2010 and managed by Taj Hotels. It invites guests to experience the grandeur of the Hyderabad Nizam. Situated on a 609.6 m (2,000 ft) high hill near the city of pearls, the hotel is famous for featuring Venetian chandeliers, Roman columns, marble staircases, interior sculptures, artifacts and exquisite furnishings. Japanese, Mughal and Rajasthani gardens add beauty to its beauty. Impressively, the palace also has a huge library, which is one of the rarest versions of the Quran, the sacred text of Islam.
It was built by Sir Waqar-ul-Umra and later belonged to the Paiga family and the Nizam. It is now a luxury hotel and is open to the public.
There is an outdoor pool and children’s pool. Other recreational facilities include a 24-hour health club. Guests can enjoy on-site spa services. Services include deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, sports massage and Swedish massage. Many remedies including Ayurvedic are also provided.
Indian Airlines connects Hyderabad to all major cities of India. The nearest airport is Begumpet Airport, 5 km from Secunderabad Railway Station and 15 km from the old city of Hyderabad. The nearest railway stations are Begumpet station, Hyderabad station and Secunderabad station.
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