Rambagh Palace

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The Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan a former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur and is now a luxury hotel.

It is nicknamed the "Jewel of Jaipur" and is located 5 miles outside of the walls of the city of Jaipur on Bhawani Singh Road.

The first known building on the site was a garden house built in 1835 for the wet nurse of prince Ram Singh II.[1] In 1887 during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh it was converted into a modest royal hunting lodge as at the time it was located in the midst of a thick forest.

In the early 20th century it was expanded into a palace to the designs of Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. In 1925 [2] Maharajah Sawai Man Singh II made Rambagh his principal residence and added a number of royal suites in 1931[3].

After India became independent and the princely states united, the Palace became the Government House. By 1950s, the royal family was finding that the upkeep of the palace and its 47 acres of gardens was becoming too costly to maintain. They therefore decided in 1957[4] to convert it into a luxury hotel to make it pay its way, which at the time provoked critcism from other Rajput royal families.[5]

In 1972, it fell under ownership of the Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, which still manages it today.

In 2002 a major refurbishment took place during which a new entrance gateway, reception hall and Chandni Chowk garden were created.[6]

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[edit] Lilypool

Previously part of the grounds of Rambagh Palace and now a adjacent but separate property is a private palace called Lilypool. This European style building with some Rajput features was created in the 1930s. In 1969 it was refurbished with the intention that it become the private home of the royal family. After the death of her husband Sawai Man Singh II, Maharani Gayatri Devi lived here from 1978 onwards. [7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Crump, Page 144.
  2. ^ Michell, page 42
  3. ^ Crites, page 41
  4. ^ Crites, page 41
  5. ^ Crites, page 41
  6. ^ Crites, page 44.
  7. ^ Michell, page 48.


[edit] Literature

  • Crump, Vivien; Toh, Irene [1996]. Rajasthan (hardback), London: Everyman Guides, 400 pages. ISBN 1-85715-887-3. 
  • Crites, Mitchell Shelby; Nanji, Ameeta [2007]. India Sublime – Princely Palace Hotels of Rajasthan (hardback), New York: Rizzoli, 272 pages. ISBN-13 978-0-8478-2979-9. 
  • Badhwar, Inderjit; Leong, Susan. India Chic. Singapore: Bolding Books, 240. ISBN 981-4155-57-8. 
  • Michell, George, Martinelli, Antonio [2005]. The Palaces of Rajasthan. London: Frances Lincoln, 271 pages. ISBN 978-0711225053. 
  • William Warren, Jill Gocher [2007]. Asia's Legendary Hotels: The Romance of Travel (hardback), Singapore: Periplus Editions. ISBN 978-0-7946-0174-4. 


[edit] External links