Raffles Hotels & Resorts, the Singapore-founded luxury hotel brand, is bringing its signature style (and Sling cocktail) to India’s famed Pink City, with the opening of Raffles Jaipur. Located just a short drive from the Rajasthani capital, Raffles Jaipur is set within what is described as a “modern-day re-creation of a palace”, with its design and amenities inviting guests to experience life like Jaipur’s royalty.
Hand-carved from pure white marble, Raffles Jaipur is a showcase of the finest Rajasthani craftsmanship, hoping to inspire visitors to connect with the local culture at every corner. There are 50 hand-crafted rooms and suites – each of which has access to a private balcony and a plunge pool – Raffles Jaipur is also home to a signature specialty restaurant, bar and lounge, a rooftop pool and a huge wellness center, which measures in at more than 6,600 sq-ft.
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“We are incredibly excited to welcome guests to Raffles Jaipur, the brand’s second property in India,” said Raffles Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Omer Acar. “At Raffles, we look for world-renowned destinations rich with history, beauty, and culture, which is what led us to grow our presence in Rajasthan – whose ancient heritage of forts and palaces continues to inspire and capture the imagination of international travelers.”
Each design element and detail within the reimagined palace of Raffles Jaipur has been handcrafted by skilled artisans, blending age-old traditions and techniques of Mughal and Rajputana architecture. Upon entry into Raffles Jaipur’s white marble palace, the opulent Mughal furnishing and patterned marble floors that adorn the spacious grand hall, are reminiscent of the design of women’s quarters of the Mughal court.
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Elsewhere in the hotel, a Shikar-style tent evokes memories of Royal Mughal expeditions, and the hand-carved sandstone columns in the hotel’s courtyard, each carved from different eras of Rajasthani architecture, give a peek into the glorious past. The same ornate style and attention to detail continue into each of the 50 unique guest rooms and suites, decorated with intricate handpainted and corniced ceilings, locally sourced artifacts and carpets woven in Jaipur.
Raffles Jaipur’s culinary offerings also fall in line with this thinking, where signature restaurant Arkaa will serve primarily plant-based dishes from the North-Indian culinary tradition of the Zenana, the women’s quarters of the Mughal court. To wash that down, guests can head to either the hotel’s rooftop bar Sehara, which also served Mediterranean-inspired plates, or the Writers Bar to sample the Jaipur Sling, the localized take of the famed Singapore Sling created at Raffles in 1915. For this interpretation, the Jaipur Sling features orange liqueur, local herbs, pineapple juice, bitters and Indian dry gin.
“Every element of Raffles Jaipur has been thoughtfully considered, from the architecture and design to the culinary offerings and wellness experiences,” added Raffles Jaipur’s general manager, Binny Sebastian. “We hope to inspire our guests to immerse themselves in the local Rajasthani culture while inviting locals to experience their home through a lens that is distinct to Raffles.”
A perfect example of this is the brand’s renowned butler service, where in addition to being on hand to meet guests’ every need, the butlers at Raffles Jaipur are trained to provide healing rituals traditional to Rajasthani culture. This means Raffles Jaipur is the only hotel where guests can receive specially crafted plant-based ointments, botanically infused baths and health elixirs prepared from regional spices.
As the brand’s second location in India, Raffles Jaipur is located just an hour’s flight away from the first outpost in the country, Raffles Udaipur, which opened in 2021 – making Raffles Hotels & Resorts the perfect landing pad to explore more of India’s so-called Golden Triangle, Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.
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