Palaces
of Rajasthan
Bikaner
Lallgarh Palace : During the reign of Maharaja Ganga Singh, the first phase
of Lallgarh Palace was completed in the year 1902. It was the most completely
integrated example of Indo Saracenic architecture and the perfectly realized
creation of Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. Further additions were done between 1906
- 1910. In the year 1972 Dr. Karni Singh established the Ganga Singhji Charitable
Trust. He endowed a part of Lallgarh Palace to be used in service of the trust.
The other parts were converted into a hotel. All the income from the hotel was
to be used for Academic Scholarships, Marriages of girls from poor families,
Old Age Pensions and for the maintenance of ancient Sanskrit manuscripts. Lallgarh
Palace Hotel has got a total of 38 rooms with attached bath. It is a genuinely
extraordinary palace and is a magnificent place t visit. The hotel is today
managed by ITC Welcomgroup Hotels.
Gajner Palace :
Maharaja Gaj Singh (1745 -87) developed a pleasure palace for his newly
wedded Royal Bride, some 20 miles outside the city walls of Bikaner. He
built a Palace known as Jal Mahal besides a tank. It had an adjacent durbar
hall called Pachis Chowk ( 25 squares ). He established a new settlement
beside the royal resort and named it as Gajsinghpura , in honour of himself.
It was later known as Gajner. It has a total of 24 rooms ( 8 rooms in the
main building and 16 rooms in the anexe. The location is utterly captivating
and rooms in the main building are authentic and still remain unretouched.
Rambagh
Palace : The Rambagh came into existence with a few pleasure pavilions outside
the walled city. Maharaja Swai Ram Singh II (1835 -80) organized it into a hunting
lodge and was named as Ram Bagh (Garden of Ram). More rooms were added during
1887 to accommodate the Royal Guests of Maharaja Madho Singh and it was transformed
into a luxurious 26 rooms mansions. In 1931 Maharaja Mansingh enlarged and modernised
the Palace. 1n 1940 when Maharaja Mansingh married Princess Gayatri Devi, he
revamped the Royal Suites. He ruled the Jaipur State until India's independence
in 1947 from this Palace. On 8th December 1957 the Rambagh Palace Hotel was
formally opened and the Maharaja of Jaipur became the first active hotelier
in India. It was expanded from 26 rooms to 80 rooms in the year 1968. Rambagh
Palace came under the management of TajGroup of hotels in the year 1972. Today
Rambagh Palace has a total of 106 rooms including 4 Special Suites. It has got
Standard roomswhich are elegant, airconditioned with all modern facilities like
channel music, television, direct dialing facility from each room. Superior
rooms are tastefully decorated in the Rajasthani Style. You can also choose
from Maharaj Suite with large canopied bed, Maharani Suite with mirrored bathroom
and Princess Suite with fountains and private terrace garden.
The
Jai Mahal Palace : During the reign of Sawai Ishwari Singh (1743 - 50),
his Prime Minister and Military Commander Hargovind Natani developed this property
and was called as NATANI KA BAGH (Garden of Natani). Maharaja Sawai Mansingh
gave the name Jai Mahal to Natani Ka Bagh. It is not known whether he gave the
name after his beloved 2nd son Jai Singh or after the city Jaipur. Alterations
to the Palace were made between 1952 and 1955. It was only in December 1955
that Jaimahal Palace Hotel was opened. In 1984 Rajmata Gayatri Devi gave the
management to Taj Group of Hotels. Extensive construction work was carried out
and 40 rooms were added by 1986. Within six months another 60 rooms were added.
It has 5 Special Suites -Jaipur, Peacock, Gangaur, Topaz , Crystal- all have
their own theme and are magnificiently decorated.
Narain Niwas Palace : Maharaja
Ram Singh II of Jaipur, bestowed the land for this Palace to Kr. Narain
Singhji. The Palace was completed by his son Major General Rao Bahadur Amer
Singh in 1928. Amer Singh was the first Indian to be commissioned in the
British Army. The palace was created in the traditional Rajasthani
architecture with antique furniture inside. Chandeliered Durbar Hall and
royal bed-rooms with period furniture make the palace a heaven of charm and
royalty . It is surrounded with sprawling landscaped garden and mango
orchards. It has 22 double rooms with attached bath and telephones.
Samode
Haveli : Samode Haveli was built by Rawal Sheo Singh who was Prime Minister
in the Royal court.It traces its linkage of four centuries with Prithviraj Singhji
of Amber, who was the 7th Prince of the house of Kacchwaha Rajputs. It has beautiful
rooms furnished with period furniture, arched windows and intricate wall designs.
The Haveli is a magnificent reminder of glorious past.It has 18 rooms with attached
bath.
Umaid
Bhawan Palace : Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur travelled to England in
1925, in search of an architect for palace and commissioned the London firm
Lanchester and Lodge to build the same. The blue prints of the palace were
approved and the foundation stone was laid in 1929. About 3000 people were
employed for 15 years to complete this sandstone palace. After the
withdrawal of Title, Privileges and Privy Purses from the former rulers of
the States by the Government of India in 1971, it became difficult to
mainitain the palaces. The young Maharaja Gaj Singh started looking and
exploring the possibilities of turning a part of the palace into a hotel. In
1977 a contract was signed with ITC Welcomgroup and Umaid Bhawan was opened
into the finest luxury hotel in India. It has 95 rooms and suites with
telephones, attached baths, video, television, refrigerators, channel music
etc.
Samode Palace :: The 7th Prince of Kacchwaha Rajputs
awarded Samode to one of his 12 son's Gopal Singhji along with the Title of
Rawal Saheb. The palace is full of architectural delights. The Durbar hall
with a beautiful chandelier, painted ceilings and intricately carved walls.
The Sheesh Mahal, with inlaid mirror work and exclusive rooms. It has 20
rooms. In short it is a blend of contemporary comfort in traditional style.
Sariska
Palace : It was built for the visit of Queen Victoria's soldier son, the
Duke of Cannaught in 1892 by Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar, as a Royal hunting
lodge.It stands against the backdrop of Sariska Sanctuary and now converted
into a Heritage Hotel. It provides a royal treat in beautiful and natural sorroundings.
It has 40 rooms which are plain,clean and decently decorated.
Lake Palace : Legend says that Prince Jagat Singh II asked
his father Maharana Sangram Singh II (1710-34) to give permission to take
his friends for fun and frolic to Jag Mandir .The permission was refused and
the old Maharana said to go ahead and build his own palace in the lake. The
prince built a magnificient pleasure palace on the rocky island. Maharana
Bhagwat Singh converted Jag Niwas Palace into a luxury hotel in the year
1961. It is one of the most luxurious hotels in India and is an experience
in itself and well managed in best Taj style. It has 85 beautiful rooms and
Special Suites. It is a 5 Star Deluxe Hotel which is incomparable property
with adequate & exquisite rooms and good professional service.
Laxmi
Vilas Palace : Maharana Fateh Singh Ji built a small royal guest house in
1911 overlooking Fateh Sagar Lake for his British Guests. and named it as Laxmi
Vilas In 1945 Maharana Bhopal Singh reconstructed Laxmi Vilas and used it for
the visiting royal dignitaries. In 1962 the palace was acquired by Government
of India and converted into a hotel. It has 54 rooms(45 double with air-conditioning,
4 double without, 4 suites, 1 Maharani suite) all with telephone, attached bath,television,
video and refrigerator. It is a decent second-rank hotel in an outstanding location
overlooking Fateh Sagar Lake with pleasant old rooms and a nice swimming pool.
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