Name: Bikaner
Rating: 4.3

Lalgarh Palace, Bikaner Overview

Lallgarh Palace, a breathtaking Rajasthani Palace, is located in the beautiful city of Bikaner, Rajasthan in India. It was constructed for the Maharaja of Bikaner, Maharaja Ganga Singh, between 1902 and 1926. The palace built in European architecture style has now been opened up for tourists as a Heritage Hotel and the entire estate comes under the National Heritage Trust. The estate also houses a museum named Shri Sadul Museum, where you can find traces of Rajasthani Royalties and get an insight into their extravagant lifestyle.

Built with red sandstone bought from the Thar Desert, the colours of the beautiful structure when they change shades as the day progresses. If you wish to stay at the Lallgarh Palace Hotel, you'll be amazed at the massive size of the rooms you'll be living in and the regal hospitality you'll be receiving. One of the estate wings has been maintained only for the Royal family of Bikaner. The other two wings are for The Lalgarh Palace Hotel and the Lakshmi Niwas Hotel.

Walkthrough the splendid corridors and take a stroll in the garden outside or a dip in the swimming pool. Notice the magnificent pillars and fireplaces in the red sandstone architecture, and the carefully maintained gardens and the intricate latticework.

History of Lalgarh Palace

The Lalgarh Palace was built in between 1902 and 1926 for Maharaja Ganga Singh who ascended the throne when he was seven years old in 1887. Maharaja Ganga Singh ruled Bikaner and brought about numerous changes that put Bikaner on the list of progressive states in India. The transformation was massive, and it was considered that Junagarh Fort was too medieval for a youthful and modern prince like him. Hence, the decision to build Lalgarh was taken under British India for this new contemporary King of Bikaner.

In 1972, Maharaja Karni Singh upon being genuinely concerned about the preservation of the historic estate started the Maharaja Gangaji Trust to be able to preserve the monument. As a result of this, two wings of the palace were transferred into the trust and were later on opened as Heritage and Luxury Hotels for tourists in 1974. The Hotel is now owned and run by his daughter Princess Rajyashree Singh. It is among the best architectural marvels of Bikaner. The place was first planned to be built for INR 1,00,000, but the price winged to 1 million due to the use of the most exquisite materials and finely carved stonework.

Architecture of Lalgarh Palace

The Lalgarh Palace was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, who was a British Architect. The construction of the palace commenced in 1896, after a ritual ceremony and it was built in stages with the luxury wings being constructed between 1902 and 1926. The initial budget for the palace was INR 100,000, and it was planned that the structure would be built with inexpensive material to bring about cost-cutting; however, it was later decided that only the best material will be used for the construction. The cost then increased to a whopping one million rupees.

It consists of Drawing Rooms, Grand Hallways, Luxurious Halls and Royal Lounges. For the guests who choose to stay at the palace, they can choose to fine dine in one of the numerous dining rooms and stay in one of the lavish guest suites. The place has majestic sandstone pillars with intriguing features and intricate carvings. The library in the Palace is considered the fourth largest libraries in the entire world. Most of the rooms have sophisticated fireplaces and tall ceilings with warm lights.

The colonnades, intricate latticework, and filigree are inspired by traditional Italian architecture which makes the palace a perfect example of Hindu-Gothic or Indo-Saracenic architecture. The third wing, known as the Karni Niwas, houses an indoor swimming pool and the Darbar Hall that was used by the Maharaja for official and unofficial meetings and addressing ceremonies. The Museum maintained at the palace displays artefacts from the bygone time and gives a sneak peek into the Maharaja's imperial lifestyle.

Lalgarh Palace Heritage Hotel

Under the Maharaja Gangaji Trust created by Maharaja Karni Singh, two wings of the palace were opened as Heritage Hotels. These hotels are The Lalgarh Palace Heritage Hotel and the Lakshmi Niwas Heritage Hotel.

The Lalgarh Palace Heritage Hotel
The Lalgarh Heritage Hotel comprises of 59 luxurious rooms. These rooms are decorated with vintage furnishings and also provide new age amenities and facilities like free Wi-Fi, Air conditioning, and travel desk, Doctor on call, room service, conference rooms, Business Centre, Mini Bar, Billiards room etc. for tourists coming from all over the world. The outdoors of the Palace consists of well maintained lush green gardens with bougainvillaea and rose shrubs which are often visited by peacocks. The hotel staff can arrange for sightseeing and Camel Safaris. Other than that the hotel also has an in-house swimming pool and a massage parlour for the tired tourists. Arrangements for bonfire can be made by the open air dining area, or dinner can be arranged on the dunes too.

Check-in Time - 12:00 PM
Check-out Time - 12:00 PM

The Lakshmi Niwas Heritage Hotel
The Lakshmi Niwas Heritage Hotel functions in the main wing of the splendid Lalgarh Palace. The rooms of the hotel bear the glories of the by-gone era of the Maharaja's and it is said that the management took references from old photographs to re-create the regal ambience for their guests. Modern amenities and facilities are also provided to the guests to make their stay worthwhile.
Guests can indulge in activities like reading, swimming, table tennis, badminton or billiards before they head to the bar for a drink. The staff also arranged frequent traditional performances that include the traditional Rajasthani dance, acrobatics, Music etc. The Swarna Mahal and Hari Mahal Restaurants are sure to satisfy your quest for Rajasthani Cuisine. The Hotel also makes arrangements for Weddings, Receptions, Conferences and Shootings for movies and tele-series.

Check-in Time - 12:00 PM
Check-out Time - 12:00 PM

Best Time To Visit Lalgarh Palace

The best time to visit Lalgarh Palace is between October and February as its winter in Rajasthan and the weather is quite pleasant.

Tips For Visiting Lalgarh Palace

1. Ensure you do not litter the estate.
2. Photography is not allowed in certain areas of the estate.
3. Drink enough water and carry a water bottle to keep yourself hydrated as you explore the site.
4. Wear sunscreen and cap if required while exploring the outdoors.

How To Reach Lalgarh Palace

One can avail public transport from any location in Bikaner or from the bustling Bikaner Junction.
The Lalgarh Junction is barely 3 kilometres away from the Palace. One can avail public transport from there as well.