Collection of Clocks in Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum, Jodhpur
Most of us collect something; we have the inherent desire to accumulate stuffs that give us pleasure, evoke emotion and store sweet memories. At Umaid Bhawan Palace museum, Jodhpur, you will find the display of an elite range of items belonging to the Maharaja and the imperial family. Most fascinating of all their collections is the remarkable collection of clocks and watches. There are clocks and watches of all shapes and sizes.
If only collecting watches was like collecting time…
Clocks and Watches in Umaid Bhawan Jodhpur
Some facts: The earliest mechanical clocks were developed in Europe, as early as thirteenth century. But those were only for the large establishments. In the next two centuries the size had reduced and the clocks adorned the houses of wealthy. With the development of spring driven mechanism for the clocks miniaturization of the timekeepers was possible.
One account says that the word “watch” came from the Old English word woecce which meant “watchman”, because it was used by town watchmen to keep track of their shifts at work. Another says that the term came from 17th century sailors, who used the new mechanisms to time the length of their shipboard watches (duty shifts).
Clocks in Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum
The first watches are believed to have been produced by Peter Heinlein of Nuremburg in the 1500s. Soon pocket watches and pendant watches were a rage among the wealthy.
At Umaid Palace there is one, which is tiny enough to fit into a finger ring.
Entrance Fees to Unmaid Bhavan Jodhpur
- Rs.30 per person for Indian
- Rs.100 for foreigners
- Rs.10 for minors (5-11 years old)
Visiting Time
10 AM to 16:30 PM. Duration of Visit: 1-2 hours. The best part is photography is allowed.
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Liked the one with the butterfly.. looks cute and elegant..
Happy New Year to you and your family…
Happy New Year to you and yours, Indrani!
What a delightful way to watch time go by
A friend sent me a link to these very large clockwork-like machines which have no use, but are very beautiful. there are videos for each one, you might enjoy them
A lovely collection of time pieces. And how fitting as your blog is a wonderful place to pass some time.
Very nice photographs. The little clocks and watches look great.
Thank you! Watches are awesome…
Happy New Year 🙂
that watch that fits in a ring is amazing. Must take a steady hand to assemble…
Good story and very fitting when entering the new year:-)
– Peter
Beautiful pictures and very rich narrative.
Those are really neat.
Happy New year to you too!
Amazing collection…I have never seen in my life such kind of watches….
Hi Indrani! I see that you survived the food and the champagne, and entered 2009 in great shape! ;))
The collection looks marvelous. One day I’ll visit Jodhpur…
Meanwhile Blogtrotter will be posting on Delhi the next weeks; lots to see… Hope you like it and wish you a great weekend!
How appropriate to have clocks right now. 🙂 I LOVE the train ones! And that tiny butterfly – I think I may have had a ring watch once upon a time. 🙂
Thanks for sharing these with those of us who will probably never get to see them in person. All the best in 09!
There are so many ‘time’ remarks hovering in my head – but I shall spare you and merely look forward in Time and Wish you a Good New Year !
Wow.. great pieces.. there beautiful.
lovely captures
A Happy New Year to you! Very interesting pics of the watch/clock collection. Doesn’t the Salarjung museum in Hyderabad have a large collection too?
What a collection!! Good to have you back.
Hope you had a great holiday. Happy New Year.
Wow, what an amazing collection. Happy New Year!
OH…I “heart” all of those beautiful pieces. Time truly is intricate regardless of how small.
Happy New Year to You!!
Lovely collection !!! I remember on particular watch caught the fancy of us three brothers when we were young. Its in Hyderabad in the Salarjung Museum of the Nawab… where a man comes out at every hour to ding the bell….
It was particularly cool… too bad dont have a pic of it…
THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE!!
I love all of them..always had this fascination for antique clocks and watches..but they are so expensive..wish you a very happy 2009
I love the one on the plate. My grandma had the same china pattern! 🙂
A very happy new year to you and your family
The watch in the ring is the most beautiful.
So beautiful! And I just love the last thought –
“If only collecting watches was like collecting time…”
Isn’t that a coincidence (if there is such a thing at all). I just had a phone call with my friends back in Switzerland. They own a watch factory and he told me that they sold an amazingly amount of very expensive watches this year, but not much of the less expensive ones. The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer – it’s obviously a very sad fact.
Thanks for the great information.
I wish you and your family a wonderful 2009. May your wishes come true!
Wow very beautiful collection of timepieces. It reminded me of my first visit to Beijing China, the clock musuem. They have very beautiful and antique timepieces. The one that really attracted me was a clockworkman inside the clock writting a chinese calligraphy. I like to visit again.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
A happy new year to you too 🙂