PAL HAVELI in Jodhpur - Hotel Review with Photos

India › Jodhpur Hotels › Pal Haveli Review
Updated: March 23, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Makrana Mohalla, opposite Sardar Market.
• Hotel website: palhaveli.com
• Hotel phone: +91 (0)291 653 3328
• Check prices for Pal Haveli

Review of Pall Haveli in Jodhpur, India.

The historical Pal Haveli features beautiful rooms in a superb location opposite the iconic Sardar Market.

Pal Haveli – So convenient, historic, and graceful – more like a museum than a hotel.

Almost two centuries old, this instantly likable hotel/guesthouse offers only twenty-one rooms. Most overlook the shady central courtyard, while others face another courtyard overflowing with antiques reminiscent of a movie about British India. Each room is lovingly and individually decorated with heirlooms from the Pal family which has lived in and operated the hotel for generations. The restaurants provide uniquely expansive city views because the haveli (manor) boasts arguably the premier location in Jodhpur: deep within the Old City and close to the iconic Clock Tower and Sardar Market, which is so pleasingly clean, quiet, and hassle-free.

Pal Haveli – The Location

Address: In the northern part of the Old City called Makrana Mohalla. Opposite Sardar Market, with the landmark Clock Tower in the middle.
Area: Optimal area within the Old City. Historic, with the finest market, some colonial-era buildings, and many inviting cafés and shops within a short walk.
How to Get There: About 6 km (15-minute drive) from the airport. At the attractive (and low-key) terminal, there are pre-paid booths for taxis and auto-rickshaws, but note: taxis cannot enter this part of the Old City. The train terminal (1.5 km) and main bus station (2.5 km) are also quite convenient, and best accessed by auto-rickshaw.
Handy to: Sardar Market. Old City. Mehrangarh Fort.

Pal Haveli – The Basics

Guests: Most seem to be older, perhaps 50-plus, who appreciate the historic setting and convenience.
Views: Vary considerably. Rooms on the ground floor are dark and have limited windows. Even those on the higher floors don’t offer terrific views. The setting and history are the main selling points.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Not expected or provided at a historic inner-city hotel like this in Jodhpur.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +91 (0)291 653 3328
Email: info@palhaveli.com
Website: palhaveli.com

Pal Haveli – Amenities

Pool, Spa, & Fitness Center: Not expected or provided.
Other Facilities: Laundry. Souvenir shops.

Pal Haveli – Food and Drink

Restaurants: Indique – Rooftop with 360-degree views of the fort, market, and streets. Especially romantic when the fort is lit up after sunset. Bar attached. • Jodhana – Indoors and air-conditioned, with less interesting views of the stagnant lake. Traditional food and attentive service.
Bar: 18th Century Bar – Packed (perhaps overly so) with antique furniture for a quintessential colonial-era experience.
Breakfast: Included in all rates.
Room Service: Available 24/7.

Pal Haveli – Rooms

Room Types: Heritage Rooms • Royal Heritage Suites • Historical Suites. Other less expensive rooms are in the attached Haveli Inn Pal. List of all Rooms.
Smoking Rooms: No smoking in the rooms or public areas.
Best Room: The Historical Suites are the most spacious and most likely to offer views of the streets and market from a higher floor.
For Families: Not really set up for families. The only option is 2 adjoining rooms (but not with connecting doors).

Pal Haveli – Local Transport

Walking: The Old City is fascinating to wander around, but there are no sidewalks, so pedestrians share the scarily narrow streets and alleys with maniacal motorcyclists and anarchic auto-rickshaw drivers. Watch out for huge piles of fresh cow dung.
Public Transport: Nothing of use for tourists anywhere in Jodhpur.
Taxis & Auto-rickshaws: Taxis (unmetered) can be ordered through the hotel for day-trips, but can’t possibly enter the Old City. Auto-rickshaws are good enough for going anywhere in Jodhpur, and can be found around Sardar Market, about 50m from the hotel gates. Taxis and auto-rickshaws can also be ordered through the Ola and Uber apps.

Pal Haveli – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

Panorama 360 – In the attached, associated, but separately-owned Havel Inn Pal guesthouse around the corner. Traditional Rajasthani cuisine and lovely rooftop terrace.
Café Sheesh Mahal – Excellent coffee/tea and sandwiches, but little else. Come for the tranquility, air-conditioning, and street views. Also in Haveli Inn Pal.
Café Kala Kariyan – Another top-notch eatery for watching the market below. Upstairs, and next to the Sheesh Mahal.
Another fine selection is clustered around Stepwell, an ancient pond and square, also known as Tunwarji ka Jhalra, about 250m away. Head away from the market, and turn sharp right at the junction. Options include: Open House Cafe – Breezy, with beer • The Stepwell Café – Lofty views and comfy seats • Jharokha 360 – Rooftop views and classy Indian cuisine.

Nearby Shops & Markets

Nicest area in the Old City, with several shops that could even be labeled ‘chic’ – especially around Stepwell (250m away). Sardar Market, barely 50m from the hotel gates, is clean, quiet, and hassle-free, so it’s fun to explore. Based around the iconic Clock Tower, the market is open all day every day.

