Palaces of

India
(MICHAEL SUGICH)

By
Abarajithan M
 About the author
Michael sugich was born in America and educated .
at losangeles and the California institute of the arts in 1972.
Since he devoted himself to travel studies and writing in
eroup,africa,middle east and Asia.

He written for newspapers, magazines, television and film covering a wide

variety of subjects
Including travel,culture,religion,history,architecture,literature,industry and
cinema.
He travelled all over the subcontinent. from Kashmir to Kerala describe the
exotic history and architecture of over 50 forme palace in India.
 Introduction

This book for travelers ,armchair & presenting the history & descriptions &
princely palace in India as a luxury resorts, tourism bungalow or
roadside rest-stops, from Kashmir to Kerala. and shows the ancient
architectural of Muslim conquest of India mugal empire .And British
arrival in to India
Northern India
UDAIPUR
Jag Niwas
Shiv Niwas
Laxim vilas Palace

JAIPUR
Ram Bagh Palace
Maji-ka-Bagh
Nahar Garh
A Tharur at Home
Kanota Garh & Narain Bagh
Samode palace & samode Haveil

SHEIKHAWATI
Mandawa Garh
Roop Niwas Kothi
Dundlod Qila
Northern India
ALWAR
Siliserh palace
Sariska palace
Neermrana palace

JODHPUR
Umaid bhawan palace
Ajit bhawan palace

JAISALMER
Jawahar niwas palace

BIKANER
Lallgarh palace
Gajner palace
Northern India
SIMLA
Chaplsee
Woodville
Chail palace

KASHMIR
GULAB PALACE

HIMALAYAN HILLS
Ai hilal palace
Nagar castel
Northern India JAG NIWAS
UDAIPUR (THE LAKE PALACE HOTEL)

 This island palace was developed by Rana Karan Singh(1620-28).

 In 1628-52 this palace added to island palace zenan and named

Jag mandir in honors of Ranan karan sing.

Popular guest
 Majesty queen Elizabeth II
 Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy
 Shah of iran and the king of Nepal

 In 1971 management take by Indian’s oldest hoteliers.

 After that jag news run as a luxury hotel

Reservations-Taj group of hotel

Acommodation-85 rooms and special suites
Northern India SHIVA NIWAS
UDAIPUR

• This palace built in (1861-74 ) by Maharana Shambhu Sing

• After that Maharana Fateh Singh (1884-1930) was constructed newly.

• Prince of Wales visited Udaipur in 1903 she described

‘ the diadem of palace’

This palace was converted to luxurious hotel by Bhagwat Sing in 1987 &
developed by his son Arvind sing.
Northern India LAXMI VILA
UDAIPUR

 Rawat of begun was built this palace in 1828

 In 1871 this palace convert in to permanent official residence for

British political agent in Udaipur

 Bhopal sing reconverted Laxmin villas palace to royal guest palace.

 1962 Government convert to hotel under license to private hotelier.

 In 1965 the management give the palace to

ITHC(Indian tourism hotel corporation ltd)
 ITDC –Ashok chain which in 1973 expanded 30 rooms &
conference hall & swimming pool
Northern India RAM BAGH PALACE
JAIPUR

• 19 century early this palace beginning a modest garden.

• In 1887 palace transformed into luxurious 26 rooms.

• 1940 ram bagh become an even more glamorous prices

palace.
• 1950 used us a government residents.

• 1972 management under Taj group of hotel.

Reservations-Taj group of Hotel.

Accommodation-110
Northern India MAJI-KA-BAGH
JAIPUR (RAJ MAHAL PALACE HOTEL)

• In 1729 a small place was constructed in a walled garden

• British east Indian company was give over for the residence of
captain Stewart, Jaipur first political Agent.

• This property remained empty & unused until

Swami Man Sing II(1922-49) decided to convert his own residential
palace.

• Raj mahal remained a royal palace until 1976 when it was convert
in to hotel.

• In 1987 management was handed over to the Taj group.

