Exclusive Is The New Reclusive

Inside tales from a weekend spent in the storied confines of Jaipur’s City Palace, in what is arguably one of India’s most exclusive ‘royal’ experiences.

- Riaan Jacob Georg

From where I stand, I get a 360-degree panoramic view of Jaipur: the temple bells of the nearby Govind Dev Ji rising into the air, the majestic Nahargarh Fort looming in the distance, and the historic ‘pink’ centre of Jaipur. Here, in the shadow of the Mukut Mandir, on the uppermost pavilion of Jaipur’s City Palace, I enjoy sunset by the massive flagpole where the official standard of the Maharajas of Jaipur flies proudly and a smaller ‘one quarter’ flag hoisted at the same pole, to indicate that the Maharaja is currently in residence at the palace. That I have access to this panoramic terrace, otherwise off-limits to anyone other than the family that resides in this palace, is in itself an overwhelming experience.

Here, the evening is given over to the famous blue room—Chhavi Niwas—a transformed private dining room, with liveried butlers and a duo of palace musicians to set the ambience. While the famed blue and white room has been plastered all over Instagram, but to have it transformed as a bespoke dining experience alters the real in reality. Hard to put a price tag on this, you would think, but apparently not. A curated dinner in the Chhavi Niwas—as well as access to the aforementioned terrace—is just one of the many perks of spending the weekend as a guest of the royal household of Jaipur. But this comes at a rather hefty price tag, justifiably, of course!

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