A Nomad's Diary - travel tales

Living the Royal Jodhana Experience at Ranbanka Palace Hotel, Jodhpur!

Jodhana, the city etched in sands of time is now known as ‘Jodhpur’. It is located in the central-western part of Rajasthan state in India. A luxury vacation in Jodhpur is all about exploring & experiencing royal grandeur. The opulent lifestyle of the royals can best be lived while staying in a heritage hotel. A staycation at Ranbanka Palace Hotel, Jodhpur offers a great blend of royal luxury meeting the present day.

List of Contents

History of Ranbanka Palace Hotel, Jodhpur

Built in 1927, Ranbanka Palace Hotel was converted into a royal-owned heritage hotel in the late 1990s. It was formerly the residence of Maharajadhiraj Sir Ajit Singh ji, the younger brother Maharaj Umaid Singh ji and is now succeeded by his sons. This hotel is a part of the Ajit Bhawan. In one part of this sprawling property, the royal family still lives while the other portion is used for hotel purpose.

Location

Ranbanka Palace Hotel, Jodhpur is quite centrally located near the circuit house. It has close proximity to Jodhpur railway station that’s roughly a 7 -10 minutes drive. One can expect almost the same time for reaching from Jodhpur Airport also. From Mehrangarh Fort, one of the must-visit places in Jodhpur, the hotel is only at a 15 minutes drive.

Ambience

The front facade of Ranbanka Palace Hotel Jodhpur
The front facade of Ranbanka Palace Hotel Jodhpur

The hotel built by the direct descendants of the Rao Jodha (the founder of Jodhpur city) is a great example of confluence in architecture & design from two diverse cultures. The ambience of this hotel echoes the influence of Rajput culture & the British colonial era.

Rooms in Ranbanka Palace hotel are sequenced in ground + two-floor formatted buildings. From the central courtyard area, melodious music played by the musician on his Sarangi resonates in every nook corner of the hotel giving it a soulful Rajasthani vibe like none.

Royal Polo Bar at Ranbanka Palace
Royal Polo Bar at Ranbanka Palace

A few more steps in the alley and the Pachranga restaurant is visible with beautiful outdoor and indoor seating almost uniformly distributed. Good food and a blend of great drinks add oodles of value to a luxury stay. Royal Polo Bar is inside the Pachranga restaurant but as a separate section. The interiors of this full-service bar are the truest representation for the royal family’s passion towards the game of Polo. Photographs, cups & medallions won from the era gone by until the present day can be seen in the Royal Polo Bar.

A swimming pool amidst the age-old trees and a baithak is one place to rewind, relax & rejuvenate for sure. The next best place for a holistic rejuvenation in the hotel is the ‘Spa by the Baradari’.

Rooms at a Glance

Brush into the royalty with suites like these only at Ranbanka Palace Hotel, Jodhpur
Brush with the royalty with suites like these only at Ranbanka Palace Hotel, Jodhpur

There are around 90 rooms in total at Ranbanka Palace Hotel, Jodhpur. There are basically four types of rooms to suit one’s budget and yet give a taste of the royal life. The room sizes are larger than the average size of rooms in all categories.

Luxury Suites at Ranbanka Palace Hotel Jodhupur
Luxury Suites at Ranbanka Palace Hotel Jodhpur

However, living in Jodhana and Royal Suites is a unique experience in itself. These suites have been tastefully designed to reflect opulence, thereby ensuring a luxury vacation in Jodhpur. From classy chandeliers to the dining table and a private balcony overlooking the lush garden, these suites have it all. The best aspect of the four luxurious suites is that they are all designed differently, giving repeat customers a chance to live novelty.

View from the private balcony in Royal Suite
View from the private balcony in Royal Suite at the hotel

Apart from the classy interiors, all rooms have wifi, telephone, toiletries, sofa, hairdryer, air-conditioning, heater, safety deposit box, and more.

Searching for Udaipur must-visit places then read here.

Food at Ranbanka Palace Hotel

Jodhpur falls under the Marwar region of Rajasthan and so a trip in this city ought to reflect in the food. Pachranga restaurant, named after the five colours that are present on the Rathore clan flag offers a variety of national & international dishes. From the elaborate breakfast buffet to the last meal of the day, food served here is a reflection of the same.

Must try food at Ranbanka Palace Hotel Jodhpur
Must try food dishes at Ranbanka Palace Hotel Jodhpur

Some of the must-try dishes from their menu are Non-Veg & Vegetarian Kebab Platters, Rajasthani Thali. We equally relished some of the dishes that we tried from Italian cuisine. As mentioned earlier, the restaurant is divided into indoor and outdoor seating areas. The outdoor area comes alive at the dinner time with live music sessions by artists and candlelit tables.

In winters too, one can opt to sit outside as they have mini-bonfires near each table. Lunch scene is equally peaceful in the vicinity of the fountain placed outside. Read the full review of this restaurant by us here.

