Live Like A Royal In Rajasthan

Experience grandeur and warm Rajasthani hospitality in the beautifully restored 475-year-old Samode Palace.

- Priyanka C. Agarwal 

We arrive at the hilltop palace at sunset, after driving through cobbled streets and the rustic village of Samode in Rajasthan. This northern Indian state was once home to the country’s royal rulers, and Samode Palace’s fort-like facade of intricate arches, symmetrical windows, pillared turrets and the grand red-carpeted staircase would have left anyone awestruck.

Staffin traditional garb warmly welcome us with flower garlands, and we are serenaded by an acoustic folk singer whose voice echoes beautifully offthe old walls. Although only an hour away from bustling Jaipur city, the air here is unpolluted and the surroundings serene.

Samode Palace is owned by the descendants of the original royal family who still maintain a wing on the premises. Their loyal retinue of staff, many of whose forefathers worked at the palace too, run the show. Here, regal opulence is married with the warmth of personalised service.

On the way to our room, we pass a majestic doorway, walls inlaid with marble, rich tapestries, and a courtyard with brightly coloured bougainvillea. The meticulous restoration of this palace has been carried out by skilled local craftsmen; we spot one of them retouching the murals in an opulent mezzanine sitting room. The space is decked out with jewelled armchairs and frescoed walls in shades of purple and blue. And elevators, air-conditioners, state-of-the-art kitchens, as well as all the amenities of a luxury hotel have been added without marring the grandeur of the original Indo-Islamic architecture.