Northern India NATANI-KA-BAGH
JAIPUR (JAI MAHAL PALACE HOTEL)

• Developed in 1745 during the reign of Sawai Ishwari Sing.

• In 1860s it was given over for use as the residency Surgeon’s house by Dr
Thomas Holbin Henley.

• Natani-ka-bagh became the official residence of prime ministers of jaipur.

• The palace opened its door as a hotel in 1955.

• In 1985 jai palace is probably the most successful palace adaptation

undertaken by Taj group.
Northern India NAHAR GRAH
JAIPUR

• In 1734 jai sing began built a massive palace.

• Sawai madho sing decide to transform nahar garh in to a retreat for the
monsoon season.

• The designs are europen since because of madho sing he

like more europen architecture .

• Now Rajasthan tourisms development corporation runs a snack-bar

concession and room for overnight guest in the fort
Northern India KANOTA GARH & NARAIN NIWAS
JAIPUR

• Narain sing was built by Narain niwas in 1880s.

• Konata fort was not used as parentally residence .

• But the fort built were head quarters and permanent staff of 50 retainers
lived with in the fort to maintain its operations.

• He died in 1924 kanota family settle permanently In narain palace.

• Mohan sing converted the garden palace into hotel in 1978.

Northern India SAMODE PALACE & SAMODE HAVELI
JAIPUR

• No documents exist which trace the history of

samode palace but the estimated age was 400 year.

In 1970 thakur put this property on the market for 1 lake rupees.

• In 1985 yaduvender & Raghuvender sing opened their impressive home to

public as a hotel.

• Samode haveli, their family’s jaipur town house, in oct 1987

both properties are among the most delightfully evocative palace hotels in
India.
Northern India MANDAWA GARH
SHEIKHAWATI Castle Mandawa

• Thakur nawal sing(1715-79) constructed . But he never use more .

• After that a village grew up around the palace.

• In 1977 sheikhawati was discovered by francis wacziarg, a french

businessman.

• Brainwave think first why not turn mandawa fort into resort.
Before that foreigners were un heard that palace.

• In 1987 French agency enthralled property and painted havelis

and advised the mandawa family to open the palace for hotel.
Northern India ROOP NIWAS KOTHI
SHEIKHAWATI

• In 1930s Madan Singh began expand his house & continued built he
transformed the property into a colonial-style.

• He named his residence roop niwas kothi in honor of his predecessor.

• Roop niwas kothi palace change into hotel in 1980.

• This property opened first for lunches and later for overnight guest.
Northern India DUNDLOD QILA
SHEIKHAWATI

• Quila was built in 1750 by thakur kersi singh(1729-62)

Sheoji sing took up residence in his small fort at dundlod in 1809.

• It was manned by soldiers from kersi sing’s private army but it not used as
a residence until 19 centaury .

• Recently the son and grandsons of harnath singh have opened 16 rooms
in their moated fort to travellers.
Northern India SILISERH PALACE
ALWAR

• Siliserh and its pleasure palace become a favored resort for the Alwar
rulers, most particularly for sawai mangal sing (1874-92)

• The state government converted the palace into a tourist guest house.

• This palace was under taken by RTDC (Rajasthan tourism development

corporation)
Northern India SARISKA PALACE
ALWAR

• Maharaja swai jay sing construction a hunting lodge it was finished in

1902.

• During nehru this palace was used as a management training institute.

• 1955 Mrs. Indira Gandhi decided that animals conservation and gunfire
(CRP) were remove from the palace

• In 1983 sakiska palace opened as a hotel.

Northern India NEEMRANA FORT
ALWAR

• Rajdeo established Neemrana palce for himself.

• In 1464 construction began magnificent palace on a natural place.

• Neemrana fort conversion into a hotel after long time.

Northern India AJIT BHAWAN PALACE
JODHIPUR

• Ajith singh construct his own palace in 1929.

• His beloved brother died in 1947. he went to deep shock.

• After that he get income from having agricultural land to maintain his
palace.

