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Bal Samand Lake Palace Jodhpur
Five kilometres north of Jodhpur on the banks of the Balsamand Lake, lies the Bal Samand Lake Palace. Built of red sandstone and surrounded by wide expanses of lush green gardens, the palace is a fine specimen of Rajput architecture. Converted into a Heritage Holiday spa in 1996, the palace is now well-equipped with modern amenities.
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Getting There
Air : Daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai.
International Airport: New Delhi-528 kms
Domestic Airport: Jodhpur-12 kms
Rail : Daily overnight trains from Delhi.
Railway Station:Jodhpur-10 kms
Road : Well connected road network from Delhi and Mumbai.
Bus Depot:Jodhpur-10 kms
City Center:Jodhpur-5 kms
Some important road distances :
Delhi 604 KMS
Jaipur 343 KMS
Bikaner 242 KMS
Jaisalmer 295 KMS
Udaipur 250 KMS
Things to do
Umaid Bhawan Palace: Maharaja Umaid Singhji who built this palace was fascinated with western lifestyles so he marshalled the services of a well-known Edwardian architect, Henry Vaughan Lanchester, a creditable equal of Edward Lutyens (architect of New Delhi) to construct a three hundred and forty seven roomed Umaid Palace. This was to become one of the last of the great palaces of India and the biggest private residence in the world.
Mehrangarh Fort : Perched on a 150 m high hill, the Mehrangarh Fort was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459. In the palanquin section of the Fort Museum, is a collection of old royal palanquins. The museum exhibits the arms, costumes, paintings and decorated period rooms of the Rathores.
Jaswant Thada: On the way down from the fort, on left is Jaswant Thada, the graceful marble cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. His son Maharaja Sardar Singhji built the Taj Mahal of Marwar in the memory of Maharaj Jaswant Singhji II of Jodhpur.
Maha Mandir: The Mahamandir Temple is supported by 100 pillars and has carvings depicting yoga postures.
Mandore Gardens: Mandore was the former capital of Maharajas of Marwar and is located about 5 miles north of Jodhpur. Here you will find the dewals, or cenotaphs of Jodhpur's former rulers. Unlike the usual chhatri-shaped cenotaphs typical of Rajasthan, they were built along the lines of a Hindu temple, four stories high, with fine columns and an elegant spire, all in red sandstone.
Balsamand Lake and Palace: An artificial lake with a summer palace on the embankment.
Guda Bishnoi: Located 25 km away, it is home to exotic wild life. Thousands of birds can be seen here, like domicile Cranes etc. This pond is a water-drinking point for the antelopes and black bucks of nearby areas.
Ossianji Temple: Located 65 km away the ancient town of Thar Desert was a great trading center between 8th to 12th centuries. Today it is desert oasis with 16 Brahamanical and Jain temples, beautifully sculpted and designed, most of which have stood ravages of time. The place is highlighted by its camel ride at the time of the sunset.
Eating
The palace has a multi-cuisine restaurant and a coffee shop serving delectable meals. There is also a beautiful Garden Restaurant, lounge and a bar. Indian, Chinese and Continental fare is on offer.
Facilities
Modern Conference Facilities
Cycling/Jogging Track
Croquet
Obstacle golf
Swimming Pool
Ayoma and ayurvedic health spa
Multi-cuisine coffee shop
Running hot and cold water
Doctor on call
CC TV
Credit cards and Money exchange
Telephones with direct dialing
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