Acknowledging exemplary hospitality expertise, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur has been awarded the Editor's Choice- Hotel of the Year 2009 Gallivanter's Awards for excellence. In keeping with the Taj tradition of setting benchmarks for outstanding hospitality experience, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is proud to announce this recognition from The Gallivanter's Guide, the influential publication whose aim is to discover idyllic places for the discerning travelers. Perched high above the desert capital of Jodhpur, 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 doors in 1943. The present Maharaja of Jodhpur, His Highness Maharaja Gaj Singh and the Royal Family continue to reside in the palace. The Gallivanter's Guide is a privately published monthly newsletter which unearths the best of places for the dedicated explorer. They personally review only the best hotels and resorts in the world, ranging from classic Grandes Dames to gourmet 10-room inns. The Gallivanter's Guide© was established in 1991 and the guide now has subscribers in 42 countries worldwide, ranging from North & South America, to Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Only hotels that have been personally assessed 'from the guest's point of view' are included in The Gallivanter's Guide©.