The royal family of Jodhpur in Rajasthan is counted among the richest royal families in India. Their home, the grand Umaid Bhawan Palace, is a symbol of royal heritage and pride. This palace is not just another historic building, it is known as one of the largest residential palace in the world, located in the city of Jodhpur, also called the “Sun City.”
Princess Shivranjani Rajye and her family still live in this magnificent palace, which has 347 rooms and covers an area of 26 acres. It took about 15 years to complete. The construction began in 1929, commissioned by Maharaja Umaid Singh, the then ruler of Jodhpur. But this wasn’t just a royal indulgence, it was a way to help the people.
At that time, Jodhpur had been suffering from a terrible drought for three years. People were starving, and the king wanted to give them work and relief. So, he started the construction of the palace as a way to provide employment.
The palace was built using sandstone and marble. A separate railway line was even laid to transport the stone. Around 3,000 to 4,000 workers were involved in its construction. The total cost back then was Rs. 1,09,11,228, a massive amount at the time.
It has several royal halls, a swimming pool, a library, a billiards room, a grand dining area, gardens, and even a golf course. The palace is divided into three sections:
The royal residence, where the family still lives
The Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum
The Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel, which is run as a luxury property
At present, Maharaja Gaj Singh and his family reside in the royal part of the palace.
Who manages Umaid Bhawan Palace?
Today, Umaid Bhawan Palace is managed by Yuvraj Shivraj Singh, the prince of Jodhpur and a well-known polo player. He and his sister Princess Shivranjani Rajye are the heirs to the royal family.
Princess Shivranjani is the eldest daughter of Maharaja Gaj Singh. She studied Human Sciences at the prestigious Cambridge University in the UK. When her brother had a serious accident nearly 20 years ago, and the family was going through financial difficulties, she stepped in to support the family business.
Since then, she has worked closely with her brother to grow the royal family’s heritage business. She played a major role in turning old palaces and forts into hotels and museums, which helped them earn steady income. One big move was teaming up with Tata’s Taj Group to turn part of the Umaid Bhawan Palace into a luxury hotel.
Shivranjani’s personal life
Despite coming from a royal family, Shivranjani chose not to get married. Now around 50 years old, she remains unmarried by choice and is fully focused on handling and growing the family’s legacy. Thanks to her efforts, Umaid Bhawan Palace has now become a world-famous wedding destination.
According to Startup Talky, the net worth of Maharaja Gaj Singh’s royal family is around Rs. 22,400 crore. His son and heir, Yuvraj Shivraj Singh, is actively working to grow this legacy. He manages the operations of Umaid Bhawan Palace, especially focusing on events and royal functions held there.
Apart from Umaid Bhawan, he also owns other heritage hotels like Bal Samand Lake Palace and Sardar Samand Palace. On the other hand, Princess Shivranjani Rajye is also playing a key role in expanding the family’s heritage business.
Famous weddings held at Umaid Bhawan Palace
Celebrities like Priyanka Chopra and PV Sindhu chose this palace as their wedding venue. Hosting a wedding here doesn’t come cheap as a one-night wedding celebration can cost anywhere between Rs. 76 lakh to Rs. 92 lakh, depending on the package and menu.
