Rambagh Palace, Jaipur

Managed by the Taj Hotels, the 19th-century Rambagh Palace is the best address in town—and the place where we had the privilege to taste the real lifestyle of Jaipur’s last maharaja, if only for a few days.

The Rambagh Palace used to be the Maharaja and Maharani‘s home. In its heyday, the palace hosted many international celebrities and dignitaries, and the royal couple turned it into a hotel in the end, while still treating it as their home. At least for a while.

This heritage shapes the experience of Rambagh even today. The hospitality here is a way of life, making the stay at Rambagh Palace very special indeed.

The glorious past

We surrendered to the royal treatment from the moment of arrival. First sprinkled with rose petals, then rested on a cozy chaise longue, we were offered welcome drinks and cold towels to refresh after a journey. The check-in process followed, and it itself was relaxing, despite taking place in the somewhat imposing lobby.

Vintage car, horse carriage, a real steam locomotive with carriages converted to a restaurant, and the fabulous gardens populated by peacocks—at Rambagh, every corner bursts with history and character.

The palace maintains vintage details against the backdrop of its architectural glory and grandeur. Colossal ceilings and domes top expansive rooms, marbled corridors lead to arcaded courtyards, fountains punctuate gardens, and long colonnades flank lawns and patios.

Rooms and beyond

The Rambagh Palace preserves its heritage, but it provides contemporary luxuries too.

For a large property such as Rambagh, the number of rooms and suites is surprisingly low. There are seventy-nine rooms, all beautifully restored with period furniture, rich fabrics, and hand-painted motifs. Formerly the chambers of the Maharaja and his guests, today they are of course air-conditioned and equipped with plasma TVs and WiFi.

The property also has a spa center, with a heritage indoor swimming pool (built in the 1920s) as well as a very pretty new outdoor pool. The spa treatment rooms are set in pavilions, freestanding among lush gardens.

There are also four fine-dining restaurants and a large bar called Polo Bar, where we’d end up having cocktails almost every night, followed by dinner at the casual Verandah restaurant—our favorite. Overlooking the gardens, it has a very relaxed atmosphere. So does the delightful Steam restaurant, set within a restored 1915 railway carriage and serving light meals and pizzas.

Royal opulence

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Suvarna Mahal, the palace’s former banquet hall and today the choice for stately dining. With crystal chandeliers and large alabaster marble lamps, Suvama is well within the realm of the past extravagances of Maharajas.

In fact, Suvarna Mahal is emblematic of the Rambagh experience. The hotel is filled with memories of the bygone era, but especially its lavish luxuries—updated to the 21st century and with the five-star standards of service to match—offer a window to the fantastic wealth of the Maharajas.

in our opinion

Set within 47 acres of manicured gardens, Rambagh Palace is an oasis of tranquility in the center of Jaipur’s old city. It's a beautiful hotel that transcends time with its architecture and heritage. Staying here felt like a trip back in time.

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What we love

• The Rambagh is one of Jaipur’s finest buildings and a great place to experience the palatial style for which Rajasthan is famous.
• The location: in the heart of the city yet very quiet and isolated. The grounds are vast and well maintained and brim with birdlife, which includes dozens of regal peacocks
• The public areas and especially the restaurants have decor that reflects the place's historical opulence. The aroma of roses fills the hotel, from well-placed oil burners
• The rooms are tastefully decorated using period furniture as well as expensive fabric and silk drapes, all locally sourced in Rajasthan
• Our suite had a large balcony looking out to the gardens. Woke up to the cries of peacocks!
• First class service and experience of genuine hospitality
• The very large indoor swimming pool has an original feel of a 1920-s era
• A relatively small number of rooms and the overall size of the hotel meant that it never felt busy.

What you should know

• There is a horse carriage in the gardens and guests can just hop in for a ride around the gardens. The same applies to a vintage car parked in front of the lobby. The driver will take you for a spin in the hotel vicinity. It's fun!
• We heard opinions that the hotel feels too modified and not retaining its heritage beauty, however to the extent that this is true it actually adds to the experience of luxury. It's one of the best-updated heritage property in Rajasthan
• Rooms above the Verandah restaurant can pick up some noise. We say stretch your budget and book one of the Historical Suites which have terraces overlooking the gardens
• The hotel is located in the city but it is not at a walking distance from the tourist sites
• Both the Rajput Room and Suvama Mahal restaurants offer excellent food (Western and Indian) however they are not as atmospheric as the Verandah. For the ultimate in romantic dining book a special set-up marquee for dinner in the palace's beautiful gardens
• The steam locomotive restaurant is closed on Tuesdays—plan accordingly