遠遠望去，沙漠之都焦特普爾竟有幾分希臘愛琴海的姿色— 浪漫，閑適。城區(qū)所有房子的墻壁涂成藍色，像成千上萬的藍積木堆積在一起，寧靜、安詳……據(jù)說藍色是印度最高種姓“婆羅門”的專屬色，就像中國古代“黃色”與皇族的關系一樣。還有說涂上藍色的房子可以驅蟲避蚊……鋪天蓋地的藍，任誰都傾慕有加。一片漫漶的海藍中，烏麥巴旺宮“平沙莽莽黃入天”，自成氣候。

From afar， the desert capital of Jodhpur looks pretty much like the romantic and quiet Greek Aegean Sea. All the city house walls were painted blue， like tens of thousands of blue blocks stacked together， peaceful and serene. It is said that blue is the color exclusively used by India’s highest caste \"Brahman\"， just like the color \"yellow\" used by the ancient Chinese imperial family. People also said that color blue repels bugs and mosquitos. Such overwhelming blue is much adored. Amid the blue stands the Umaid Bhawan Palace， unique and proud.

大崛起A Sharp Rise

水與食物都很匱乏的焦特普爾迫切需要一種象征來尋求突破，壯大自我。1923年，現(xiàn)任王公的祖父——宅心仁厚的烏麥？辛格殿下下旨起建一座新宮殿，為飽受旱災與饑荒所困的梅瓦爾王朝子民提供就業(yè)機會。1928至1943年間，大興土木的宮殿替代梅蘭加爾堡，一舉成為焦特普爾的嶄新坐標。

烏麥巴旺宮 — 印度偉大宮殿的尾音，自1943年敞開鍍金大門，便向世界發(fā)出了皇家居所的雄渾吶喊。這西方技術與多種印度建筑風格的混血兒，通體黃砂，金色燦燦。曾專屬皇室女眷的私有住所內(nèi)，如今下榻著焦特普爾的現(xiàn)任王公甘吉辛格及王室成員?；始业暮坪朴?，飄散不去。

Water and food were scarce and Jodhpur needed a symbol of growth and possibility. In 1923， His Royal Highness Maharaja Umaid Singh （the grandfather of the present Maharaja） benevolently commissioned a new palace to give employment to the people of Marwar during the period of great droughts and famines. Te palace was built between 1928 and 1943 and replaced Mehrangarh Fort as the new landmark of Jodhpur.

Perched high above the desert capital of Jodhpur， the Umaid Bhawan Palace， the last of India’ s great palaces， was also one of the largest royal residences in the world when it opened its gilded doors in 1943. A spectacular synthesis of western technology and more than one Indian architectural style， the Umaid Bhawan Palace is a magnifcent edifce built entirely in golden yellow sandstone. Te present Maharaja of Jodhpur， His Highness Maharaja Gajsingh and the Royal Family continue to reside in what was formerly the Zenana， a private wing for the ladies of the royal household.

“藝術裝飾”歸來The Return of Art Deco

這座被稱為世界最大的私人住宅之一的宏大建筑，由愛德華時代著名建筑師亨利？沃恩？蘭徹斯特設計，經(jīng)15年建造，1943年完美誕生，堪稱建筑豐碑。華麗內(nèi)飾走歐美盛極一時的藝術裝飾路線，出自波蘭藝術家朱利葉斯？斯蒂芬？諾爾布林之手的異國壁畫頗有錦上添花的意味。60年光陰流淌而過，公共區(qū)域、Regal及ViceRegal套房卻毫發(fā)未損，絲毫未見時間轍痕。如今，這座宮殿或許是世界上完好保留藝術裝飾風的最大型建筑體之一。2005年1月，泰姬酒店集團接管這座宮殿，繼續(xù)延承烏麥巴旺宮的皇室奢華，并將酒店文化帶到焦特普爾。

Designed by the well-known Edwardian architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester and completed in 1943 afer almost 50 years’ construction， Maharaja Umaid Singh’ s Umaid Bhawan Palace is a monumental structure. Te sumptuous interiors were done in Art Deco that was then popular in Europe and America， and were superbly complemented by the exotic murals of the Polish artist Julius Stefan Norblin. Afer 60 years， with the public areas and the Regal and Vice-Regal Suites essentially untouched， the palace is today perhaps one of the largest and best-preserved buildings of the Art Deco style.

華麗內(nèi)飾走歐美盛極一時的藝術裝飾路線，出自波蘭藝術家朱利葉斯·斯蒂芬·諾爾布林之手的異國壁畫頗有錦上添花的意味。

The sumptuous interiors were done in Art Deco that was then popular in Europe and America， and were superbly complemented by the exotic murals of the Polish artist Julius Stefan Norblin.

洋洋大觀Spectacular Layout

宮殿整體占地26英畝，花園占地15英畝，花枝交錯，花影斑駁。1977年，烏麥巴旺宮改為酒店，奢華客套房貞靜若嫻。中央大廳氣場強大到令人仰止，圓屋頂高達150英尺，渾厚的屋頂據(jù)說是為了格擋印度炎熱的氣候。樓梯門廳呈橢圓形，會議室及宴會廳儀容素整，規(guī)規(guī)矩矩分列兩邊。本就氣度不凡的王宮大殿輔以一幅幅精致的羅摩衍那壁畫，愈發(fā)生威。車庫是老式汽車大薈萃的舞臺。不俗宮殿，生如斯，美如斯。

華麗宮殿里還設有一處私人博物館、自有郵局及雅致鑲木板的圖書館。娛樂設施自是不落伍，室內(nèi)外泳池、臺球室、四座網(wǎng)球場、兩座獨特大理石地板壁球場及15英畝花園，各個有看頭。

Te palace covers an area of 26 acres of land and the garden takes up 15 acres. Te Umaid Bhawan Palace was converted into a hotel in 1977， with luxurious rooms and suites， retaining the original Art Deco interiors. Te spectacular Central Rotunda has a cupola rising 150 feet； an oval staircase hall is fanked by the impressive Ballroom and Banquet Hall on either side； the Trone Room， with its exquisite Ramayana murals and garages， displays a collection of vintage cars. All these reafrm the grandeur of this remarkable palace.

Tis splendid palace has a private museum， a post ofce and an elegant wood-paneled library. Te palace also ofers recreational facilities such as an indoor swimming pool， a billiards room， four tennis courts， two unique marble-foored squash courts and a 15-acre garden.

采用當?shù)靥厣皫r建成的烏麥巴旺宮殿酒店內(nèi)部結構無任何研體粘合，融合東西方建筑風格的精華。莊嚴的高穹頂設計受文藝復興的影響，而裙樓則從當?shù)乩淦仗貍鹘y(tǒng)風格中獲取靈感。作為印度王朝的最后一座偉大宮殿，“烏麥巴旺”發(fā)出的生命絕唱，千古綿長。

Tis masterpiece was constructed without mortar binding. Te palace is a blend of eastern and western architectural elements. Its 105-foot high majestic cupola is infuenced by the Renaissance， while the towers draw inspiration from Rajput tradition. Tis last great palace of India sings the last song， fowing into the everlasting history.