• The threat of politically motivated to convert ajith bhawan palace into a

hotel in 1980
Northern India UMAID BHAWAN PALACE
JODHIPUR

• Umaid sing built umaid bhawan palace in 1925.

• Umaid sing moved his residence from rai-ka- bagh palace to umaid
bhawan in 1943.

• It is a neo-classical palace was a colossal 347-rooms.

• 1977 umaid bhawan opened as a India's grandest luxury hotels by ITDC

Northern India JAWAHAR NIWAS PALACE
JAISALMER

• Barisi sal built this palace reflect of European influences in 1909.

• This bungalow remained the political agent’s residence for several year
and become official guest palace.

• After maharwal jawahar sing ascended the gadi he renamed ishal

bunglow jawahar niwas in honour of himself.

• The present hereditary was run by government of Rajasthan

Northern India LALLGARH PALACE
BIKANER

• Maharaja Ganga singh hand-made oriental residence.

• In 1972 Dr Karni singh established the ganga singhiji charitable trust.

• Endowing a part of lallgarh palace used for trust

• 1988 maharaja died he entirety of lallgarh palace to ganga singhji trust.

• They change the palace to hotel and one part as complex.

Northern India GAJNER PALACE
BIKANER

• Gaj singh establish a new place called gajsinpuram.

• After that maharaja established surrounding garden.

And it was situated middle of lack.

• After the independent this palace was maintained as the private resort
and hunting loge.

• In 1976 the last maharaja Dr karni singh opened the annexed of the palace
as a hotel.
Northern India CHAPSLEE
SIMLA (THE SECRETARY,S LODGE)

• Dr . Black constructed a large flat-roof house after that it become

government house and secretary’s lodge in 1836

• In 1858 secretary's lodge changed the name to Chapslee.

• In 1973 pronoit deoi opened a small girls’s school with 3 student.

• After 3 years later the couple registered chaples as a hotel.

• Now chaps lee girl’s school is one of leading education instructions.

Northern India WOODVILLE
SIMLA

• 1866 major general Arthur Milford beecher and the buyer general sir
William rose Mansfield purchased this property for 22,000 rupees.

 In 1940 Woodville was reconstructed

• In 1977 udai sing and niera devi opened a part of their mansion as a
Woodville guest house.

• After three years later they change the Woodville palace hotel.

• In 1987 Woodville palace resort established.

Northern India CHAIL PALACE
SIMLA

• Maharaja rajinder singh discovered chail palace in the early 1890.

• After maharaja dead his family leave the palace

• This palace used as a summer resort in 1938.

• Chail palace was hand over to the himachala Pradesh tourism

development cooperation and converted into hotel
Northern India GULAB BHAVAN
KASHMIR (OBEROI PALACE HOTEL)

• Maharaja harin sing build for his residential palace.

• This palace primarily a private residence never used for public ceremony.

• From 1949-1954 this palace unoccupied but for a few retainers,

• In 1955 opened for business as the oberoi palace hotel, the first palace
hotel in India.
Northern India NAGAR CASTLE
HIMALAYAN HILLS Castle hotel

• Raja sidh sing creat this palace in 1460.

• A massive earthquake in 1905 out where nagar castle survived .

• In 1920 this palace permanently converted into a traveler's rest house.

• Himachal Pradesh tourism corporation take over nagat castel to hotel in

1978.
Northern India RANJIT VILAS PALACE
WANKANER

• It was first developed in the 1870s during the reign of raj sahib bane. Built
a moderately sized residence.

• After that palace was rebuilt using chief engineer using Europe
architecture

• ITDC made a tour in 1971. to study of the conversion ans operation of

Europe's stately home and palace as hotels.

• That year ranjit vilas palace use as a paying guest

Northern India PURNA CHANDRA BHAVAN
WANKANER (OASIS PALACE)

• Raj sahib bane sinh was start a single bungalow in colonial style in 1870.

• Later Chandra bhavan consisted of 2 larger suites and

4 bed rooms .

• In 1972 encourage by paying guest it was conversion into a privately

managed commercial motel.

