Raghavendra Rathore in conversation with Riaan Jacob George.
At the stately Ajit Bhawan heritage hotel in Jodhpur, there is a thin white picket fence that discreetly cordons off the hotel’s public areas from the private residence of its owner, Raghavendra Rathore. I catch up with Rathore, descendant of the Rathore family of Jodhpur, one balmy evening in Jodhpur and he leads me across the aforementioned picket fence, into his residence. The “reception room” is a museum in itself, a grandiose space characterised by royal portraits, antiques, objets d’art and an elaborate crystal bar. It is a repository of a glorious bygone era, but restored and coddled to perfection—a veritable recreation of an epoch. This salon, Rathore says, is off-limits to Ajit Bhawan’s guests, but can be accessed by a few select guests on request. As gracious, liveried staff wait on us hand and foot, serving up hors d’oeuvres and wine in exquisite glassware, Rathore recounts about life as a royal in modern India, his initiatives as a luxury entrepreneur, his efforts as a hotelier and, of course, his passion for the ubiquitous bandhgala; he has been instrumental in its rise to popularity. In his own words, then...
“The city of Jodhpur is an enigma for first-time travellers and a delightful oasis for ones returning to soak in its rich culture and fascinating sights and sounds. The city has earned accolades for being a haven for customisation and manufacturing of specialised lifestyle products. Wooden and stone carved products are shipped in mammoth numbers to various corners of the world.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Volume 4 Issue 3 من Eat Stay Love.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Volume 4 Issue 3 من Eat Stay Love.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
the guide
hostelries to bed in and where to eat in cusco, lima and moray.
William Dalrymple's Rajasthan
The celebrated writer and historian on his love affair with the state known for its vibrant colours, royal splendour and cultural riches.
Jodhpur's Enigmatic Maharaj
Raghavendra Rathore in conversation with Riaan Jacob George.
The Ambassadress Of Indian Block Prints
Les Indiennes, a quaint store in Hudson’s shopping district, reworks India’s centuries-old legacy of handmade Kalamkari for a global consumer.
The Secret Islands Of Africa
ESL falls off the map to explore the unbelievably wild and breathtakingly gorgeous islands of the African continent.
Slovenia's Wine Revolution
Overshadowed by the countries that surround it, Slovenia—known more as Melania Trump’s country of origin—is also a wine lover’s sacred paradise.
Pune Sibling Revelry
Mumbai may be the cooler cousin, but Pune is fast catching up on the ‘cool’ factor in its culinary offerings.
a scientist in the kitchen
the next time you are in london, drop in at the fat duck and order the sound of the sea. accompanying your seafood dish is an earphone to hear sounds of seagulls cawing and waves lapping. at dinner by heston, melbourne, the experience includes walking through a tunnel that smells of a bespoke fragrance. that’s how whimsical chef blumenthal’s dining experiences are.
hong kong koko
the tony bar and restaurant offers a skillful spin on the izakayas, or the informal japanese gastropubs.
Katy Perry
I have milti-personality disorder when it comes to my fashion choices.