Samode Palace, Jaipur Overview

Samode Palace or Samode Haveli is a heritage monument built 175 years ago as a residence of the rulers of Samode and it is still occupied by them who have converted the Palace into a luxury hotel. Samode Palace has been host to royalty, celebrities, artists, and the discerning travellers and the beauty of this Palace has made it a backdrop for numerous national and international movies. Built in a mixture of Mughal and Rajput architectural style this place is home to various kinds of arts and paintings.

Samode was one of the grand places of Jaipur, built in the 19th century. The prominence of the building is the lovely Diwan-i-Khas covered with innovative paintings and mirror work. It's a perfect spot for hangouts, weddings, and picnics. Samode is famed for Samode Palace and Samode Bagh and Samode is an ideal desert getaway. The place is best suited for organizing events like weddings and other parties. Rajasthani grandeur with rich taste is perfect for family and solo outings.

Major Attractions

Samode Fort: The Fort stands on a hill above the Samode Palace. This used to be the raja's former residence before Samode Palace was built. The fort also has 300 steps which will lead to a secret underground passage, which was used during times of emergency. From the top of the fort, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the village. Walking among the ruins and the surroundings make one feel as if one is in another era.
Samode Bagh: This is a traditional garden similar to Kashmiri gardens built by Rawal Sheo Singh, a scion of the Nathawat clan of Rajputs. Famous for its collection of Mughal arts inside tents. The decorative fountain and watercourse look magnificent with water.
Samode Haveli: Haveli is the local name for ancient mansions built for top ministers in the royal court. The mansion is five centuries old and was built and used by Prime minister of royal court, Rawal Singhji. At Samode Haveli, you will find a spa bath and fitness hub, magical performances like puppet shows, Rajasthani music, and dance performances.
Govind Devji Temple: This Krishna temple is an important pilgrimage site, which is famous for rituals and architecture. If you are visiting this temple, do not forget your camera. This is one of the photogenic spots in the village. The temple is dedicated to Govind Dev Ji (Lord Krishna). The image of the deity (murti) was brought from Vrindavan here by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur.
Shekhawati: Shekhawati is a small village, a little away from the village of Samode. History has it that in the 17th to 19th centuries, Marwari merchants constructed these grand havelis in the Shekhawati region. This village provides numerous activities like camel ride, folk dance and music, and others. You can spot numerous havelis with murals and paintings in this region.
Local Markets: One can enjoy camel ride through the markets, a musical evening with folk performances and much more. This is the best place to do some souvenir shopping for fiddles, goatskin bagpipe, country violins, an instrument made with a dried gourd, camel skin articles and much more

History

Samode is a large town in Rajasthan, which belonged to the landlords known as ‘zamindars’ of the state of Amber. Samode was, even then, considered a very rich town under the kingdom of Amber. Behari Das, a Rajput warrior who was then in Mughal service of the Nathawat clan and inherited the Zamindari of Samode. It was under the British Raj but was restored to the Nathawat clan with the hereditary title 'Rawal Saheb' or 'Maha Rawal' in 1757, and this lineage is continued to this date.

Samode Palace was initially built in the 16th century as a Rajput fort, but in the early 19th century, under the nobleman Rawal Berisal, it was converted from a fort into an exquisitely designed palace. Rawal Sheo Singh, the descendant of Rawal Berisal, who was the Prime Minister of Jaipur state for several years, during the middle of the 19th century, further expanded the Palace by adding the Darbar Hall and the Sheesh Mahal. In 1987, it was converted into the heritage "Samode Palace Hotel".

Samode Haveli was also built by Rawal Sheo Singh more than 150 years ago. It was built as a resort for the royal family.

Recreational Activites

Samode Palace offers various recreational activities like:

An In-House Spa where you can choose from traditional ayurvedic therapies, massages and different body scrubs with facials and pedicures.
Place for Swimming wherein there are two excellent swimming pools- the outdoor marble-mosaic pool and the rooftop infinity pool with jacuzzi. These are perfect for spending some leisure time.
Hot-air balloon rides can also be arranged by giving prior notice to the management.
Samode Palace also organizes Cooking classes and walks on requests.

Facilities Available

2 dining areas and 24-hour room service
2 pools
Fully-equipped fitness hub with sauna and steam
In-house spa
Outdoor jacuzzi and wading pool for children
Doctor on call
Gift shop
Travel desk
Laundry services
Conference and meeting facilities at the Darbar Hall
Free Wi-Fi access is available in public areas and the business centre.
Other facilities offered include meeting facilities, a games room, and a tour desk.

Dining

Dining in the heritage hotel is has always been unforgettable. The menu comprises of traditional Rajasthani flavors, Indian specialities, and cuisines from all over the world. Drinks are marvellous from a wide variety of wines.

Accommodation

Hotel Samode Palace of Samode in Jaipur has a provision for 43 well-appointed guest rooms which include 3 Royal Suites, 15 Deluxe suites, and 25 Deluxe Rooms and all the rooms are air-conditioned. The hotel provides attached modern bathrooms and running hot and cold water in all the rooms. Rooms here offer flat-screen TVs and air conditioning.

How To Reach Samode Palace

Samode is placed is about 42 km from capital city Jaipur. One can easily reach here by Air, Railway, and Bus by the following means:

By Air: Nearest airport to the Samode Palace is Jaipur International Airport (JAI). The Palace is distanced 56 km away and one can take any public transport to reach the destination within 1 hour 15 minutes.
By Railway: Nearest Railway Station is Jaipur Junction from where the Palace is 39.6 km away. Thus, one can reach there within 1 hour.
By Bus: One can easily take up a bus to Jaipur which will stop at the main bus stop at Jaipur Bus Stand at Jawahar Nagar Marg and can reach the Palace via any public transport in 1 hour 20 minutes by covering a distance of 62 km.