15 Most Beautiful Palaces in India

Want to visit an Indian palace? Here’s a list of the 15 Most Beautiful Palaces in India that you should write down on your bucket list!

Thanks to India’s rich history and cultural heritage, there are many royal palaces in India that are still standing. Some of them have even been remade into luxury hotels, which means there are Indian palaces where you can stay overnight!

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Umaid Bhawan Palace is one of the royal palaces in India where you can stay overnight. A part of the palace has been made into a luxury hotel known as Taj Palace Hotel, which has been awarded the World’s best hotel at the Traveller’s Choice Award.

It’s also home to the former royal family of Jodhpur, and another part is a museum. It’s one of the main attractions in Jodhpur.

Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal, also known as Palace of Winds is perhaps one of the most unique looking palaces in India, and one of the top attractions in Jaipur.

The legend says that royal women were not supposed to be seen by the public, and the reason for their being so many windows is that they should be able to watch festival celebrations and other things happening on the street without the public seeing the royal women.

Datia Palace

This beautiful palace is located in Madhya Pradesh and is especially known for having 7 floors. The palace is also known as Bir Singh Palace, and it took 9 years to finish its construction.

Photo: ImagesofIndia / Shutterstock.com

City Palace in Udaipur

The pride of Udaipur, and one of the largest palaces in India, the City Palace in Udaipur. Its construction began already in 1553 by Maharana Udai Sing II.

The palace is located on the east bank of Lake Pichola and is actually a complex of palaces rather than just one structure. The architecture is a mixture of Rajasthani and Mughal style.

City Palace in Jaipur

Another city palace that is worth a visit can be found in Jaipur, next to Hawa Mahal. The interior is truly royal and beautiful, and it was built in 1727 on order by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.

The architecture is a mixture of Mughal, European and Rajput style.

Photo: Roop_Dey / Shutterstock.com

Ujjayanta Palace

This was the former palace of the Kingdom of Tripura, and it has a Neoclassical architecture. It was opened in 1901, and is nowadays a museum.

Chowmahalla Palace

If you’re traveling to the Indian state of Hyderabad, you shouldn’t miss the beautiful Chowmahalla Palace, which was built in 1750 by Nizam Salabat Jung.

Jal Mahal

Probably the most well-preserved and beautiful water palace in India. Jal Mahal is located just half an hour by car from the center of Jaipur, and it’s one of the most popular attractions in Jaipur along with Hawa Mahal and the City Palace.

Taj Lake Palace

If you want to stay in an Indian palace overnight, the Taj Lake palace is another such place to include on your bucket list. It’s located in the middle of Lake Pichola and was built in 1746, although it wasn’t remade into a luxury resort until recently.

A luxury double room with lake view is available from 505 USD per night.

Photo: LunaseeStudios / Shutterstock.com

Laxmi Vilas Palace

The Laxmi Vilas Palace is located in the Indian state of Gujarat, more precisely in Vadodara. It was built in 1890 by the Gaekwad family who ruled the Baroda State at the time.

Bangalore Palace

Of all the palaces in India, the Bangalore Palace is the one that I find most intriguing. Don’t get me wrong, they are all stunning and majestic, but there is something about the architecture here that catches my attention.

No wonder it’s one of the top attractions in Bangalore!

Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace

Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace is a classic fusion between Rajput and Dravidian styles, and you can find this stunning Indian palace in Madurai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

It was built by the King of Madurai in the 17th century and these days it’s open to the public, and history lovers should definitely write this down on their bucket lists!

Mysore Palace

Mysore is an ancient royal city full of marvelous buildings with fascinating architecture. The Mysore Palace was built in 1897 and is open for visitors.

It’s a great example of the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, and one of the most beautiful palaces in India!

Cooch Behar Palace

Last but not least, the most beautiful Indian palace in West Bengal – Cooch Behar Palace, modeled after Buckingham Palace in the late 19th century.

The whole structure is 395 feet (120 m) long and 296 feet (90 m) wide, and the total area of the Palace is a staggering 51,309 square feet (4,766.8 m2).

More information about Palaces in India

Palaces and forts have been present in India since ancient times, and it has traditionally been the seat of royals. In modern times, many palaces in India have been remade into a luxury hotel, but the most beautiful palaces with historic significance have been kept as such.

Something that is characteristic for Indian forts and palaces is the number of towers and decorations. They are always grand with remarkable details.

How many palaces are there in India?

There are hundreds of palaces in India still intact, even though many were destroyed in wars and invasions. There is no exact number of Indian palaces, but you can find them all over the country.

Mysore is known as the city of palaces, and the city is home to seven palaces. Rajasthan is also famous for its many historical palaces with spectacular exterior and interior.

Other Palaces in India

Jaganmohan Palace in Mysore
Marble Palace in Kolkata
Padmanabhapuram Palace in Tamil Nadu
Bolgatty Palace in Kerala
Kowdiar Palace in Kerala

What is the largest palace in India?

Umaid Bhawan Palace is the largest palace in India with more than 347 rooms.

What is the oldest palace in India?

The City Palace in Udaipur is the oldest palace in India. It dates back to 1559 when its construction started.