Picto Diary - 17 January 2016 - Raj Mahal Palace Hotel

Above: Maharani TIMDT at breakfast. Raj Mahal Palace Hotel. Jaipur, Rajasthan, India 17 January 2016.

The Raj Mahal Palace hotel has been open for less than a year. It's on many of the "hot hotels in the world" lists and is considered by many as a destination in itself.

The building was built in 1729 by the Maharaja of Jaipur as a garden retreat for his wife, on what was then the outskirts of the Pink City. In 1821, it became the official home of the British Resident who continued to live there right up until Indian Independence in 1947.

In 1958, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II - renowned for his prowess on the polo field and his beautiful third wife, Gayatri Devi - decided to use Raj Mahal Palace as their private home, away from their formal residence, City Palace. Here, they entertained friends from the Queen and Prince Philip to Jackie Kennedy and Lee Radzwill. Now, the hotel's 15 suites and rooms are named after illustrious guests of the past.

The hotel is managed by Sujan Group, the same people who managed our leopard camp and other highly polished safari camps within Rajasthan. Wi-Fi is excellent and free all over the hotel. Laundry is free.

I asked Rajput 'stached Prakeet, the manager, if he knew the Prakeet who managed the leopard camp. He said he did... and, that both he and the other Prakeet had their wives working with them at their respective Sujan properties.

The hotel is a boutique hotel. There is a high attention to service and detail. Bed sheets are actually ironed as part of the turn down service.

Gayatri Devi, became world famous. Her husband's liberating influence and her strong character took her well beyond the traditionally limited activities of a Maharani. She is the author of the widely acclaimed biography, "A Princess Remembers," where she talks about her early life as the daughter of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar, and her life as the Maharani of Jaipur, from the height of Jaipur's power as a princely state, to its de-recognition at independence. By a landslide, she was elected a member of Indian Parliament after independence. Gayatri Devi was listed in Vogue as one of the most beautiful women in the world.

Above: Gardens, looking out from breakfast. Raj Mahal Palace Hotel, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. 17 January 2016.

The two pillars holding the floral arrangements are replica sculptures of four Indian lions standing back to back.. A graphic representation of the sculpture, first introduced by emperor Ashoka in the third century BC, was adopted as the official emblem of India in 1950.

Above: Marble Ashoka Lions sculpture and floral arrangement. Raj Mahal Palace Hotel. Rajasthan, India. 17 January 2016.

Above: Montage plays the santoor, accompanied by tabla. Rambagh Palace Hotel, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. 17 January 2016.

Followed by dinner. TIMDT has stayed at the Rambagh Palace Hotel, run by the Taj group, on previous occasions. She wanted us to see it and, therefore, scheduled our dinner there.

Traveling with the Margaret Taylor Dance Troupe in India.

Above: Rajasthani Folk Dancers. Rambagh Palace Hotel, Jaipur, India. 17 January 2016.

Addendum:


Steve

I have enjoyed all of your dairy entries from ur epic trip immensely.
Thanks for sharing.

Trevor
Miami, FL


Steve thanks for your photos and the in depth dialogue.

The Monk,
Salina, UT