Samode Palace

Samode Palace is a historic fortified palace and luxury heritage hotel in Samode, Rajasthan, approximately 40 kilometres north of Jaipur. It forms part of a related group of heritage properties that also includes Samode Haveli in Jaipur and Samode Bagh, a garden retreat a few kilometres from the palace. The properties remain associated with the hereditary family that historically governed Samode and are operated under the Samode name. The site reflects the political and cultural history of the Amber and Jaipur region. Samode was historically a substantial zamindari associated with the Nathawat Rajput lineage and the ruling house of Kacchwaha. The estate was connected to Gopal Singhji, described as one of the sons of Maharaja Rajveer Singhji, and later to Behari Das, a Rajput warrior whose family held the Samode zamindari. In 1757, the lineage was restored under the hereditary title of Rawal Saheb or Maha Rawal, a status connected with service and loyalty to the Jaipur royal family. The palace began as a sixteenth-century Rajput fort. During the early nineteenth century, Rawal Berisal transformed the defensive structure into an aristocratic residence combining Rajput and Islamic architectural influences. Berisal was an important political figure who served as chief minister of Rajasthan and represented the Maharaja of Jaipur in the 1818 treaty with the British East India Company, which placed Jaipur under British protection. During the middle of the nineteenth century, Rawal Sheo Singh expanded the residence with grand reception spaces, including the Durbar Hall, a gallery, and the Sheesh Mahal, or Hall of Mirrors. The building is arranged across three levels and a sequence of rising courtyards. Its sandstone exterior, marble floors, decorated pillars, mosaic surfaces, carpets, historic frescoes, and painted interiors create the visual identity associated with Samode Palace. The Durbar Hall and Sultan Mahal contain old fresco work depicting floral motifs, hunting scenes, and other ornamental subjects. Above the palace is a ruined fort reached by a stone-paved route, offering views across the surrounding Aravalli landscape. Local accounts also associate the fort and palace with an underground passage used for emergency access. In 1987, the palace was converted into the Samode Palace Hotel. The hotel model preserves the character of a princely residence while adapting selected spaces for accommodation, dining, guided visits, and leisure. The connected Samode properties extend this hospitality concept into different architectural settings. Samode Haveli, a historic urban residence near central Jaipur, combines traditional features with a more contemporary atmosphere. Samode Bagh is a walled garden retreat laid out in a Mughal-inspired style, with water channels, fountains, a historic pavilion, and tented accommodation. Samode Palace’s positioning rests on heritage, architecture, place-based hospitality, and cinematic appeal rather than on a standardized international hotel format. The surrounding village is also associated with block-printed textiles, bangle making, miniature painting, and other handicrafts. Hindi films have used the palace as a location, while the 1984 American HBO television adaptation of The Far Pavilions was filmed in the palace precincts. These screen appearances have reinforced its profile as a distinctive Rajasthan destination. The palace, haveli, and garden are separate sites linked by the Samode heritage identity. The palace is located near Samode village at the foot of the Aravalli hills; the haveli is within Jaipur, and the garden lies a short distance from the palace. The property’s significance therefore combines a historic noble estate, preserved Rajput and Mughal-influenced architecture, and an active luxury tourism business.

Samode is a historic town and estate in Rajasthan associated with the Nathawat Rajput lineage and the former Amber and Jaipur principality. The family’s political standing was linked to the Kacchwaha royal house. Samode was granted to Gopal Singhji, identified in historical accounts as one of the twelve sons of Maharaja Rajveer Singhji. The zamindari was later inherited by Behari Das, a Rajput warrior of the Nathawat clan who had served in the Mughal sphere. In 1757, the family’s position was restored under the hereditary titles Rawal Saheb and Maha Rawal, titles associated with valour and loyalty to Jaipur’s ruling family. The palace itself originated in the sixteenth century as a Rajput fort. Its later transformation reflected the changing role of aristocratic residences in Rajasthan. In the early nineteenth century, Rawal Berisal converted the fort into a more elaborate palace, combining Rajput planning and decoration with Muslim or Mughal-influenced architectural elements. Berisal also held major political responsibilities, serving as chief minister of Rajasthan. In 1818, he signed a treaty on behalf of the Maharaja of Jaipur with the British East India Company; the agreement established Jaipur as a British protectorate. Rawal Sheo Singh, a descendant of Berisal and a senior minister of Jaipur state during the nineteenth century, expanded the palace further. His additions included the Durbar Hall, an associated gallery, and the Sheesh Mahal, whose mirror decoration became one of the property’s defining features. Other important interiors include the Sultan Mahal and rooms containing historic frescoes. The palace developed as a sequence of courtyards on three levels, with rooms and patios arranged to take advantage of the sloping site. The estate also included other residential and garden structures. Samode Haveli, built more than 150 years ago by Rawal Sheo Singh, served as a retreat for the royal family and later became an urban heritage property in Jaipur. Samode Bagh was developed as a Mughal-style garden retreat more than 150 years ago by a son of Maharaja Prithiraj Singhji of Jaipur. The garden is enclosed by a high wall and contains a long water channel, fountains, a historic pavilion, and tented accommodation that combines traditional Rajasthan and Mughal references with modern hotel facilities. The palace’s historic role changed in 1987, when it was converted into the Samode Palace Hotel. This created a commercial model in which the hereditary owners maintained and presented the family’s architectural legacy as a luxury hospitality experience. The palace, haveli, and garden subsequently operated under the Samode heritage hotel identity while retaining distinct locations and architectural characters. Samode Palace is built in sandstone near the Aravalli hills. Its principal interiors include marble flooring, ornamented pillars, mosaic surfaces, historic painted walls, carpets, and frescoes with floral and hunting imagery. A ruined fort above the palace can be reached by a paved route of approximately 300 steps and provides views of the valley. The wider area includes Samode village, known for block printing, bangle making, miniature painting, and other handicrafts. The property has also had a cultural and media role. Hindi feature films have used the palace as a location, and the 1984 HBO adaptation of The Far Pavilions was filmed in its precincts. These appearances complement the property’s core identity as a preserved Rajasthan palace adapted for heritage tourism. The climate is characterized by very hot summers and cool winters, while Jaipur provides the principal transport connection by road, rail, and air.

