Jet-Set Jaipur by Devanshi Mody

The city that has been the jewel in the crown of the Rajput Empire has ever fascinated visitors. Not surprisingly, Jaipur has become the latest jet-set hot spot, what with international royals, celebs, socialites et al flying in for glitzy weddings, galas or weekends of Cartier Elephant Polo. Now a substantial number of firangis (foreigners), lured by lazy luxury, have stayed on; indeed, expatriates outnumber elephants in Jaipur nowadays.

Want to live like a maharaja? The Oberoi Rajvil?s revives the princely lifestyle of India’s legendary Rajput royals and fuses it with contemporary chic. Jaipur’s most exclusive hotel, rated the world’s 5th best, is refined elegance incarnate. The Clintons, Richard Gere, Naomi Campbell, royals, sultans and sheikhs, including the Al Sabas, adore this ultra lavish hotel, renowned for slick service.

The idyllic retreat with luxury villas and royal tents in a traditional fort-like setting sprawls over 32 acres of lush verdant gardens, flowering trees, water bodies, cascading fountains and boasts of a pool that looks like it walked out of a Bond film.

But if it is available, one simply MUST check into the Royal Villa. Reach this regal villa by crossing a small moat bridge. Enter its hallowed precincts through magnificent hand crafted doors, into a luxurious oasis cocooned within traditional Rajasthani mud-walled private gardens including a large intimate swimming pool, a romantic outdoor dining pavilion. Sumptuously appointed interiors boast block printed, hand embroidered fabrics, teak wood flooring, sunken marble bath, private sauna.

The Outer Courtyard presents an enrapturing setting in which to relish al fresco suppers. Evoking a mystical ambiance of a bygone era, the folkloric resonance of traditional Rajasthani music and dance reverberate amidst the columns and around the fort walls.

This hotel’s vast, verdant gardens abound with vibrantly flowered trees lining lush lawns. Balmy evenings are redolent with a uniquely Indian fragrance. Amidst this onslaught of the senses, stands serenely a 250-year-old historic Shiva Temple

The luxurious Oberoi Spa, housed in a 250-year-old restored Rajasthani Haveli or mansion, is a sanctuary offering a unique pampering experience. Therapy suites for couples are ideal for honeymooning newlyweds.

Jaipur is one of India’s most exotic cities. Visit the imposing Amer Fort, which whisks you into an age of chivalry and romance. Indeed, during the Raj, Maharajas entertained British dignitaries in Amer Fort’s Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors). Lamp-bearing dancers set aflame the mirrored walls and the British imagination, thus romanticising and initiating the concept of candlelight dining.

Want to dine a la Maharaja? Head directly to Suvarna Mahal, meaning Golden Palace, at the inimitably magnificent Rambagh Palace, imbued in history. Suvarna Mahal, effuses “Rajput valour, glory and grandeur.” The restaurant was the palace’s erstwhile grand ballroom with walls once adorned with exclusive ivory damask and the finest silks, whilst the high ceiling was embellished with replicas of post-Renaissance paintings duplicated by an Italian prisoner of. The Italian chandeliers and Alabaster marble lamps added to the serene beauty of the Suvarna Mahal.

When Rambagh opened its doors to host public guests, the main dining room’s flags and battle honours were replaced with massive mirrors and gilt trophies by brass figures. But today’s décor continues to exude the old world charm of Rajputana courtesy.

The refurbished Suvarna Mahal restaurant presents four palaces on a plate: royal recipes from Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Hydrabad, relished by royalty, celebs, Corporate World moguls, Heads of State, Business Tycoons including the Duke of York, Bollywood actors like Saif Ali Khan, Managing Director of Coke & HSBC, Cartier Owner - Mr Bernad Fornas. The uniquely styled menu allows you to mix and match specialities from each region.

But Microsoft vice-president William Poole and Economics Nobel Prize-winner Joseph Stiglitz splurged on Swanky Cinnamon’s exquisite contemporised Indian cuisine and glitzy Amber Bar concoctions. Cinnamon has indeed become the place to see and be seen in Jaipur. Walk up a mini staircase upon which purple rain drizzles in the form of glitzy lights reflected in a splendid silver sun and enter the plush purple and silver setting enlivened by ornate mirrors, captivating contemporary art and a stunning, sunken private dining area. Who would have guessed that this swish restaurant is housed in one of Jaipur’s oldest palaces, the Jai Mahal Palace? The dancing Hindu God Ganesh presides over the open kitchen, inspiring the master chef’s adventurous creations. The chef’s eloquence translates into poetry on the plate as you succumb to gorgeous innovations, stylishly presented. After a delightful supper, lounge around the Amber Bar downstairs until 2.00 am.

The majestic lawns of royal Rambagh Palace and Jai Mahal Palces were the venues of the recently inaugurated Cartier Jaipur Elephant Polo Tournament. Jaipur’s Queen Mother Gayatri Devi graced the event, a write royal affair, where Maharanis mingled with internationally renowned writers. These writers, including India’s celebrated Booker-Prize winners Salman Rushdie, Arundhatti Roy and Kiran Desai returned for the fabulous Jaipur Literary Festival.

The French aristocracy, international elite and American Vogue flew in for three decadent days surrounding Jaipur-based French Princess Marie-Hélène de Taillac’s magical hilltop Jaigardh Fort New Year’s Eve extravaganza.

The festivities began with a cocktail at the Princess’s groundbreaking new boutique, sizzling Hot Pink, which showcases Liz Hurley, Jemima Khan and Goldie Horn’s favourite Indian designer labels like Manish Arora, Tarun Tahiliani and Rohit Bal (who designed Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar’s wedding outfits).

The following day was the New Year’s Eve gala, which will be long remembered. Pink elephants greeted you at the regal arch of the ancient fort. A long pathway strewn with rose petals and dotted with flaming torches led you onto the terraced gardens of the fort where the spectacular party was held. Guests were bewitched by Rajastani folk dancers and Sanskrit hymns recited at the countdown to midnight. French singer Pascal de Bollywood provided further entertainment with impeccably rendered Bollywood numbers, whilst DJ-ing by Countess Béatrice de Taillac, who designs music for Paris’s famous Crillon Hotel, kept guests dancing until sunrise.

Hardly had one emerged from the New Year Eve party, that one was required to be back for a lavish lunch at the Deya Amer. Needless to say, lunch went on until 9.00 pm.

When in Jaipur, make sure you have a day to shop at the handicraft, antique and clothes boutique and to pick up some gems that Jaipur is famed for. Mick Jagger and Nicole Kidman love Gem Palace. But little-known Gem Plaza supply Tiffany and Bulagari offer a £1 million, 52 carat blue sapphire, bigger than Princess Diana’s engagement ring stone.

Jaipur has also become the place for film and fashion shoots. Abhishek Baccan, the rising prince of Bollywood, is currently shooting “Sunglasses” there, whilst Bollywood Queen Aishwarya Rai modelled at Jaipur’s Le Meridien, where she fell in love with Abhishek Bachchan and the hotel’s new luxury villas with jacuzzis in glass-encased bathrooms. Rumour has it that Jaipur’s City Palace, official residence of the Maharaja, a family friend of the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, will host the Raj Mata of all Bollywood weddings, for which 5000 VIP guests will be flown in by chartered private chopper, a la jet set.