Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

Umaid Bhawan Palace was completed in 1943 and is still the home of Jodhpur's former royal family. Day visitors can enter its museum; the hotel wing is for guests.

Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the world's largest private residences and the principal home of the former Jodhpur royal family. It is named for Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present owner, Gaj Singh. Foundations were laid on 18 November 1929 and construction finished in 1943. The palace has 347 rooms, and a part of it is managed by Taj Hotels, so most of the building is not open to day visitors.

A section is a museum, and that is the part ordinary visitors can enter. A secondary site describes exhibits such as a large flag said to have been given by Queen Victoria in 1877, stuffed animals and a collection of vintage cars in the front garden, but these were not confirmed against an official source.

The museum is listed as open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day except Sunday, with tickets of Rs 30 for Indians and Rs 100 for foreigners, both from the same secondary website, which also carried an older conflicting figure. Because the building is a working hotel and private residence, access rules can change. Check before travelling, and expect to see the hotel areas only as a guest.