The History of Woodville Palace
From British military headquarters to royal summer residence to Shimla's most celebrated heritage hotel — a story spanning 160 years.
The Commander-in-Chief's Summer Residence
On 2nd February 1866, General Sir William Rose Mansfield — Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial British Army in India — purchased this hilltop estate for Rs 22,000 from Major-General Sir Arthur Milford Beecher. Perched at 7,000 feet above sea level on what is now Raj Bhawan Road, the property became the official summer residence of successive Commanders-in-Chief of British India.
As the summer capital of the British Raj, Shimla attracted the highest echelons of colonial power. This estate, with its commanding views of Cedar and Pine forests, was the nerve centre of India's military leadership during the monsoon months. Successive owners included Mrs. Henrietta Ruth Maria Alexander, who leased the property to Commanders-in-Chief for six years, and Mrs. Eliza Maria Walker, wife of Sir James Lewis Walker — the first Manager and later Chairman of the Alliance Bank of Simla.
In 1919, the Alliance Bank of Shimla acquired the property for Rs 1,25,000, marking its transition from a military residence to a commercial asset — though its grandeur remained intact.
Key Dates
The Jubbal Royal Family
In 1926, His Highness Maharaja Sir Bhagvat Singh of Gondal State, Gujarat, purchased the property for Rs 1,50,000. Four years later, he gifted it to his daughter — Rani Leila Ba — upon her marriage to Raja Rana Sir Bhagat Chand of Jubbal State.
The Jubbal royal family traces its lineage to the Rathore Rajputs of the Suryavanshi (Solar Dynasty) — a clan renowned for chivalry and bravery, with origins spanning over 2,000 years. The Jubbal State, founded in the 12th century in the Simla Hill States, covered 297 square miles of Himalayan terrain.
Raja Rana Sir Bhagat Chand — a Knight Commander of the Star of India (KCSI) and one of the most enlightened rulers of the Simla Hill States — demolished the Victorian-era structure in 1938 and built the present palace at a cost of Rs 5,00,000. The Art Deco architecture, still standing today, became the family's summer residence until 1977.
Art Deco Grandeur at 7,000 Feet
Spread across 4 acres of lush Cedar, Pine, and Deodar forest, the palace that Raja Rana Sir Bhagat Chand built in 1938 is a masterpiece of Art Deco design. The corridors are adorned with lithographs, century-old Persian carpets, and personal artefacts of the Jubbal royal family. No two rooms are alike — each carries the individual character of a lived-in royal residence rather than a purpose-built hotel.
The palace houses The Tiger Lounge — a restaurant adorned with massive tiger trophies and objets d'art that recreate the lavish lifestyle of Indian kings. The Hollywood Bar, with its walls covered in signed photographs of 1930s Hollywood stars, offers a glimpse into an era when Shimla attracted the global elite. The House of the Rising Sun, a glass-walled restaurant inaugurated by Amitabh Bachchan himself, offers views of bamboos and deodars.
The Royal Suite preserves the original bedroom of Raj Kumar Birendra Singh of Jubbal and his wife, complete with the same beds and furniture from the 1940s. This very suite served as a filming location for the iconic Bollywood film 3 Idiots.
Shimla's Only Palace Hotel
In 1977, Raj Kumar Uday Singh — grandson of Raja Rana Sir Bhagat Chand — took the visionary step of converting part of the palace into a heritage hotel, making it accessible to travellers while preserving its royal character. Woodville Palace became, and remains, the only palace hotel in Shimla.
The palace quickly attracted Bollywood. Over 25 films have been shot within its walls, including 3 Idiots (2009), Black (2005), Student of the Year (2012), Raju Chacha (2000), and Raaz 2 (2009). Stars from Amitabh Bachchan to Aamir Khan, Rajesh Khanna to Alia Bhatt have walked its corridors.
Today, the palace offers 50 heritage rooms and suites, four distinctive dining venues, wedding facilities for over 2,000 guests, and a private forest estate frequented by Himalayan bird species. It remains privately owned and managed by descendants of the Jubbal royal family — a living connection to a legacy that began 160 years ago.
Woodville Today
50 Heritage Rooms & Suites
Deluxe, Heritage Executive, Imperial, Himalayan Suite, Royal Suite
2,000+ Guest Wedding Capacity
4 venues including Royal Ballroom and Garden of Princess
4 Dining Venues
Tiger Lounge, Hollywood Bar, House of the Rising Sun, Garden Cafe
25+ Bollywood Films
Including 3 Idiots, Black, Student of the Year
TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice
Top 10% of accommodations worldwide