#BloggerContest: On The Royal Road—Umaid Bhavan Palace, Jodhpur

If you’re in pursuit of a stay at an iconic royal residence which seems to have fallen out of time, but still firmly perched in the present, Umaid Bhavan Palace, Jodhpur, satisfies that whim. Home to the erstwhile Jodhpur royal family, this golden yellow-sandstone building, set like a jewel amid 26 acres of land (of which 15 are gardens), continues to be home to the royals. Little wonder then, that everything about the monumental residence—a synthesis of western technology and more-than-one Indian architectural style, is still suffused with a sense of history. Every time I sally into Jodhpur to stay in the part of the palace managed by the Taj Group of Hotels, I have a feeling of stepping into another era.

Intense beauty lies in the minutest details

Inside the hotel, everywhere the eye looks there’s a detail. Here—the Central Rotunda, whose cupola rises a hundred-and-five feet. There—the throne room with its beautiful Ramayana Murals. But while the oval staircase hall, flanked by the ballroom and banquet hall, may feel too theatrical to begin with, one easily slides into the opulence. In whichever category of room or suite you pick, original décor meets modern convenience. And no matter the size, they all come with the largesse and attention to detail, which those who travel carrying very little, require. 

A destination in its own right

There’s always the siren call of competing pulls that assail me. Should I be spending part of the morning at the palace’s private museum or in the wood-panelled library? Should I be oohing-and-aahing in the garages over the collection of vintage cars? Working up an appetite in the billiards room or indoor swimming pool?  Engaging in a spot of tennis on one of the four tennis courts or a game of squash upon one of the two unique, marble-floored squash courts? Or just taking a leisurely walk around the fifteen acres of garden?

Spoilt with personal attention 

The palace butlers (never overbearing) are ever at hand, anticipating my every need. Would I be wanting to construct a custom-made itinerary through the blue city? Would I need a car to ferry me to a local market? Would I need help selecting a guide to talk me through the remarkable Mehrangarh Fort that looms over the city like a phoenix?

A gourmet’s trip to paradise

Back at the hotel, the restaurants are particular, both in terms of décor and flavour. Pillars, set in a colonnaded verandah, overlook the city of Jodhpur. It’s where I go for early breakfast or for Rajasthani delicacies on an evening. Risala, the fine-dining restaurant, satisfies my desire for Indian-Fusion cuisine. Glorious garden views, a sense of history communicated by the royal portraits on the walls, add heart to this meal.

It’s the end of my stay here and I wander between a massage at the Jiva Spa (that fends off even the slightest twinge of stress triggered by making so many choices) and the Trophy bar, for a final cocktail and a puff at a Cuban cigar.  A stay here ensures that my time clock is re-set to there’s-so-much-to be-alive-for standard time.

Book your stay at Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace,Jodhpur!