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Expect nothing less than a suite fit for a Maharaja at the Raj Palace, which was an actual palace built in the 1700s. The four-floor Shahi Mahal Suite, which is accessed through a private entrance through the Charbagh gardens, is decorated in gold-leaf and ivory. It also has a theatre, library and roof terrace with whirlpool tub.
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The presidential suite in the Maharaja’s Pavilion at Raj Palace in Jaipur, India, is a four-floor, four-bedroom, 16,000-square-foot masterpiece of regal splendor.
Accommodations include a private elevator, the second-floor museum, a private bar, and a spa. Gold and silver furniture ensure maximum decadence. $15,000/night.
This appeared in the July/August 2017 issue.
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Right in the heart of Jaipur, The The Raj Palace is an imposing palace hotel that holds you spellbound. The oldest mansion in Jaipur, originally called ‘The Chaumoo Haveli’, it was built in 1727. It was named after the last ruler of Chaumoo, Thakur Raj Singh. In 1996, Princess Jayendra Kumari converted it into a luxurious palace hotel. It still retains the splendour and a lot of artefacts from the bygone era.
It may not be as talked about as some of the other palaces in Jaipur, but it is definitely extravagance at its best. We were welcomed with the expected marigold garlands and with unexpected soulful music played right in front of us as we savoured our welcome drinks on an exquisite jhoola (Swinging seating) in the courtyard. This luxury hotel affords you some larger than life, unique experiences that you would be hard pressed to find elsewhere, making your stay an experience worth having. Below are a few that I found too irresistible not to write about.
World’s Leading Heritage Hotel
World’s Leading Heritage Hotel (Image: The Raj Palace)
• The Raj Palace, Jaipur was acknowledged as the World’s Leading Heritage Hotel by World Travel awards consecutively for four years from 2007-2013.
• The Raj Palace’s restaurant, The Swapna Mahal was voted as one of the Best Restaurants in the World at the 32nd International Awards for Hotel and Catering by American Travel Association at Fitur, Spain.
Darbar Mahal at The Raj Palace, Jaipur
Dazzling Interiors in The Darbar Mahal (Image: The Raj Palace)
Living Area at Darbar Mahal, Raj Palace
Living Area at Darbar Mahal (Image: The Raj Palace)
We have all heard of palatial hotels that are the epitome of luxury, but how many of us can claim to have slept in a pure gold or silver bed used by an erstwhile maharajah? Well, at The Raj Palace, anyone can, albeit for a price that could buy you a decent piece of regal jewellery (or a car for that matter). I’m talking about the Maharajah’s Pavillion at The Raj Palace, Jaipur. The royal suite is spread over four floors and contains everything from a private lounge with a bar, to a library, lavish dining room, private museum, and 4 bedrooms.
The four floor apartment is spread over 16000 square feet (that’s right) and has a private elevator. The Fourth Floor of the complex was the pleasure pavilion in the past and now has a private roof top terrace with panoramic views of the city, a small jacuzzi, swimming pool, private bar and spa. The Durbar Mahal which was the private court of Thakur Sahib and is now the Palace Suite finds itself adorned with the same regality that it boasted of in its hay days. The walls are painted in gold stucco and the furniture is pure gold and silver. Despite all the glitter, it is anything but garish. Other suites also feature silk thread paintings, gold and ivory inlay work on furniture, and gold adorned walls. If this doesn’t convince you of the level of richness, what else will? The price at which this luxury comes, is around 15000 USD/night. (Don’t worry if you’re not a sheikh, they have beautiful regular priced rooms too).
Silver bed and furniture in one of the rooms
Heritage Room at Raj Palace Jaipur
Our Heritage Room – Huge, well-appointed and luxurious
While I didn’t stay in the Palace Suite, our room surpassed our expectations. Huge and very luxurious, it was everything we could ask for and more. A small sitting area with the provision for a bar, tea and coffee, lead to the room through a corridor. The huge bed had an equally huge mirror overlooking it from the ceiling, giving the room an even bigger look. A step down, there was a living room cum study with an impressive wood table that called out to the writer in me. The attached bath was about as big as the room and very richly appointed, complete with a regal clawfoot bathtub. In short, impressive.
