5 Reasons To Visit Umaid Bhawan Palace In Jodhpur
Let me tell you why I wanted to visit Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur – I have been curious to see it since the time I had seen its coverage (on one of the travel shows) on television. So the first thing that I did when I checked in at my hotel in Jodhpur was to find out how to get to Umaid Bhawan Palace.
I wanted to experience the same kind of royalty and daintiness that I had seen on TV, but the story is different when you visit it. Yes, if you visit it as a regular tourist, you don’t have access to all of it. Actually the palace has three different portions – one of the portions is still occupied by the former royal family, which obviously is restricted. Another part of the palace is converted into a five-star hotel managed by the Taj Group of Hotels. The third portion is for tourists like us, which is the museum. But, the good news is that it’s not just a regular museum.
The museum at Umaid Bhawan Palace has quite a few interesting things to see and do, which one should not miss.
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| Model of the palace at the museum |
1. The palace and its architecture
First things first, visit it for the Umaid Bhawan Palace. It has splendid architectural beauty to take note of. Besides, the whole vicinity is well maintained. I wouldn’t be wrong if I say that the royalty is in the air. You can be at ease and roam around for a while. I would advise you not to behave like a typical tourist and follow a guide. Try to grasp the majesty of the palace on your own.
Read more about Umaid Bhawan Palace
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| A painting on the wall depicting the old era war |
2. The museum
Well, of course, it’s a museum so you get to see lots of old stuff that belonged to the royal family. Let me admit, I am not one of those who get excited about museums, but I pretty much liked it. I didn’t really pay much heed to the stuff from the old era, but I enjoyed the grandeur of it all. It was magnificent!
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| The shops in the courtyard |
3. The royal shops
There are shops inside the museum’s courtyard for all those ladies out there who can’t hold their purse strings. You can find some of the exquisite trinkets and fabric. Picking a thing or two from the royal shops will give you a regal feeling, which you don’t want to miss.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t buy anything because of my tight budget. But I am sure to fulfil my regal cravings the next time.
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| The vintage cars display area |
4. Vintage cars on display
Vintage cars exude a lot of old royal era charm. Wouldn’t you agree? There is a separate area where the classic automobiles are on display. They have been kept safely behind a glass. You can just take a walk and have a close look at each one of them.
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| The Cafe at the palace museum |
5. The café
After you have taken the rounds, observed, savoured the palace and its beauty, take a coffee break at the open-air café run by the Umaid Bhawan authority. It’s located right at the entrance from where you have to buy a ticket to see the museum. It’s a nice place to relax and a great excuse to spend more time at the palace.
Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the distinguished sites in Jodhpur. It’s worth visiting, not just for the museum, but for the sheer feeling of royalty.
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| The museum courtyard |
Have you visited Umaid Bhawan Palace? Would you like to?
