Umaid Bhavan Palace, Jodhpur

One of the fascinating palaces of Jodhpur is the Umaid Bhavan palace. Maharaja Umaid Singh constructed it in 20th century. A part of the palace has now been converted into a hotel and a museum. 

In 1924, the Maharaja met with Henry Vaughn Lanchester. He had spent decades travelling the world as architect and town planner, and was no stranger to the traditions of Hindu architecture. While discussing his vision for the palace, Lanchester outlined his strong stand against the Mughal aesthetic, arguing that the States of Rajasthan came under Muslim domination only to a limited extent, and their traditions very rarely made use of Mughal features. Umaid Singh knew he had found his man. 

Determined to incorporate the traditions and unique world view of the land in his concept, Lanchester looked to the Hindu mountain temples for his inspiration behind Umaid Bhawan Palace. While his palace may have been inspired by tradition, it was, at the insistence of the forward-thinking monarch, built on the cutting edge of progress. 

The eclectic blend of art deco and millennia-old Hindu architectural traditions is still a powerful symbol of the Rathore clan's identity. While Mehrangarh was, in the words of Kipling, “the work of Angels, Fairies and Giants”, Umaid Bhawan is, in the words of an anonymous poet, “a majestic, handsome warrior, his arms spread wide for a loving embrace.”