The atmosphere in the Woodville Palace is reminiscent of the days when the rulers used to walk down the carpeted staircase lined with pictures of kings of other states and even rulers from other countries, even the czars of Russia. Quite a collection of old memories. Almost every inch of the walls in the Palace is decorated with pictures, even ones with autographs of some of world’s well known names. Bollywood and old Hollywood, everything is there on the walls of Woodville.
The Woodville has a tale, and that too a long one. Starting 1865 when it used to be the residence of the Army chiefs. The building was bought over by Maharaja Bhagwat Singh of Gondal State in 1926 for his daughter, Princess Leila Ba and rebuilt in 1938 by her husband Raja Rana Bhagat Chand of Jubbal state. The family of Rajput kings continued to live there till 1977 when Raj Kumar Uday Singh of Jubbal converted it into a heritage hotel.
The Woodville Palace is situated in an enviable location. Amidst a dense foliage of cedar trees that rise to the sky, the Woodville is very close to the famous Mall, but closer to the Raj Bhawan and other important official residences of the state government today. For this reason it is away from the maddening crowd, in a quiet location. The biggest advantage that one would have is that of driving straight to the parking lot of the Palace. Shimla today has an acute shortage of parking lots. In case of Woodville, the guests can drive up on the restricted road which can be used by government functionaries only.
The Woodville has an enchanting air about it. The rooms in the Palace building, all with wood paneling, have a distinct charm about them. One does not feel like switching the heater, but lighting up the fire in the fire place. A magic takes over when you relax in one of such rooms, which once upon a time were used by the royals. The furniture in the rooms is all old, maybe antique, and artistic. It is not the usual flat plastic furniture.
The Woodville has the Royal suite, Majestic suite, Imperial room and the deluxe room. All have a distinct furnishing of the old times.
From the reception to the alley, staircase, restaurant or the lounge, the place looks like an album of the past. Even as you sit in the dining hall which used to be the Imperial Banquet Hall, you see a rare collection of pictures all around.
The Tiger Lounge as the name suggests has tiger trophies on the walls showing the passion of the former Maharajas for hunting the big cat. Next to it is the Hollywood Bar which draws its name from the several pictures of Hollywood stars of the 1930’s, and they are all autographed.
Its like you are living with royal history all around. Several Bollywood films have been shot here and many a top stars have lived in this Palace. This is Woodville’s pride.
Raj Kumar Uday Singh of Jubbal himself lives in a part of the Palace with his family. The man who opened the doors of the Woodville Palace for tourists is critical of the local administration. He blames them for doing nothing to improve Shimla. “Have they been able to build a railway line to Shimla like the old one in so many years?” he asks with anger in his tone. “Nothing has happened.” He doesn’t wish to talk about politicians and political parties. He is bitter with them all.
His son, Kunwar Divraj Singh in his mid twenties, has done his hotel management from Ooty. Was it his own choice ? “Well, I had almost got into St. Stephens College of Delhi, but my sister suggested that I should help my father with this heritage hotel, so I got into it. Now I like it,” says Divraj Singh. His ambition is to make a big hotel in Mumbai one day. He also plans to promote village tourism in his ancestral hometown of Jubbal, where his royal ancestors ruled.
Today the Woodville Palace is part of the WelcomHeritage group which is an impressive chain of heritage properties in several parts of north India.
