BHARATPUR GHOL BAGH PALACE - Rajasthan India Tourism

The town was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal and is popularly known as the ' Eastern Gate of Rajasthan. Gol Bagh Palace was built in 1903 by Maharaja Kishan Singh of Bharatpur as a private hunting lodge at the same time as the adjacent Moti Mahal Palace. .It has 18 rooms (10 in main building including suites, 8 in annexe) all with attached bath, none with airconditioning. Bharatpur is today famous for its largest concentration and variety of bird life in all Asia.

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.

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

In the east of this beautiful town is Udai Bilas Palace, the residence of the Royal family named after Maharawal Udai Singh II, a great patron of art and architecture. Maharawal Udai Singh built a wing of bluish grey local stone 'pareva' overlooking the lake and the 'Ek Thambia Mahal' (literally meaning one pillared palace) featuring intricate sculptured pillars and panels, arches and freeze of marble carvings-a veritable marvel of Rajput architecture. Still the royal residence - the Udai Bilas Palace offers accommodation with all major facilities.

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.

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.

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 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.

Bissau Palace is an elegant traditional hotel built in 1919 and recently renovated. Close to the walled city and overlooking the Tiger Fort the Bissau offers an oasis of calm, care, comfort and respite from the 'heat and dust' of the city. The guest rooms are spacious and comfortable. A gracious hotel with old-world charm and reputation for excellent cuisine and service. An atmosphere filled with intrigue, excitement, tragedy. Turreted ramparts enclosing a world of wealth. There is the lounge and library with its vast collection of royal portraits, old silver and armoury dating back to the 17th century - all mementos of history and time exuding a languid grace of the bygone era.

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.

Maharaja Ajit Singh(1907 -78) was younger brother of Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur. The foundation stone for the Maharaja's own residence was laid in 1927 and were completed within a period of 2 years. It was a two storied building with 25 rooms. Zenana (ladies) appartments were on the 1st floor veiled by carved Jaali screens. The facade of the palace was crowned with a large central dome flanked with two smaller domes at either end of the building. Sobhag Singh and Swaroop Singh, sons of Maharaja Ajit Singh converted Ajit Bhawan into a hotel in the year 1980. It has a total of 50 rooms with attached bath.

This heritage property was christened in 1922 by His late Highness Umed Singhji Bahadur, Maharao of Kota. Built by the British in 1870, this was the official residence of the Agency Surgeon. It became the residence in 1929 of Col. Thakur Prithi Singhji. M.B.E., General Officer Commanding, he subsequently came to own Sukhdham and it has since been with his family. This unique mansion of dressed sandstone, arcades and balconies with intricate stone screens is an architectural beauty.

Khimsar Garh was constructed in the 15th century by Rao Karamsi, junior son of Rao Jodha of Jodhpur. It became headquarters of the Karamsots, a sub -clan of the Rathors. Khimsar Castle as it is now called, is a very pleasant place to stay, with large rooms, good service and decent food. It has 18 rooms with attached bath.

Sir Swinton Jacob, designed and constructed it during 1893. He developed it as a Summer Palace for Maharaja Ganga Singhji. In 1924, Ganga Singhji appointed a firm Stevens & Mcknight to redesign the Palace using the finest construction material. The palace is situated just a short distance from the famous Dilwara Jain Temples. Bikaner House now known as Palace Hotel has a total of 38 rooms with attached bath.

Thakur Nawal Singh founded this fort in the desert town of Mandawa in the year 1755. Three magnificent gates lead the visitors to the interior of the fort, which is menacingly guarded by huge cannons. Castle Mandawa has an ancestral inhouse Museum with interesting numismatic collection, costumes of Rajput warriors and silver objects. The major attractions are the wall paintings, havellies and frescoes of Shekhawati.It has 36 rooms at castle-all with attached bath (14 cottages in desert camp half mile from the castle.)

Neemrana Fort was built in the year 1464 AD. It is also Rajasthan's closest palace from New Delhi on the Delhi-Jaipur highway. It is concealed in a horseshoe formation of the Aravalli range, on a majestic plateau. Neemrana became the third capital of the descendants of Prithviraj Chauhan III.,who was killed in battle by Mohammad Ghori in 1192 AD. This picturesque site was chosen by Raja Rajdeo and Neemrana derived its name from a brave local chieftain Nimola Meo, who when defeated by the Chauhans,pleaded that his name remain associated with his lost kingdom. All the suites in the palace are designed with a different theme. There are about 15 rooms in the Palace.

The magnificient fort of Rohetgarh was the fortified desert home of descendants of the 16th century Rathore of the Champawat clan. A bastion of proud Rajput traditions, Rohetgarh fort is a veritable oasis ,on the banks of a lake, with spacious lawns. Fresco's on the tall gateway, brightly painted in the traditional style, herald your entry into this charming world. The portico is a warm & informal place decorated with antique hunting rifles, shields and spearheads, daggers, trophies and original paintings. Exquisitely carved furniture, delicate hand block prints and original photographs adorn individual rooms, which provide all modern amenities. It has 15 rooms including 3 suites.

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.

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.

It was built as a hunting lodge by the Maharaja of Jaipur. The interior of the lodge were furnished in 1930 which has given a posh and romantic touch to the lodge. A beautiful lounge with a fireplace and bar adds to the ambience of the lodge.It is an ideal stop to make visit to the Ranthambore National Park which provides a Jeep Safari into the 400 sq. Km. of dry deciduous forest - one of the finest homes of the Tiger. Ranthambore has 300 varieties of trees, 560 aquatic plants, 272 species of birds and around 30 species of animals including Wild Boar, Sambar, Leopard etc.

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.

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.

It is the house of royal hunts and evokes many memories of the past. It is set amongst the Aravali hills and was the hunting lodge of the Mewar rulers. It has its own private lake and a stud farm.It has 25 double rooms with attached bath, heating and cooling. Originally a royal hunting lodge, the property is efficiently managed and provides comfortable lodgings in an entirely different atmosphere from the other Udaipur properties, geared to outdoor recreation and relaxation.

Shaped like the crescent moon, like a magnificient tiara, a palace gazes down into the blue calm of Lake Pichola. 'Shivniwas' ,the imperial guest house of the Mewar rulers. Built in the reign of Maharana Fateh Singh (1884-1930), Shivniwas has been host to visiting royalty and important people from all over the world,including King George V, in 1905 . It has 17 suites,1 Imperial suite, 2 Royal suites,6 Historic suites.8 Deluxe suites, 14 rooms, all centrally air-conditioned and heated. All with attached baths and telephones. In every way by far the finest palace hotel in India - elegant, beautifully run, with wonderful rooms. All the efficiency of a five-star hotel without the impersonal quality.