Nearby Attractions

Jaswant Thada – Also known as the Taj Mahal of Mewar, a marble marvel amidst lush, landscaped gardens and next to a serene lake. The intricate marble lattice screens as well as the city views are superb. Easily paired with a visit to the Mehrangarh Fort. 9 am to 5 pm. (2.5 km).
Mehrangarh Fort – This magnificent attraction dominates the Old City. The main entrance is about 3km by auto-rickshaw. Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
Umaid Bhawan Palace – An architectural marvel; one part of the palace still serves as a Royal Family residence, the rest has been converted to the Taj Hotel and museum. Only the museum is open to the public, and it’s very popular for the vintage car and clock collections and vast gardens with peacocks. Great spot for a romantic meal. 10 am to 4.30 pm. (5 km).
Mandore Garden – Historic garden, home to beautiful empty tombs of the Royal Family. The Hall of Heroes, temple of 330 Million Gods, and Government Museum are worth seeing. Visitors can also explore the Mandore Fort ruins or have a picnic on the grounds. Located just outside the city. (8 km).

Pal Haveli – The Hotel

The hotel is located in a lively area of the Old City.

Pal Haveli hotel is located in a particularly lively and historic part of the Old City.

The majestic hotel dominates the area, with the market just around the corner.

The hotel exudes an appealing colonial-era vibe.

The embracing colonial-era vibe is apparent the moment guests walk through the front gates.

The courtyard leads to a group of souvenir shops within the hotel grounds.

Part of the main courtyard leads to an area of souvenir shops, still within the hotel grounds.

The hotel also has a less expensive guesthouse called Haveli Inn Pal on-site.

Attached to the hotel is a guesthouse with less expensive rooms called the Haveli Inn Pal.

The Haveli Inn Pal features quaint old-style guest lounges.

The wing of rooms in the separately-run but attached Haveli Inn Pal features adorable old-style guest lounges.

The on-site Jodhana restaurant offers views of the Old City and the lake nearby.

Jodhana, the indoor restaurant at the Pal Haveli hotel, provides views of the Old City, including the stagnant lake opposite the hotel gates.

The rooftop Indique restaurant is more attractive.

More attractive is the hotel’s other restaurant, Indique, which is on the rooftop.

The Indique restaurant has an attached bar.

Attached to the Indique restaurant is a bar.

18th Century Bar features a remarkable British India decor.

The remarkable 18th Century Bar in the hotel boasts a décor straight out of British India.

The reception area too has a small cafe.

Another small café is alongside the reception area.

The inner courtyard features fountains, guest lounges, and galleries.

Many rooms at the Pal Haveli face a delightful internal courtyard, with fountains, guest lounges, and galleries.

Guest lounges feature old-fashioned furniture and colonial-era prints.

Around the internal courtyard within the Pal Haveli are several guest lounges with old-fashioned furniture and colonial-era photos.

The spacious rooms feature nice, old-fashioned decor.

Rooms are spacious and nicely furnished in an old-fashioned way, but some have limited windows.

The hotel is located deep inside the Old City.

The hotel is deep within the Old City, so don’t be surprised to see cows right outside the hotel gates.

Café Sheesh Mahal close by is excellent for coffee, tea, or sandwiches.

One of the finest places in the area for coffee, tea, or sandwiches is Café Sheesh Mahal, just around the corner from the hotel gates.

Panorama 360 on the Haveli Inn Pal guesthouse offers great views of the Clock Tower and Sardar Market.

On top of the Haveli Inn Pal guesthouse wing, Panorama 360 provides perfect views of the Clock Tower and Sardar Market.

Café Kala Kariyan also offers great views.

Another great eatery that provides views of the market and streets is Café Kala Kariyan.

Several shops and cafes are located in a modern building opposite the Stepwell.

An inviting cluster of shops and cafés is opposite the Stepwell pond and square, a 5-minute walk from the hotel.

The Stepwell Café is known for its terrific views.

The Stepwell Café offers comfy seating and terrific views.

Open House Café in the Old City serves good food and beer.

Next to The Stepwell Café is the equally likable Open House Café.

Sardar Market is unusually clean, quiet, and hassle-free.

Just around the corner from the hotel gates, Sardar Market is clean, spacious, and traffic-free.

Sardar Market stalls sell a wide selection of items, though mostly for locals.

All sorts of things are for sale at Sardar Market, although mostly for locals rather than tourists.

The Clock Tower in Sardar Market is a prominent landmark.

Dominating Sardar Market is the iconic Clock Tower.

The historic neighborhood is always lively.

The area around the Pal Haveli is always lively and quite historic.

There are plenty of auto-rickshaws around the market area.

The fort's main entrance is 3km from the hotel.

The main entrance to the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort is about 3km from the hotel gates.

Allow at least half a day to explore the incredible fort.

Sunset views of the magnificent fort are impressive.

The fort looks most impressive for a few hours after sunset. Check rates and availability: Pal Haveli

Hotel Pal Haveli in Jodhpur, India

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