Activities To Do

A stay at Ranbanka Palace ensures there is not a single dull moment in your luxury vacation time. So in addition to the mandatory sightseeing across the city, one can enjoy a lot during the time inside the hotel. One can indulge in a relaxing spa or enjoy a cool swim session.

Swim or indulge in the royal passtime activities at Ranbanka Palace
Swim or indulge in the royal passtime activities at Ranbanka Palace

As the dinner begins at the restaurant so does the puppet show in one part of the lawn for kids entertainment sake. In the other part of the lawn just in front of the outdoor seating area daily there are live musical performances. Sometimes the folk singing ‘Manganiyar’ group performs and other times musicians on santoor and tabla take the dining experience to another level.

Puppet show during dinner time at Ranbanka Palace
Puppet show during dinner time at Ranbanka Palace

For taking souvenirs and shopping per se there are few shops inside the hotel too. Further, one can book Bisalpur Camel Reserve tour to witness local flora and fauna coexisting in natural habitat. However, if you would want to walk through the lanes of the bygone royal era then a request to hotel authorities might give you a chance to visit the ‘Gol’ room inside the residence of Maharaj!

We did get the privilege of visiting the ‘exclusive’ Gol Room experience!

Final Thoughts

Oh yeahhh.. that's me!
Oh yeahhh.. that’s me!

Ranbanka Palace Hotel, Jodhpur named after the war cry of the Rathore clan (‘Ranbanka’ Rathore) stands tall as a luxury heritage hotel. It has thoughtfully curated experiences to bring guests close to the local ethos & culture. We recommend trying the Jodhana experience which is aimed to add exclusiveness to the stay by pairing it with activities like a tour to the polo club & visit to the family’s horse stable.

(66) Comments

  1. Rajasthan is a state that we love to head back againn and again. Jodhput is of course one of the iconic cities. Ranbanka Palace Hotel, seems to perfectly epitomize the royal lustre of Rajasthan.

  2. The hotel is so gorgeous. The puppet show at dinner time is very unique. Lastly I want to mention those nice pictures you took.

  3. Khushboo says:

    This place looks so nice. All the clicks are amazing. I would love to visit here sometime.

  4. Your maxi dress goes well with the place and overall ambiance ❤️ I’ve always had a thing for Rajasthan, Jaipur or Jodhpur as during dad’s posting we spent time here during my childhood. This post makes me feel like visiting it again but this time with hubby ?

  5. shubhada bhide says:

    Wow spellbound! This place seems to be straight from that gorgeous era and it’s so enriching to stay here.

  6. jhilmil d saha says:

    The vivid description of your stay at this hotel surely garners a lot of enthusiasm in the traveller in me. Such a royal welcome and luxurious experience.

  7. Ranbanka palace looks do beautiful.. The food , accommodation , the show, everything is really great.

  8. Bushra says:

    The picture looks fascinating, seems you guys enjoyed a lot. This place has been on my wish list since long. Indeed a beautiful travel destination

  9. Wow! The palace looks really good! The interiors of the rooms and the food looks wow too!

  10. Looks like an excellent experience. Seems you had a great time. The ambiance, food and the royal aura has stolen my heart and I would love to experience this property.

  11. I absolutely love the photographs and the write up…this is such a stunning place, i would love to take a holiday weekend here..

  12. Omg… i m mesmerized by the ambience. Every picture is sooo stunning. This is surely an luxurious stay. I am sure ly booking my stay here for my upcoming Jodhpur trip

  13. Alpana Deo says:

    Wow..I always wanted to visit Jodhpur. Somehow I always liked places with historical significance. This place is so so inviting and has that charm that every tourist looks for.

  14. The palace and the royal touch to building and everything looks so beautiful. I have experienced the same touch in Jaipur. would love to visit Ranbanka Palace.

  15. Deepa Shri Rajan says:

    Omg this is such a beautiful read and loved reading every bit of it. HAve bookmarked this place for my next visit as it has got everything I love. I will also spread the word of this place . Thanks for
    The lovely write up

  16. Wow! The Ranbanka Palace Hotel Jodhpur looks so good. The pictures are great. Thanks for this virtual trip. Would like to visit it someday as I have never been to Rajasthan.

  17. Indeed the place is royal and luxurious. Also it’s is super spacious and beautiful. Love all the pictures you clicked. And the food is looking delicious and tempting

  18. Sakshi says:

    Wow that looks like a great property! We especially love heritage properties and this seems like a definite check out! Thanks for sharing.

  19. You have captured some beautiful images of the place and really loved reading through the entire post.

  20. Ranbanka palace hotel is looking very luxury place with full of the package. Food, accommodations are looking great. I love the puppet show. I also belong to Rajasthan. Memory refreshed after seeing this picture. I am sure you had a great time.

