Heritage hotel inside Lohagarh Fort, Bharatpur

Discover the Royal Heritage of Mahal Khas Palace in Bharatpur

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Heritage hotel inside Lohagarh Fort

Welcome to Mahal Khas Palace

Where a Kingdom Was Governed. Where You Now Belong.

Welcome to Mahal Khas Palace — the inner royal core of the legendary Lohagarh Fort, Bharatpur. Built during the reign of Maharaja Suraj Mal in the mid-18th century, this near-300-year-old palace was once the seat from which one of North India's most powerful indigenous kingdoms was ruled. Today, its walls invite you not merely to visit history, but to live inside it.

Plan Your Stay

c. 1730–1750

Period of construction, under the Jat rulers of Bharatpur

Lohagarh Fort

The palace stands inside Bharatpur’s “Iron Fort”

Maharaja Suraj Mal

Founder of Bharatpur, who began Lohagarh Fort in 1732

July 2026

Opened as a luxury heritage hotel

History, Construction Period and Former Use

Mahal Khas was built within Lohagarh Fort, the stronghold Maharaja Suraj Mal began in 1732 at the heart of his new capital, Bharatpur. The palace dates to roughly 1730–1750 CE. As its name suggests (khas means private or special), it formed the inner royal core of the fort.

From these halls the rulers of Bharatpur administered a kingdom that stretched across eastern Rajasthan, the Braj region of western Uttar Pradesh and parts of southern Haryana. Royal councils met here, military plans were drawn up here, and the court conducted its diplomacy from within these walls.

Connection with Bharatpur's Royal Family

Mahal Khas belongs to the story of the Jat dynasty that founded and ruled Bharatpur. Maharaja Suraj Mal laid out Lohagarh Fort; his son Maharaja Jawahar Singh brought back the celebrated Ashtadhatu gates from Delhi in the 1760s; and in 1805 Maharaja Ranjit Singh held the fort through a six-week British siege under Lord Lake, later marking the victory with the Fateh Burj.

Lohagarh eventually fell to British forces in 1826. Bharatpur remained a princely state until 1948, when it joined the Matsya Union, which merged into Rajasthan in 1949.

Architectural Style and Original Features

Mahal Khas follows the Jat architecture of Bharatpur and Deeg, a regional style that draws on Rajput and Mughal traditions but, at Lohagarh, puts strength and comfort ahead of ornament. The palace was designed for endurance, climate and defence rather than display.

Original features

Thick masonry walls

Heavy walls keep interiors naturally cool through the Rajasthan summer.

Open courtyards

Inner courtyards bring light and air into the heart of the palace.

Natural ventilation

Openings are placed to move air through the rooms year-round.

Moat and water systems

The moats and earthen ramparts of Lohagarh doubled as defence and water management.

Heritage & Luxury

Ornate pierced jharokha windows and intricate sandstone arches offer an authentic glimpse into regal 19th-century architecture.

Tourist Attraction

Surrounded by lush natural beauty, offers easy access to one of the world's most magnificent wildlife and bird sanctuaries.

The Restoration of Mahal Khas

Acquired and revitalized under the stewardship of Bhagat Singh Lohagarh and the Lohagarh Group of Hotels, the restoration of Mahal Khas Palace—which took 3 Years —was driven by a vision to seamlessly fuse heritage preservation with contemporary luxury. Prior to this, the nearly 300-year-old palace required meticulous intervention to revive its original grandeur. Relying heavily on regional craftspeople, the restoration team utilized traditional methods such as lime mortar and locally sourced sandstone. The approach focused entirely on maintaining the palace's architectural splendor and historical authenticity, thoughtfully upgrading the property to host memorable heritage stays, destination weddings, birthday parties, and celebration events without compromising its royal identity.

Experience True Heritage & Warm Hospitality

Mahal Khas opened as a luxury heritage hotel on 25 July 2026. It offers the warmth of true heritage hospitality: thoughtful comfort, gracious service and curated experiences that let you rest deeply and explore Bharatpur with ease.

From early-morning temple transfers to quiet evenings inside the fort's walls, every stay is designed to feel less like a hotel and more like a homecoming to another era.

Ownership and Management

Owned by: The Lohagarh Group of Companies. Historically, the estate constitutes the inner royal core of the undefeated Lohagarh Fort in North India, originally built by Maharaja Suraj Mal in the mid-18th century.

Managed by: Bhagat Singh Lohagarh, serving as Chairman & Managing Director. Under his leadership, the in-house team leverages extensive heritage hospitality experience to position the property as the premier luxury heritage destination serving the Braj-Agra spiritual circuit.

Our commitment: We are dedicated to responsible tourism that preserves the 300-year-old palace's sustainable architecture and integrated ecological water systems. By prioritizing local employment, we honor the historical legacy of the region's farming community, ensuring the estate remains a living symbol of social inclusiveness and public welfare.