Antique Dinnerware at The Raj Palace Jaipur
Antique Dinnerware at The Dining Hall
Historical Artefacts at The Raj Palace Jaipur
Historical Artefacts at the In-house Museum
Sans the pretentiousness of a museum, the hotel is full of historical artefacts that can be found all around. There are specially designated spaces where things like locks, writing instruments, letter openers and other antique knick-knacks are housed.
The dining hall will dazzle you with its range of 200 year old crockery used by the royals, including the Maharaja and Maharani of Jaipur. The Maharajah’s Pavilion, the Durbar Mahal (Room where court was held), the Swarn Mahal (Golden palace) and the Historical Room all have bits and pieces of history attached to them as private in-room museums. Imagine being surrounded by handicrafts that once tickled the fancy of the Maharajas living in these very quarters.M
There are chandeliers, and then there is “THE” Chandelier. The chandelier at Raj Palace is one of the biggest crystal chandeliers in India. Set in Swapna Mahal (the dining hall and the name literally translates to dream palace) where multi cuisine meals are served, it is definitely a highlight of the visit. The dining room used to be the formal reception area modelled on great British and French noble houses. The double height ceiling hall has beautiful silver jharokas (canopied overhanging balcony), arched windows, palatial furniture and equally royal food.
It is not every day that you get to live in quarters where royalty has lived and where celebrities have dined. Names of the league of Sawai Jai Singh, Maharani Gayatri Devi, Lord Mountbatten, Maharaja Man Singh, Rawal Sangram Singh of the Samode Palace, as well as other international royals have spent time here. Apart from that, today’s royalty, stars and celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Fredrick Forsyth, Elaine Page, Dominique La Pierre and many dignitaries from around the world have slept, dined or been here. Put your name in their hotel records and be on the same page as this celebrated list.
Also Read: Vegetarian Eats You Just Can’t Miss in Jaipur
The Swimming Pool (Image: The Raj Palace)
The Raj Palace is located within the Pink City and close to many attractions such as Hawa Mahal, the bustling markets of Bapu Bazar, Johri Bazar, City Palace and Jantar Mantar. Yet, the hotel is away from the hustle bustle of town as it is tucked in a quiet corner (if you can call such a huge space a corner). It affords you peace and serenity, which is made particularly lovable, with the elegant spa and stunning swimming pool.
The Raj Palace, Jaipur
Sprawling lawns, in the middle of Pink City
The sprawling lawns are an indulgence in the middle of the city and make it a great choice for celebrations. In the heart of the city, yet away from all the noise, you can spend hours strolling in the lawns and never even want to venture out. Even though the property is huge, any thing we asked for in our room was promptly delivered. So another plus is that the service cannot be faulted.
The Swapna Mahal multi-cuisine restaurant (Image: The Raj Palace)
Dining at The Raj Palace, Jaipur
Mains, Maharani Thali
Dining, Raj Palace, Jaipur
Accompaniments with Thali
Dining, Raj Palace, Jaipur
Appetizers, The Maharani Thali
Dining, Raj Palace, Jaipur
Desserts, Maharani Thali
The Swapna Mahal serves a faultless thali – The Maharani Thali (queen’s platter), which embraces not just Rajasthani specialties but also dishes from the Royal Principalities like Nepal. From a scroll, the very attentive and always smiling Kaan Singh read out a royal firman (edict) to initiate our meal for the evening.
The Vegetable Gulabi Kebab with beetroot was the melt-in-the-mouth winner in starters while the yummy Dal Rajwada (royal lentils), the chunky Vegetable Jalfrezi (mixed vegetables), the moreish Kofta Shahi Zafrani (dumplings in creamy gravy), the simple Subz Korma Kesariya (vegetables in saffron flavoured base) and the perfectly cooked Sultani Bhindi (ladyfinger) were all delightful. But the Royal Nepalese Potato – a delightful mustard seed tempering with a hint of tanginess – stole the show. Served with a side of salads and Shahjahani Raita, the meal is a vegetarian’s royal delight.
