Why this Jodhpur hotel is one of the world's best

One of the fanciest palaces

In the summer of 1944, hundreds of royals gathered for the opening of Umaid Bhawan Palace, a magnificent sandstone edifice that dominates the skyline in India's northwestern city of Jodhpur.

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Converted into a hotel chain

Three years on, India was free from British rule, and more than 500 princely states faced an uncertain future, with most have faded into obscurity; but the family that built this palace continues to thrive - in part by converting a section of it into a hotel.

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Live like a king

"How many places do you know in the world where you can actually live right where the Maharaja is living next door to you?" said the hotel's general manager, Mehrnawaz Avari. "The idea is to treat our guests like kings and queens."

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A filmy location

The 347-room palace, considered one of the world's fanciest residences, was used as the primary location for "Viceroy House," a film by director Gurinder Chadha being released Friday in India.

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Carrying on the legend of Umaid Singh

The iconic structure in this west Rajasthani city known for its traditional handicrafts was named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, the last king of what was known as the Marwar-Rathore Dynasty, who is said to have a larger-than-life vision.

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The art of royal marriages

The palace is open to visitors year-round, and has become a top destination for govt leaders, royals, and Hollywood and Bollywood stars alike. In 2007, British actress Elizabeth Hurley married Indian businessman Arun Nayar beneath the white marble canopy, on the palace lawn.

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The architechture

Colonnaded verandas guide one's eye up to intricately carved pillars, stylized sculptures and finally a massive central dome topped by a 30-meter golden cupola. The cost of the royal experience ranges from $500 to more than $12,000 a night.

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All milk & honey

Visitors are greeted by a smiling guard wearing one of Jodhpur's famous handlebar moustaches; he opens the door while hotel staff shower guests with rose petals.

Peacocks roam the palace lawns. Further inside, pulsating Rajasthani folk tunes fill the air as colorful dancers move in choreographed circles. Guests mingle amid crystal chandeliers and silk-draped furniture.

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