The Umaid Bhavan Palace is an oasis in the endless deserts of Rajasthan, and rises out of the dunes and barrenness that characterises much of this north-western state. The palace took 16 years to be built and was a project to give employment to people during the severe famine. The dome of the palace is only one of it's kind in Rajasthan. The palace houses 300 rooms, has it's own theatre, 8 dinning rooms and a banquet hall which can hold 300 seated people. Ballroom has also been built to cater to the westernized royal lifestyle. The palace also contains an indoor swimming pool with a mosaic of zodiac symbols. The royal family still resides in a part of this palace and the rest has been converted into a hotel and a museum. 

Turned into a hotel in 1977 by maharaja Gaj Singh and Welcomgroup, the impression one has of Umaid Bhavan is that it has innumerable rooms, but those available to guests only total 47. Parts of the palace have been converted into a museum, exhibiting objects from an era long past. The Umaid Bhavan Palace celebrated it's golden jubilee in 1993.