To sweeten the meal, a selection of cut fruits, ice cream and Shahi Jamun (small gulab jamuns or deep fried milk-solids based balls dipped in sugar syrup) were served. Between my friend and I, we could not finish even one Thali. Sumptuous and delicious!
The Bar at The Raj Palace, Jaipur
Shikarbadi, The Bar (Image: The Raj Palace)
The coffee shop, The Royal Lounge, offers a variety of international and Indian cuisines. Dosas, paranthas, sandwiches; each was good and served well. The breakfast buffet served here is delicious and consists of a decent range of dishes chosen to please every palette. The bar, Shikarbadi (hunters lounge), is striking in its decor with beautiful wall frescoes and antiques – a royal setting to savour the finest drinks.
All in all, every meal was an experience worth having.
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Asia's best suite and world's first in-suite museum
The Rajasthan palace called Raj Palace in Jaipur was awarded this year's World Travel Award for "Asia's leading suite" for its Maharajah's Pavilion presidential suite.
The Pavilion also won the same award last year, and the Palace's Durbar Mahal suite won the award in 2009.
How spectacular are these hotels? We find out.
For starters the palace is 300 years old -- even older than the city of Jaipur itself. Built in 1727 the royal family of Jaipur still owns the heritage property of 40 rooms and Princess Jayendra Kumari helped with its revamp in 1995.
This second-floor of the Maharajah's Pavilion has gold leaf painted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, stucco mirrors, and a separate staff quarters.
The Maharajah's Pavilion suite, in which 16 generations of royal family have stayed, is its own majestic block measuring nearly 5,000 square meters, and with an elevator connecting all four floors.
In this Rajasthan palace guests are greeted by two ranks of butlers holding Champagne, garlands, cold towels and snacks.
On the first floor is a lounge, extra luggage storage area, and another private sitting area with a bar.
The second floor has a double-height reception room with garden views, and two bedrooms -- all furniture is in gold and silver.
Probably one of the most exciting parts about this suite's floor is its private passageways connecting different pavilions -- it also has the world's first in-suite museum.
“Having a museum helps people get a feeling of how the royal family used to live -- for example we’ve displayed the original Chanel No.5 from the 1930s and an old throne of the Thakur sahib," says 31-year old Ankur Rara, general manager, Raj Palace.
The central courtyard is said to be Raj Palace's most powerful point, and the suite offers views of four out of the seven courtyards.
The third floor has a library, dining room with a butler entrance, kitchen, and another bedroom. The fourth floor has a master bedroom, rooftop pool, whirlpool spa and terrace with panoramic views of Jaipur city.
The palace is designed in line with architectural guides described in ancient Indian texts known as the Vastushastras. For example, the multiple tiers of the suite are supposed to represent the ascending realms of heaven.
“Being a large suite doesn’t necessarily matter, the suite stands out because of the guests' satisfaction who voted for this suite," says Rara.
The Maharajah Pavilion costs Rs 700,200 or just over US$14,000 plus 15.5 percent in taxes, and accommodates up to 10 guests.
"We obviously don't want to spoil the surprise, however we can mention that we're looking into having a helipad, fountains and private gardens," says Rara.
It can be even booked one day prior to arrival -- however, there is a 100 per cent charge for cancellations within 20 days.
It may be safer to stick to an average nightly rate of Rs 22,000, plus taxes.
The hotel is now building a brand new suite that will be entered into the “World’s Leading Presidential Suite" category of the World Travel Awards next year.
"It will be the world’s most expensive suite," says Rara.
The Raj Palace is an experience of living like Indian royalty and there's no doubt it deserves the award, but we've also chosen four other Rajasthan palaces and recommended their grandest hotel suites, in the slightly less princely price range.
