TOP 5 HOTELS IN INDIA
1. Umaid Bhawan Palace
Umaid Bhawan Palace, located at Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India, is one of the world's largest private residences. A part of the palace is managed by Taj Hotels. Named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present owner Gaj Singh of the palace, this edifice has 347 rooms and serves as the principal residence of the erstwhile Jodhpur royal family. A part of the palace also houses a museum.
The entire palace complex built with sandstone and marble is set in an area of 26 acres (11 ha) of land including 15 acres (6.1 ha) of well tended gardens. The palace, magnificent in its lavish proportions, consists of a throne chamber, an exclusive private meeting hall, a Durbar Hall to meet the public, a vaulted banquet hall, private dining halls, a ball room, a library, an indoor swimming pool and spa, a billiards room, four tennis courts, two unique marble squash courts,[4] and long passages.[9]
Address: Kahala Phata, Sam Road, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 345001
Umaid Bhawan Palace was called Chittar Palace during its construction due to use of stones drawn from the Chittar hill where it is located. Ground for the foundations of the building was broken on 18 November 1929 by Maharaja Umaid Singh and the construction work was completed in 1943. The Palace was built to provide employment to thousands of people during the time of famine.
FEATURES
The Palace is divided into three functional parts – the residence of the royal family, a luxury Taj Palace Hotel, and a Museum focusing on the 20th century history of the Jodhpur Royal Family.
PALACE
The entire palace complex built with sandstone and marble is set in an area of 26 acres (11 ha) of land including 15 acres (6.1 ha) of well tended gardens. The palace, magnificent in its lavish proportions, consists of a throne chamber, an exclusive private meeting hall, a Durbar Hall to meet the public, a vaulted banquet hall, private dining halls, a ball room, a library, an indoor swimming pool and spa, a billiards room, four tennis courts, two unique marble squash courts,[4] and long passages.[9]
The interior central dome sits above the sky blue inner dome. The inner vaulted dome is a major attraction in the palace which rises to a height of 103 feet (31 m) in the interior part which is capped by an outer dome of 43 feet (13 m) height. The entry to the palace has decorations of the Coat of arms of the Rathore Royal family. The entry leads to the lobby which has polished black granite flooring. The lounge area has pink sandstone and marble floors.[3] Maharaja Gaj Singh, known as "bapji", stays in a part of the palace. The architecture of the palace is described as an amalgam of lndo-Saracenic, Classical Revival and Western Art Deco styles. It is also said the Maharaja and his architect Lanchester had considered the features of Buddhist and Hindu edifices such as the Temple Mountain-Palaces of Burma and Cambodia, and in particular the Angkor Wat in preparing the layout and design of the palace.[7] The interior of the palace is in art deco design.[8] The interior decoration is credited to J.S. Norblin, a refuge from Poland, who created the frescoes in the throne room on the east wing. An architectural historian commented that "it is the finest example of Indo-deco. The forms are crisp and precise"
Hotel[edit]
The hotel wing of the palace is run by the Taj Group of Hotels. It has 70 guest rooms including the luxurious "Regal and Vice Regal Suites" and the fabulous "Maharaja" and "Maharani suites" with art deco style decorations, the latter is fitted with a bath tub carved from a single block of pink marble said to be the only one of its type in India. The Maharani suite also has parquet flooring and has a terrace which provides scenic views of the garden. The bed room has an attached kitchen and the furnishing here is in pink and peach colour. The bed is also fitted with an art feature of a woman sitting on a lion. The Maharaja Suite has manly furnishings in leopard skin, and with black marble flooring and a curved mirrored dome. Both the rooms are decorated with murals. The banquet hall of the palace now forms the large restaurant.[4][3]
Museum[edit
The museum has exhibits of stuffed leopards, a very large symbolic flag gifted to Maharaja Jaswant Singh by Queen Victoria in 1877, an impressive "quirky" collection of clocks in windmill and light house shapes, and photographs of the elegant art-deco interior of the palace.[6] The classic cars of the Maharajas are also on display in the garden in front of the museum. Glass, porcelain wares, memorabilia, and information on the building of the palace are also part of the exhibits. The Darbar Hall, which is part of the museum, has elegant murals and also substantial number of miniature paintings, armour and an unusual collection of household paraphernalia that was in vogue in the 1930s, which were costly and then not found in India.[8][10] October to March, during winter season, are the best months to visit the palace and the museum.[4]
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2. TAJ LAKE PALACE UDAIPUR
Lake Palace (formerly known as Jag Niwas) is a luxury hotel, which has 83 rooms and suites featuring white marble walls. The Lake Palace is located on the island of Jag Niwas in Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India, and its natural foundation spans 4 acres (16,000 m2).[1] The hotel operates a speed boat which transports guests to the hotel from a jetty at the City Palace. It has been voted as the most romantic hotel in India and in the world.
Lake Palace Udaipur
| Location: | Amidst Lake Pichola, On Jag Niwas Island |
| Built by: | Maharana Jagat Singh II |
| Built in: | 1754 |
| Highlights: | Most romantic place set amidst the calm waters |
| How to reach: | From the banks of Lake Pichola, one needs to take a boat to reach Lake Palace in Udaipur |
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3.WILDFLOWER HALL, SHIMLA IN THE HIMALAYAS
At Wildflower Hall, guests can refresh with nature walks, rafting, cycling or yoga, or relax and rejuvenate with an exclusive spa therapy.
The Restaurant includes a smart, brightly lit indoor dining space, a charming glass conservatory with intimate seating arrangements and an outdoor terrace, with magnificent views of the Himalayas. The menu features pan-Indian (including local Himachal), Asian and Continental cuisine.
Wildflower Hall offers exclusive massage, yoga and Ayurvedic treatments at bespoke locations around the hotel and grounds. Our open air whirlpool affords magnificent views across the Greater Himalayas, while our indoor pool lit and adorned by overhead crystal chandeliers - is temperature controlled throughout the year.
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4. Rambagh Palace
The Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan is the former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur and now a hotel, located 5 miles (8.0 km) outside the walls of the city of Jaipur on Bhawani Singh Road.
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5.Suryagarh
Set in a grand palace with an ornate, sandstone exterior, this palatial luxury hotel is 7 km from the abandoned village of Kuldhara, and 15 km from the Bara Bagh temple.
Sophisticated accommodations with subdued decor, feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars. Suites add living and dining rooms; some have Jacuzzi tubs. Private mansions, with sandstone ceilings, include fountains and verandas; 1 has a kitchen.
Parking and breakfast are free. There's a 24-hour cafe, a fine dining option, a chic bar and a courtyard with snacks. Amenities include an indoor pool, a spa, a gym and a game room. Yoga, chanting and meditation are available.
Sophisticated accommodations with subdued decor, feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars. Suites add living and dining rooms; some have Jacuzzi tubs. Private mansions, with sandstone ceilings, include fountains and verandas; 1 has a kitchen.
Parking and breakfast are free. There's a 24-hour cafe, a fine dining option, a chic bar and a courtyard with snacks. Amenities include an indoor pool, a spa, a gym and a game room. Yoga, chanting and meditation are available.
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