Umed Bhawan Palace

25°12′36″N 75°51′53″E

Not to be confused with the Umaid Bhawan Palace, in Jodhpur.

The front of the Umed Bhawan Palace

The large courtyard of the Umed Bhawan Palace

A smaller courtyard in the Umed Bhawan Palace

Langurs are frequent visitors to the palace

The Umed Bhawan Palace in the outskirts of Kota, Rajasthan is a former residence of the Maharaja of Kota. Nowadays, the palace is partly converted into a heritage hotel. The palace is surrounded by a large park.

History

At the start of the twentieth century, Maharao Umed Singh II (1889-1940) commissioned the construction of a new palace as alternative for the fortified Kota city palace in Kota, which dated from the 17th century.^[1][2] He engaged as architect the British engineer Samuel Swinton Jacob who was based in Jaipur.^[1][2] In 1905, the maharaja moved to his new palace.^[2] The complex was named after its commissioner.^[2]

Samuel Swinton Jacob designed the palace in an Indo-Saracenic style.^[1][2] Although, the palace is European in conception, its exterior is decorated with Rajput and Mughal details such as verandas and porches, arches, minarets and towers topped with chhatris.^[1][2] The exterior primarily consists of pink sandstone intertwined with white Khimach stones and Italian marble.^[1][2] The complex is arranged around various courtyards.^[1] The larger one leading to the main state rooms of the palace.^[1][2]

In 1930, the architect George Devon was engaged to expand the palace to provide accommodation for the future maharadja Bhim Singh II (1909 – 1991) and his bride.^[3] The architect took great care to blend the new parts with the old parts designed by Samuel Jacob.^[3] This part of the palace is still used by the royal family of Kota.^[3]

After the independence of India, the palace has been sold.^[4] Part of the palace is now operated as a hotel.^[1]