• And changed the name to Oasia Palace.

CENTRAL INDIA
ORCHHA
SHEESH MAHAL
Central India SHEESH MAHAL
ORCHHA

• The first palace was built at 1501 name is ramji mandir.

• Raj mahal and Jahangir mahal, sheesh mahal was constructed in 18

century.

• Orchha in 1867 with is heavy appearance. Built on an entirely different

plan.

• Sheesh mahal pleasure resort rules by orchha untile independence in

1947.
• Madhya Pradesh tourism development corporation which converted the
palace into guest house.
 WESTERN INDIA

BHAVNAGAR
HUZOOR MAHAL AT NILAMBAG

WANKANER
RANJITH VILAS PALACE
PURNA CHANDRA BHAVAN
Western India HUZOOR MAHAL AT NILAMBAG
BHAVNAGAR

• HUZOOR MAHAL WAS built around 1875 upon a site outside the city walls
of Bhavnagar called nilamb.

In 1933 palace was completely resonated according to designs by keno ski.

• In 1983 maharaja resisted turning his family make an arrangement with

ITC welcome group

• After that palace was open as a hotel.

Western India RANJIT VILAS PALACE
WANKANER

• 1860-81 it was built as residence by raj sahib bane sim.

• 1981 complicated & expensive process are finish indo-elope structure.

• This palace are not use 1927.

• Expanded garden house.

• 1917 ITDC develop as hotel.

Western India PUNA CHANDRA BHAVAN
WANKANER OASIS PALACE

• At first it was start single bungalow by raj sahib bane sinh in 1870.

• 1881-1947 us as garden house personal resort.

• 1972 its conversion into a privately managed commercial motel.

• And changed the name to Oasis Palace.

SOUTHERN INDIA

MYSORE
RAJENDRA VILAS PALACE

OOTACAMUND
FERN HILL PALACE

COCHIN AND TRAVANCORE

BOLGHATTY PALACE
KOVALAM PALACE
SOUTHERN INDIA FERN HILL PALACE
OOTACAMUND

• F.cotton built the first house on the site in 1844.

• Government of madras did issue Mr.Grovers a piece of land in 1846 and it

retained the property after the 9 years.

• In 1891 he soled out to Mr.W.H. Waspshare for 500 rupees.

• After that this palace was owned by maharaja Krishna-raja

(1894-1941) the Mysore royal family continued to visit this palace. Maharaja
of Mysore died in 1974 .

After that his young son narasimha-raja .

Converting his palace into a hotel for business in 1975

• Accommodation –52 rooms

• Reservation-TTDC(Tamil nadu tourism development corporation)
SOUTHERN INDIA RAJENDRA VIAS PALACE
MYSORE

• Mr.arthur cole who first built a bungalow on the crown of chamundi in

1822.

• In 1930s it was decided to rebuilt the bungalow as a bona fide palace.

• Jaya-Chama-raja wadiyar’s son and heir , converted the palace into a hotel
in 1971 under the management of ITDC’s hotel division Welcome group.

• In 1987 Mr. wadiyar himself took over the palace as part of his own chain
of hotel properties.

• Accommodation –29 rooms and suites

SOUTHERN INDIA KOVALAM PALACE
Ashok Halcyon Palace

• Travancore maharajas built kovalam palace between 1924-1931.

• This palace is structured in European style with exposed stone.

• After 1947 entire property covered by government and developed tourist

resort.

• It become Kerala state government guest house.

And renamed halcyon palace

• ITDC recent renovations have been undertaken this palace.

Accommodation – 4 double rooms
Reservation- ITDC Ashok Groups
SOUTHERN INDIA BOLGHATTY PALACE
TRAVANCORE

• This palace built by Dutch merchants in 1744

• It become a popular picnic resort used by the Dutch gentry.

• After 1795 palace was used by the British east India company.

• In 1909 this palace was given rent for 6,000 rupees.

• After the freedom this palace become the property of the KTDC

• Accommodation – 5 large rooms

 By
Abarajithan M