The glitter and glamour that epitomized Maharani Gayatri Devi (considered one of the world’s most beautiful women of her times) remains an immortal image of Jaipur’s luxurious regal past.
Travelling around the world she and her dashing polo-playing husband HH Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II (‘Jai) were frequent guests at intimate get-togethers in drawing rooms across Europe and private parties thrown by kings and potentates.
Do keep in mind that Sawai Man Singh II's legacy extends way beyond polo. He brought glamour, prestige, and international recognition to Jaipur. He was the last ruling maharaja of Jaipur before the State was merged into the new state of Rajasthan in 1949.
From polo matches to gourmet picnics... from stunning jewels from Jaipur’s top jewellers to lavish banquets served off exquisite Chinaware and silver cutlery, the ease with which Jaipur’s royals and nobility slipped into the world of quiet luxury is the stuff of legends.
Your next trip to the Pink City should be all about an immersive cultural experience of nostalgia and luxury in the old ways. So, pack your French chiffons, pearl necklaces and bandh galas for a holiday of a lifetime.
Begin your luxury tour with a pick-up from the airport in a swanky chauffeur-driven car to transfer you to one of Jaipur’s glittering heritage hotels. Your first choice, of course, should be the sublime Rambagh Palace, but if that's full there’s also the Jai Mahal, Narian Niwas Palace, Diggi Palace, The Raj Palace, or even The Johri a 5-suite boutique option in a restored 19th-century family home of the Kasliwals of Gem Palace fame, which welcomes you in the warm embrace of traditional Rajasthani hospitality— many notches higher than you ever imagined. From the most exquisite bed linen to personal butlers and generous spa programmes, you can unwind at a most luxurious pace in these gorgeous surrounds.
Let yourself go savouring the sumptuous splendour of Suvarna Mahal which once served as the private dining room of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and Maharani Gayatri Devi. This opulent dining space is sequestered in their stunning residence, the Rambagh Palace, now run as one of Jaipur’s most distinguished super luxury hotels since 1957. From glittering Italian chandeliers to gleaming mirrors, from the glorious silken cladding of the walls to the elegant furniture (masterly replicas of the original!) — and the impeccable service and superb meals served off tableware settings of gold and silver, Suvarna Mahal makes your dining experience a truly luxurious and royal affair. Do begin the journey with drinks at the cosy Polo Lounge festooned with trophies of victories from the past.
Just recently the young HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh was splashed across some dailies in an ad campaign heralding his joining U.S. Polo Assn (the official brand of the United States Polo Association) as a global brand ambassador. The U.S. Polo Assn. x His Highness Sawai Padmanabh Singh Collection is a wonderful amalgamation of Jaipur’s royal heritage and the refined elegance of sports fashion. “The collection and the campaign, both reflect not only my personal style but also my passion for polo and horses, including the indigenous Marwari horse of Rajasthan. Together, we hope to take the sport to new heights,” the young Maharajah shared.
Jaipur and polo, the "sport of kings", are inextricably intertwined. A passionate polo player with a handicap of nine HH Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II commissioned his very own state-of-the-art polo ground to be constructed close to the royal residence. He put together the Jaipur Polo Team in the 1900s around the time the equestrian sport was introduced in India. The sport would make waves in both national and international polo circuits, under the patronage of the Jaipur royals and continues to do so under the leadership of the young HH Sawai Padmanabh Singh.
Today, Jaipur has at least 10 polo grounds attracting many budding players. From August to October end Jaipur’s polo season offers a host of thrilling championships (including the Sawai Man Guard Polo Cup, Bhavnagar Polo Trophy Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Cup amongst others) you can choose to attend with some judicious planning to enjoy this luxury sport. In case you miss the September Season you can catch a game during the February Polo Season, which includes the Jaipur Open, Rajmata Gayatri Devi Memorial Cup, the Sirmour Cup, and Rajasthan Tourism Polo Cup amongst others.
Well, it would surely be an elegant experience to store in your memory bank if you manage to get to attend a polo match, but there is another luxury of an equestrian kind you can enjoy in Jaipur— a meet and greet and even a ride… with a Marwari horse, the unique, in-curled-ears Rajasthani breed that has been nurtured in the city by riding enthusiasts. You can even learn a new skill…playing polo, at a private farm under professional mentoring. Polofactory, run by polo player and horse trainer Vikramaditya Singh Barkana and brand management and communication specialist Jai Singh, is just 24km away from Jaipur. A crash course includes an introduction to the basics of horse riding, polo rules, and techniques.
Alternatively, head to Dundlod Fort where you’ll get a very personal one-to-one introduction to the iconic Marwari horse under the tutelage of the noblewoman, Mallyka Singh Dundlod, whose family has been pivotal in reviving this indigenous breed from extinction. Mallyka offers some wonderful personally guided horse safaris around the state.
Plan ahead for a fabulous aerial adventure over Jaipur and its surrounds from the luxury of a hot air balloon. You can even choose to spend a day at a private farm lunching on lavish meals powered by secret family recipes— or head out for some verdant spot for personalised picnics transformed by traditional high teas. While hunting, once a favourite pastime for Jaipur’s royals, has long been banned, you can go off on a personalised visit, past the city outskirts, to the Jhalana Leopard Sanctuary for some thrilling jungle adventures catching this elusive cat on your camera lens!
Shopping is one of the most irresistible experiences of this wonderful heritage city. Arrange for a private appointment at the Gem Palace, jewellers for the royals since the 1700s. Indulge your fantasies of Jaipur’s fabulous red minkari work, emerald and diamond encrusted bracelets or ruby and pearl-dripping chandelier earrings…That’s just to nudge your imagination! Located on MI Road, they’ve been catering to individual royal tastes for decades— so just unleash your luxury dreams and let the magic begin!
On Jacob Road, Rukhmani boutique, the choice of the royals for yesteryear's classic chiffon sarees and stunning embroidery works, should definitely be on your shopping bucket list. For traditional gota patti, bandhani, marodi and zardozi work head to Nidhi Tholia. Princess Gauravi Kumari’s The Palace Atelier is a museum-cum-concept store showcasing traditional crafts.
Gentlemen, an unmissable treat is the Imperial India Company store, which is well stocked with bandhgalas, sherwanis, Jodhpurs, waistcoats etc by designer Raghavendra Rathore. For Nehru jackets, velvet men’s jootis, shawls and the like catch up on the latest cache at Hot Pink, launched by Munnu Kasliwal (of Gem Palace fame) in the Kanota Bagh in the Narian Niwas Palace complex. Also located here is Andraab, a magnet for its meticulously hand-crafted, very high-end range of gorgeous shawls, stoles, scarves and bedcovers and the like, brought to the city by three brothers from Kashmir.
Winding back to the era of the past royals of Jaipur is definitely a fun way to discover the legendary Pink City via the luxury route. Dig deeper still on your next trip and share those delicious experiences with your favourite people.