When planning your Rajasthan trip package, don’t miss the Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum in Jodhpur. This museum is part of a grand palace where the royal family of Jodhpur still lives today. It is a special place that shows visitors how kings and queens used to live. The museum is in a beautiful part of the palace, surrounded by pretty gardens where you can walk and relax. Inside, you will see many old and fancy things that belonged to the rulers of Jodhpur.
It is like stepping into a fairytale, with everything kept neat and clean for visitors to enjoy. The museum lets you learn about the rich history and luxurious lifestyle of Indian royalty.
The story of Umaid Bhawan Palace started back in 1459 when they made the Mehrangarh Fort nearby. Interestingly, while Mehrangarh Fort in Umaid Bhawan Palace is often mentioned together, they are separate structures with their unique excellence. A saint said that Jodhpur would face severe drought under the rule of the Rathore dynasty. In the 1920s, Jodhpur faced severe drought and famine for three years in a row.
Hence Maharaja, Umaid Singh decided to employ farmers by building a big, fancy palace. In 1929, he started the work himself by crushing the ground where the palace would be built.
They say about 2,000 to 3,000 people worked on building the palace. They built it slowly on purpose to give people jobs for a long time. It took until 1943 to finish the palace and make it ready to live in. When it opened, Umaid Bhawan Palace was one of the biggest royal homes in the world.
Umaid Singh only lived in the palace for four years before he died in 1947. His son, Hanwant Singh, became the new king but only lived for five years there. Then, Hanwant’s son, Gaj Singh II, took over. Gaj Singh decided to change part of the palace into a hotel and a museum for people to visit.