First came the story, then came the hotel. Raffles Jaipur is the second Raffles to open in India: The first was the kingly Raffles Udaipur, a massive modern-day palace. It’s a place where blowout Indian weddings are the norm — a place designed to dazzle. At less than half the size, Raffles Jaipur was dreamed up as its foil; a low-key alternative, built like the private quarters of the maharani instead of the bombastic majesty required for the maharaja.
Its allures are removed from prying eyes with lace-like jali windows and a discreet tent-like entrance. “It’s still a palace, but it’s a palace reimagined,” says general manager Binny Sebastian. “This has its own charm, and we’re not comparing ourselves to anyone.”
Raffles Jaipur might not be explicitly showing off — but it impresses nonetheless.
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Stay
Raffles Jaipur is set about 12 miles from the center of the so-called Pink City, planting it firmly in the outskirts of town. This out-of-the-way location doesn’t translate into extra space, though; the 50-room hotel is wedged between other international big-name hotels. However, once you’re inside, it’s easy to feel worlds away and set apart.
High-ceilinged rooms — prettily dressed in sherbet shades with lantern-lit bathrooms scented with heady Madhumalti blooms — come with private pools or alfresco stone tubs on the terrace. Including the rooftop pool, there are 17 temperature-controlled pools, which is remarkable for a city hotel.
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All rooms also come with Raffles’ signature butler service. Dressed elegantly in powder-pink sherwani suits, these gracious courtiers are quick to magic up spoiling treats, like hot baths infused with milk, honey and neem leaves to “provide gentle care and relaxation” (in one butler’s words).
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Dine
Gilded, laced with petals or scented in saffron, Raffles Jaipur is all about over-the-top fare. It starts in the gold-lit enclosed atrium Safir in the hotel’s heart, serving all-day treats and afternoon tea. The highlight is the precisely brewed teas from London Tea Exchange. (Try the Rajmata Jewel, made from one of the rarest blossoms in the world, the so-called royal Persian pomegranate.)
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Strung with amber-glass chandeliers, the intimate, all-day Arkaa dishes out North Indian fare like pasliya, fall-off-the-bone lamb ribs double cooked in the ‘old Jaipur style,’ and shahi tukra, a milk-soaked cake dating back to the Mughal era and infused here with Pushkar roses.
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On the rooftop sits the poolside Sehara with Mediterranean antipasti and Neapolitan-style pizzas. And, of course, there’s the robin-egg-blue, hand-decorated Writers Bar, the go-to spot for a Jaipur Sling, a twist on the Singapore Sling made with Tanqueray No 10, orange liqueur, pineapple and a local herbal heritage concoction called Chandr Haas. “Last month we sold more than 400 Slings,” says Sebastian, making it already the city’s must-try tipple.
Relax
The spa and gym are on the lower ground floor at Raffles Jaipur. Decorated with Rajasthani block print curtains and dim lighting, the spa uses Ayurvedic-based Subtle Energies products and is made up of one couples’ room plus three additional rooms — all with private shower and steam rooms (additional rooms are slated to open soon). There’s also a Turkish hammam with black and white heated marble and a thermal pool for spa guests only.
Curiously but elegantly decked out with books, the gym is open 24 hours, and there is free morning yoga, HIIT or pilates classes. Evening classes are also available at an additional charge.
Explore
Located an hour’s flight or a four-hour drive from Delhi (depending on traffic), Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan state, is the place for Raj-era extravagance. Don’t miss the Amber Fort (stop for lunch at the ornate restaurant, circa 1135 AD); the colonnaded City Palace complex; and the city’s most Instagrammed site, the honeycomb-like palace, Hawa Mahal.
Two chic stops: check out one of the city’s coolest concept shops, The Palace Atelier, and pay a visit to the Rajasthan Polo Club with its newly dressed gold-and-green interiors.
Landmark Rooms from $636 per night. Contact: reservations.jaipur@raffles.com, +91 1426 355 555, raffles.com
