Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

It is touted that the Umaid Bhawan Palace was built as a drought relief measure by Maharaja of Jodhpur Umaid Singh. The idea was to make a luxurious private residence for the Maharaha in order to create employment for the starving people of Jodhpur. I find it ironic. Imagine a man thinking of making a 347 room luxurious villa for himself out of the misery of the people is he supposed to serve. Surprisingly the Maharaja is glorified till this day as a philanthropist for his `noble gesture'.
Umaid Bhawan Palace's construction was begun in 1929 and employed 5000 men for 16 years. Of course these men were paid. But the money Maharajas in India had was not theirs in the first place. It was state money. Money of the people they ruled over. Money the Maharajas generously helped themselves to from time to time to fund their extravagant lifestyles. It did not occur to the Maharaja to put the money to dig wells, to harvest water, or in funding the various traditional skills of his poverty stricken public. But he was a Maharaja and what else could he think about than a palace of luxury. Today Umaid Bhawan Palace is divided between a luxury hotel, a museum and residence of the Maharaja's successors. It still remains the largest private residence in the world.