  21. I just loved the heritage and royal place..wish to visit this place soon!!

  22. Wow jodhpur has been on my list for a while now. The blue city is something I really want to see before I die ?

  23. really this looks so royal stay just loved it to spend a great time…

  24. This is sheer royalty I would say! What a beautiful blend of art, history and modernity this place seems to be. Loved your vibrant descriptions

  25. Pinal Shah says:

    A very informative post. Was not aware of such a nice and beautiful palace hotel. Thanks for sharing. Will surely be visiting some time…

  26. I enjoy reading the detailed travel posts from your blog and checking out the spectacular pictures you click. Lovely trivia about Ranbanka Palace of Jodhpur.

  27. The royalty of the then palaces are smitten with beauty and grace. Rajasthan is always famous for its rich heritage. A lovely place indeed.

  28. Reubenna Dutta says:

    Rajasthan is a place which depicts so many colours and cultures. One of my absolute favourites. Beautful write-up.

  29. Our Jodhpur visit is long pending and I know where to stay at now after seeing your awesome pictures. The palace is truly grand and beautiful!

  30. The place looks luxurious and royal to stay with family or loved ones for an enjoyable experience. I like there are activities to do.

  31. Bushra says:

    The picture of Ranbanka palace looks fascinating, seems you guys enjoyed a lot. The food looks delicious. Indeed a beautiful hotel to hangout

  32. […] Indian regional thali, the basic spread of dishes in terms of taste is the same. Every region’s thali is a combination of the same 6 tastes as mentioned in Ayurveda despite the varying dishes with the […]

  33. This place is beautiful!!! loved the pictures too!!

    1. Thanks.. <3

      1. I have been to Jodhpur long ago. Your post has made me want to revisit.

  34. jaya1966 says:

    The images are fantastic. That must have indeed been a great staycation for you and your family. The ambience is simply fantastic and music being played adds to the grandeur.

    1. Surely it was.

  35. I was only gleaming with pride while reading this, as I belong from Jodhpur. Palace Ranbanka is one of the many places that leave us awestruck. The food there is my personal favourite!

    1. Mine too and I had the pleasure of meeting the head chefs and they truly treated me like a princess with yummy food of varied cuisines.

  36. That looks lovely. I will definitely visit one day…actually planning a trip to Rajasthan once things are back yo normal and this will be on the list. Your pictures are fabulous and the hotel looks amazing.

    1. Yes the hotel surely is class apart.

  37. Wow! This place is stunning. Jodhpur has been on my list. Filing it away for reference

  38. Loved the pictures! Will surely want to visit this hotel when visiting Rajasthan. Thanks for the detailed description.

    1. Trust me writing about this erstwhile palace hotel the pleasure was all mine.

  39. gemini1420 says:

    Wow…the place looks awesome…will visit after COVID times…

  40. What a lavish holiday destination Ranbanka Palace is, the images are saying it all so firmly. I am drooling over the delish foods.

  41. Sweta says:

    Hotel seems luxurious. Loved the spread of food in the hotel and not forgetting the puppet show.

  42. Wow that was such a nice post full of royalty and culture from Rajasthan. Loved it

  43. This was such an exciting read about the historical city & this royal property & the legacy behind. Also, such beautiful place to be. Loved everything about it; next time totally planning a stay there.

  44. Dr Bushra says:

    Sounds like a larger than life experience.

  45. What an absolutely delightful place! I love the grandeur and the history in palaces. I’d love to visit here as Jodhpur is on my wish list already, and this would make for such a lovely stay.

  46. Arulmozhi N says:

    This looks so luxurious . It is a dream to travel and live here

    1. Yes for sure

  47. This place a a mesmerizing ambience. Its a dream destination for sure. I will definitely add this to my bucket list.

    1. Yes it is and do visit.

  48. How are you Judy? 🙂 remember me from Chariot? Travel blogs shud be banned during Covid :p My feet are itching to travel and you have put up such a vibrant destination.Such beautiful images while life is so dull here indoors.

    1. Yes of course I remember you Harjeet ji and your delicious gun powder. 🙂 Well to be honest even I am itching to travel hopefully soon.

  49. Such a mesmerizing post, so feels like just flying to this place right now. Royalty, history, luxury, comfort, all bundled into one. Thanks for sharing such picturesque post.

  50. Wow. This looks splendid. Definitely worth a visit.

  51. Such beautiful images, Judy. I was scrolling through them only and could make out the experience on would feel at their visit.
    Lovely post indeed with valuable information.

    1. Glad you loved the experience and photos..

  52. swati.mathur1701 says:

    Everything about Ranbanka palace is fascinating and superly amazing. This is my birth place and I am extremely proud of it. But I must say you are sharing what I am not even aware about. Thanks a lot for sharing such wonderful facts about jodhpurs.

    1. this happens dear even I may not many things about my hometown. Glad you found new information about Jodhpur

  53. Looks very royal and quite detailed… Liked reading through your experience of the place and the food is just mouthwatering…

  54. Mandavi says:

    This looks truly royal. I loved yoru picture essay

  55. Preeti Talwar says:

    What lovely clicks, ambience looks marvellous will definitely try to visit this place.

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