At Ajit Bhawan Palace, I found myself experiencing a glimpse into what life inside a royal residence might once have felt like in Jodhpur. Rajasthan, after all, is dotted with palaces that gleam with chandeliers, marble corridors, and centuries of grandeur. Ajit Bhawan, however, feels different—quieter and more intimate.
Built in the 1920s as the residence of Maharaja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur, Ajit Bhawan later became India’s first heritage hotel, opening its doors to travellers who wanted to experience royal living without the barriers of a palace gate. Today, the property houses 65 rooms that combine old-world charm with contemporary comfort, tucked into the leafy heart of Jodhpur and just a 15-minute drive from the formidable Mehrangarh Fort. That fort was my first stop in the city. But the moment I returned to the palace, eager to see my room, the stay began to reveal its character.