This immense palace, built of creamy-pink sandstone and marble that has been put together without the use of mortar, is a prime example of princely India’s opulence. Its 347 rooms include eight dining halls, two theatres, a ballroom, several lavishly decorated reception halls and a vast underground swimming pool. A 60 m (197 ft) dome covers the cavernous central hall which, at its inauguration, seated 1,000 people for dinner.
The palace was commissioned by Maharaja Umaid Singh, apparently to create jobs for his 1920s famine-stricken subjects. Begun in 1929, it took 3,000 artisans 15 years to complete; 19 km (12 miles) of railway tracks were also laid to bring the sandstone from the quarry. HV Lanchester, the architect of the Central Hall of Westminster in London, created a pleasing fusion of Rajput, Jain and European Art Deco styles for his royal patron.
Umaid Singh’s grandson, Gaj Singh, still lives in a section of the palace, while the rest has been turned into a luxury hotel since 1977. Today, the palace is divided into three sections: the royal apartments, the hotel that is now run by the Taj Group, and a museum. The palace museum is open to visitors and has an impressive collection of decorated weapons, watches and fantastically-shaped clocks, paintings, French furniture and porcelain.
The road in front of it, leading to the smaller Ajit Bhavan Palace, is lined with antique shops.
How to reach Mehrangarh Fort
By Air
Jodhpur Airport is connected by IA, which flies three times a week from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Udaipur. Jet Airways has daily flights from Mumbai and flights four days a week to Delhi.
By Rail
Jodhpur Junction is connected by Mandore and Intercity expresses from Old Delhi; and by Rajasthan Sampark Kranti from Sarai Rohilla, which runs on alternate days. Suryanagari Express from Bandra, Mumbai, is the best option via Ahmedabad and it runs on alternate days; also Ranakpur Express from Bandra via Ahmedabad and Surat and the Howrah-Jaipur Express.
By Road
Travelers from Delhi should turn off NH8 onto NH11 at Beawar. At Bar, turn right onto the state highway to Jodhpur via Pilara.