Raj Palace, Jorawar Singh Gate, Amber Fort Road, near Jal Mahal, Jaipur, Rajasthan; +91 (0)141 263 4077; www.rajpalace.com
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The Raj Palace is located in Jaipur, India in a city known for its historic palaces and luxury. The hotel has been recognized as one of the world’s best heritage hotels and offers a unique historical experience at a price tag of up to $15,000 a night.
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Royal wedding fever has spread right across the world since the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was announced in November last year. For travellers looking for a royal experience, but weren’t lucky enough to get an invite to the wedding, Hotels.com (http://www.hotels.com), the global hotel booking website, has revealed hotels around the world where royalty have stayed so that travellers can check-in and experience some ‘royal’ treatment of their own.
The Raj Palace is one of the finest Jaipur palace hotels also known as boutique hotel with all suites and beautiful multi-cuisine restaurant. It has one of the biggest crystal chandeliers of India and a beautiful antique crockery museum which has a collection of around 200 year-old antique crockery used by royals, kings and queens, including The Maharaja of Jaipur, Raj Rajendra Maharaja Dhiraj and and The Maharani of Jaipur, Maharani Gayatri Devi.
The palace also has the pictures of famous people who have visited, dined or slept in the embrace of this palace. The palace is a historical journey through colourful era full of art, culture and chivalry.
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The interior of the Raj Palace. Photo: The Raj Palace, Jaipur
The oldest mansion in Jaipur, Raj Palace has been beautifully restored by Princess Jayendra Kumari into the luxurious heritage hotel it is today. There are multiple areas within the palace where you can host various functions and the hotel offers personalised services like an army of event planners, who will guide you and make sure everything is in place for your royal Indian wedding. Whether it’s a party with cocktails and a DJ or an exotic ceremony with a procession of elephants, camels and horses, performances by folk dancers and singers, or even snake charmers and puppet shows, Raj Palace will do it all.
For more information, visit www.royalweddingindia.com
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The Subrata Roy-led Sahara Group's iconic hotel The Plaza, New York, figures among the top 10 hotels in the world for multi-millionaire visitors in 2014, a survey said.
The Plaza is the second most preferred hotel for the uber-rich people globally, said the survey by New World Wealth. It was based on a sample of 450 multi-millionaires.
The Plaza, which is jointly owned by Sahara Group and Kingdom Holdings, a Saudi Arabia-based corporation, had 3,700 multi-millionaires in the 12 months to June 2014, second only to The Bellagio in Las Vegas, which received as many as 6,400 multi millionaires.
"The Plaza's high place on the list is impressive considering it only has 280 rooms which puts it at a disadvantage to larger hotels which can accommodate more guests in a year," the report said.
According to the report, titled 'Most Popular Hotels for Millionaires', The Raj Palace, Jaipur, had 300 or more multi-millionaire visitors in the 12 months to June.
The Raj Palace, Jaipur is the only one hotel from India has made it to the list of select few boutique hotels that witnessed 300 or more multi-millionaires visitors.
Other most preferred hotel destinations for multi-millionaires include Caesars Palace, Las Vegas (3,400 visitors); Waldorf Astoria, New York (3,300); Marina Bay Sands Singapore (3,100) and The Breakers, Palm Beach (3,000) among others.
Las Vegas hotels dominate the list. "This reflects Vegas's appeal as a short stay holiday destination for the super-rich," the report said.
The other boutique hotels which were mentioned by several multi-millionaires in the survey include -- Baur au Lac, Zurich; Chateau Marmont, Los Angeles; Goldeneye, Jamaica; Htel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes; Little Nel, Aspen and Raffles, Singapore.
For the purposes of this study, an individual with net assets of at least USD 10 million is considered multi-millionaire. There are around 495,000 multi-millionaires worldwide (as on June 2014).
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The Raj Palace, Jaipur is the only one hotel from India has made it to the list of select few boutique hotels that witnessed 300 or more multi-millionaires visitors.
