Umaid Bhawan Palace, jodhpur named best hotel in india at the annual TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards

Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur has been named the Best Hotel in India by the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor in their coveted annual Travellers’ Choice Awards. The magnificent heritage hotel, which also serves as the residence of the erstwhile Royal Family, was voted number 2 in Asia’s Best Hotels and number 3 in the World’s Best Hotels.  The splendid palace has won accolades across nine categories includingNo. 1 in Service in India.

Umaid Bhawan Palace is the last of India’s great palaces with its expanse of 26 acres making it one of the largest residences in the world. Built between 1929 and 1942, this golden hued monument, made of desert sandstone, designed by the famed Edwardian architect Henry Lanchester and commissioned by H. H. Maharaja Umaid Singh, the grandfather of the present Maharaja of Jodhpur, is a celebration of the Art Deco style on the grandest scale. Once the sole preserve of princes and kings, Umaid Bhawan Palace offers its guests a taste of fine living.

Managed by Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris since 2005, the royal home was lovingly refurbished by the Taj to blend India’s age-old royal traditions, with influences from local culture. Guests can indulge in a series of signature Taj rituals, stroll through the private museum, dine in the candlelit palace grounds or put their skills to the test on the marbled squash courts. For a taste of the local flavours, visitors have the option to explore the city in a vintage car drive accompanied by their royal butler or go further afield to dine under the starry night sky in the Thar Desert.

Speaking on the occasion, Rohit Khosla, Senior Vice President Operations – North, Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris, said, “It is a proud moment for us to be recognized as India’s best hotel by TripAdvisor travellers. I thank all the guests who have helped us achieve this milestone. Umaid Bhawan Palace was the first Indian hotel to win the coveted World’s Best title in 2016 and we are honoured to continue this journey of excellence. I would also like to thank the team which has worked hard in consistently delighting guests. The Taj Group has been a pioneer in the hospitality industry for over a century and these honours are a testimony to our commitment to provide guests with memorable experiences.”

Mehrnavaz Avari, General Manager, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, said, “We are honoured to have been recognised as the best hotel in the country and third best in the world by our guests, as they are at the heart of everything that we do. Rajasthan has always been celebrated for its rich legacy of culture and tradition. It is an experience that brings something completely unique to every traveller, and that is what we strive to provide to each and every guest at Umaid Bhawan: their own personal journey of discovery. With the support of His Highness Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar-Jodhpur and the respected family, we are proud to offer unparalleled authentic experiences of regal Rajasthan with the warmth and sincerity that the Taj is known for.”

Eleven Taj Hotels have won 21 awards in the 2018 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur; Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur; Rambagh Palace, Jaipur; Taj Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur; Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad; Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa; Taj Dubai; Taj Cape Town; Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites & Residences, London; Vivanta by Taj – Bentota, Sri Lanka and Vivanta by Taj – Langkawi, Malaysia won multiple awards across categories including Best Hotels, Best Service and Best Luxury Hotels in India, Asia and the World.

Travellers’ Choice award winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide.

About Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris

Established in 1903, Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris is lndian Hotels Company Limited’s (IHCL) brand for the world’s most discerning travellers seeking authentic experiences in luxury. From world-renowned landmarks to modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts to authentic Grand Palaces, each Taj hotel offers an unrivalled fusion of warm Indian hospitality, world-class service and modern luxury. For over a century, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, the crown jewel has set a benchmark for fine living with exquisite refinement, inventiveness and warmth. Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris is part of the Tata Group, India’s premier business house. Vivanta provides new generation travellers a contemporary and creative hospitality experience that matches their work-hard, play-hard lifestyles. The Gateway Hotel welcomes guests to a refreshingly enjoyable and hassle-free experience, anytime, everywhere, offering the highest consistency in quality, service and style.

Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris is the iconic flagship brand of Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL). IHCL also operates hotels in the economy segment with the Ginger brand, a pioneer in the branded budget hotel space in India and also it’s largest. Indian Hotels Company Limited runs TajSats Air Catering, a joint venture of the Indian Hotels Company, and SATS (formerly known as Singapore Airport Terminal Services), the market leader in airline catering, providing inflight catering at key cities.