The Rambaugh Palace, Jaipur

Thursday 10, April 1986
Udaipur/Jaipur

A short flight from Udaipur brings us to Jaipur, here we shall be staying at the beautiful Rambagh Palace Hotel, built in 1835. In the city of Jaipur, one will see the Rajasthani and Mughal architecture at it’s peak.



In 1957 Maharaja Sawai Man Singh 11 changed the Rambagh Palace into a luxury hotel.

Here are a few words taken from a travel agent’s description about the city of Jaipur.

Quote: “Jaipur is popular with most tourists, no other city in the world has a colour to its identity. When Prince Albert visited Jaipur in 1875, the ruler of the state, Sawai Ram Singh had all the buildings of its bazaars mantled pink.



The colour caught on and even today the houses along the main roads are pink, washed yearly as a rule, christening her “The Pink City”. Built in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh, the then ruler and his architect Vidhyadhar Battacharya, the plan is based on the principles of town planning laid down in the Shilpa Shastra, the ancient Hindu treaties on architecture, it’s symmetrical lanes and architecture retain the elegance of old.” End of quote.

On our entrance through the Main Gate of Rambagh Palace Hotel’s 47 acres of lawns and flowers, I remarked to Eric, “One is surrounded by beautiful flowers and manicured lawns at this Palace”. An echoed reply came from our driver Praveen, “Yes Madam, there are beautiful flowers in the front side, the left side, the right side and even on the back side”. Those words brought a quiet smile to both of us making it a very special entry to this, the next stop of our 1986 vacation.

Being in the Rajasthani area the native attire is both colourful and striking that blends in with the architect around one. Our large room was decorated in a traditional Rajasthani style a taste of Royal living with a separate sitting area. Marble floors and corridors are used throughout the Palace, the courtyard and gardens covered a large area where peacocks roamed freely.



Every corner held it’s own history and told a story of it’s own. I loved the veranda that provides an alfresco dinning option with a complete view of the sprawling Mughal gardens and fountains. To complete my thoughts of The Rambagh Palace Hotel I would use only two words: Lavishness and Luxury, spelt in capital letters.




Our stay at Rambagh Palace Hotel was short and yet so much was accomplished here. Each time I recall my stay at this Palace I think of two very special people, our driver Praveen and the young man who took care of our room and laundry, a shame I cannot recall his name. Let us name him Peter, instead of referring to him as ‘the young man’.

It was the evening after our tour of the Pink City and an elephant ride to the Amber Fort, we stopped at the Hotel’s gift shop to buy a few souvenirs when we were told that the Maharani Gayatri Devi who was on the front lawn having tea, had just left.




Praveen our driver mentioned the Maharani often comes to the Rambagh Palace for tea. Since we were leaving the following morning for Agra via Fatehpur Sikri city we would miss meeting the Maharani, a great loss on our part.

The following morning Praveen presented me with the book “A Princess Remembers” written by Maharani Gayatri Devi. I offered to pay Parveen for this book, his reply was, it is his gift to me, I told him I would accept it only if he would sign the book, which he did.

The Maharani Gayatri Devi was Jaipur’s last Queen and has appeared on lists of the world’s most beautiful women, one of India’s most glamorous and wealthy aristocrats. The book “A Princess Remembers” should be read by all who love History.

Peter the young man who took care of our room and laundry invited Eric (deceased 1989) and I to lunch at his home. Please bear in mind this young man in his early thirties, with a wife, two children of their own, a widowed mother and his unwed sister, all being supported by his small salary working at this Hotel, extending this invitation to lunch at his home. I was lost for words at this humble invitation and felt the hurt inside, having to tell him we were sorry we would not be able to accept his kind offer, as we had previous arrangements.

When we returned to our room late that evening there was a large flower arrangement on the table from his wife to me. That guilt pain dug deeper inside me on seeing this gift of flowers from his wife.




They have absolute nothing and yet, the little they had they wanted to share with us, so richly given. So poor and so humble are they, is something I have yet to see in our Western culture, this humility. These flowers accompanied me to the end of the 1986 vacation in India.

Before leaving our room for our road trip to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri city, Peter came to wish us a safe journey and asked me to promise him if ever I was in Jaipur again to please try and get in touch with him, as he wanted his wife to meet me.

Picture taking time was our next step. I asked Peter to please sit on the sofa along side me for a photograph of us together. “Oh no Madam, I cannot sit on the same chair as you, you are white and I am not”.



Here we are in the twentieth century and that ugly stigma is still with us. We finally talked him into sitting on the arm of the sofa for ‘the’ most treasured photo belonging to me, often reminding me, where I chose that tour opposed to sharing a meal with his humble family. A very poor choice, you failed hopelessly here Clare. I often wonder why did Peter choose me to be his guest for lunch in his home?

The same humble invitation was extended me by our driver in Ooty, to meet his father, mother and siblings on my 2001 Vacation to India, which will follow my 1998 vacation in India.

For those who have seen the movie “Queenie” starring Kirk Douglas should know a large percentage of this movie was filmed at The Rambagh Palace Hotel, Jaipur, India. If you haven’t seen this movie you should rent the DVD or Video, you will love the grounds and interior of this beautiful Palace.

The following photo taken in Jaipur, India is also a part of a movie called, “The Far Pavilions” this is the door both the brides come through before their marriage to the Raja. “The Far Pavilions” is one of M. M. Kaye’s best selling novels, set in India during the mid century colonial India, the scenery is spectacular.




In 1980 while living in Spain, Lynette, an American friend of mine, gave me a copy of “The Far Pavilions”, to read. Lynette thought because I was from India this book would be of interest to me. Little did she know this book would become one of my top ten novels on my bookshelf, recommended to all friends, especially to those who carry a love for India.

I know the ladies will enjoy this historic drama, interwoven with high romance, I know I did. I have read this book twice, plus endless viewing of the movie, mostly on lonely weekends when India creeps back into my thoughts replacing this loneliness with those happy memories of my youth and the1986 vacation in India with my Eric.





We leave Jaipur by car for Agra via Fatehpur Sikri city, 26 miles from Agra early tomorrow morning.

Hope to see you at Fatehpur Sikri, the sandstone city.

God bless
Clare