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If you want to catch a brief glimpse of what being royalty feels like, make Raj Palace your next tourist stop. Jaipur, the Pink City, definitely transports one into a royal past, so why not live in that past for a few days? The experience begins with their signature line, “Welcome to the Raj Palace”. It seems like an innocuous welcome, but each time you return from sightseeing ventures, you get an increasing feeling that you are returning, not to a hotel, but to your own palace.
Raj Palace is visually stunning with a vast central courtyard, with the main building rising palatially at the far end. The rooms are themselves situated around smaller courtyards featuring decorated marble floors and assorted fountains. The décor within the rooms is at once regal and rustic, in keeping with the theme. While Raj Palace has worked in all the modern conveniences, it is not going to be a vanilla, chain hotel experience. For instance, in place of centralized heating and cooling, the rooms have individual air-conditioners and space heaters.
What separates Raj Palace from any hotel I have been at is the service. “Outstanding” would be inadequate to describe it. Every request is attended to promptly and with a smile. Except, the staff go a step beyond, constantly seeing where a small action on their part would make your stay a bit more pleasurable. You could be looking for salt or sugar at the breakfast table and the waiter is at your side asking what you need. We wanted our rooms to be a little warmer, so an additional space heater was provided. Our request for hot water bottles to be placed in our beds only had to be made once – they were there every night.
Our thanks to the Raj Palace staff for this unique experience, one we would whole heartedly recommend to one and all. The only recommendations for improvement would be replacing the bathtubs, which are showing signs of age and installing a fuller shower screen to prevent a wet bathroom floor.Felt
Stayed: January 2014, traveled as a couple
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The Raj Palace is opulent enough on its own, but book the Maharajah's Pavilion and you'll experience a whole new world of decadence. The former ruler's four-story dwelling has a private roof terrace, swimming pool offering panoramic views of the Pink City, a private museum, library, and dining room and bar, not to mention gold-leaf walls and shimmering silver furniture. We can only dream.
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The royal nature of a former palace is distinct in Mahajara's Pavilion, going for $15,000 a night. The four-story suite has a private museum housing royal artifacts on the second floor in addition to one of four spacious bedrooms that overlook the inner court.
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Exquisite Mughal archways, intricate embroidery, gold leaf and ivory abound in the most luxurious suite at the Raj Palace Hotel, built (as a palace) in 1727. The four-storey Shahi Mahal suite is accessed through a private entrance in a private garden and has its own theatre, library, pool and roof terrace with a spa. The opulence is currently being pushed up a notch – the Shahi Mahal is undergoing a renovation and will reopen later this year. Cost per night: A regal US$65,000 (A$85,600).
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When thinking of opulence and royalty, most people imagine rich golds, deep reds and chandeliers everywhere. Imagine a hotel – no, a palace really – that offers this kind of luxury. It exists! The Raj Palace is a 16th-century Maharaja palace located in Jaipur, India and fit for royalty. In fact, it’s owned by royalty! Princess Jayendra Kumari Ji decided to restore the mansion back in 1995 to its current glory.
From the rich fabrics and decor, to the stunning overall structure and charm, this palace is the oldest mansion of Jaipur. But don’t worry – the accommodations are modern and sleek, with Italian marble making up the bathrooms. Each room is peppered with special fabrics and colors for guests to enjoy. If you’re looking for a more authentic experience, the Palace’s Prestige Suites have been carefully restored with period furniture and more traditional decor, while the Palace Suites include furniture made up of real silver and gold.
The Presidential Suites are truly something to write home about. Made up of four floors, Maharajah’s Pavilion offers a private entrance, a private museum and a library! You’ll want for nothing in this luxury suite.
If taking in all of the dazzling decor leaves you famished, the Raj Palace offers a variety of dining options. From afternoon tea in the courtyard to Mughlai delicacies at The Kebab Shop, guests can even arrange for a private royal dining experience.
Not to mention the array of activities offered at Raj Palace! Whether you’d like to pamper yourself with a spa treatment, go on a baggi safari tour, or immerse yourself in folk dance, the options are endless at Raj Palace!
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