• 2015

  Visitor tariff documented

  [1]Samode Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Visitor information current on 15 August 2015 reported a palace entry charge that included a tour and could be credited toward food and drink.

• 1987

  Conversion into a heritage hotel

  [1]Samode Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Samode Palace began operating as the Samode Palace Hotel, turning the historic residence into a luxury heritage hospitality property.

• 1984

  The Far Pavilions filmed at the palace

  [1]Samode Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The HBO television adaptation of The Far Pavilions used Samode Palace and its precincts as a filming location.

• 1818

  Treaty with the British East India Company

  [1]Samode Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Rawal Berisal signed the treaty with the British East India Company on behalf of the Maharaja of Jaipur, contributing to Jaipur’s status as a British protectorate.

• 1757

  Nathawat hereditary status restored

  [1]Samode Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The Samode lineage was restored under the hereditary titles Rawal Saheb or Maha Rawal after its association with the Amber and Jaipur principality.

• 1500

  Palace established as a Rajput fort

  [1]Samode Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The structure that later became Samode Palace was initially built as a Rajput fort in the sixteenth century.

A luxury heritage hospitality brand built around historic Rajput estates, Mughal-influenced design, royal lineage, cultural immersion, and an intimate alternative to standardized resort accommodation.

• Heritage hotel · 1987

  Samode Palace

  The flagship property occupies a former Rajput fort and nineteenth-century palace near Samode village. Accommodation and visitor experiences are organized around historic courtyards, decorated rooms, palace interiors, dining areas, and access to architectural features such as the Durbar Hall and Sheesh Mahal. The property presents Rajput and Mughal-influenced design through frescoes, marble, mosaic work, painted surfaces, and traditional furnishings while functioning as a contemporary luxury hotel.

• Urban heritage hotel

  Samode Haveli

  Samode Haveli is a historic residence in Jaipur built more than 150 years ago by Rawal Sheo Singh as a retreat for the royal family. Its character combines a traditional painted dining room, an air passage, and other historic elements with a more contemporary hospitality setting. An elephant ramp at the entrance was constructed in 1940 for a royal family wedding ceremony.

• Garden retreat

  Samode Bagh

  Samode Bagh is a walled Mughal-style garden retreat located a few kilometres from the palace. The approximately 20-acre garden contains a long water channel, fountains, a historic pavilion, and tented accommodation. The tents combine Rajasthan and Mughal decorative references with Victorian touches and modern facilities, including carpets, standing lamps, beds, chairs, and air conditioning.

• 1987

  Historic palace converted into a heritage hotelStrategy

  Background

  The hereditary owners adapted a former aristocratic palace and fort into a commercial hospitality property while retaining its historic architectural identity.

  Action taken

  Samode Palace began operating as a heritage hotel under the Samode name.

  Aftermath

  The conversion established the palace as the flagship of a wider heritage hospitality group that also operates Samode Haveli and Samode Bagh.

  Source

• 2015

  Samode Palace promoted as a heritage visitor attraction[1]Samode Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Pricing

  Visitor information described palace tours covering spaces including the ladies’ waiting rooms, Sheesh Mahal, Durbar Hall, and pool area. The reported entry fee was credited toward food and drink, according to information current in August 2015.

• 1987

  Samode Palace converted into a heritage hotel[1]Samode Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The historic palace was adapted for operation as the Samode Palace Hotel, beginning its modern role as a heritage hospitality property.

• 1984

  The Far Pavilions filmed at Samode Palace[1]Samode Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The American HBO television adaptation of The Far Pavilions used the palace precincts as a filming location, bringing the property to an international screen audience.

1. 1Samode Palaceen.wikipedia.org