Rambagh Palace, Jaipur

Had an exceptional Hi-Tea experience with outstanding service and warm hospitality. The entire team — PrameBhati, Devyansh, Hardik, Vikram, Ms. Jemina, and Danish — were incredibly courteous, attentive, and professional throughout our visit. Every little detail was taken care of, and the team went above and beyond to ensure we had a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Their genuine warmth, prompt service, and attention to detail truly stood out. A special appreciation to the entire team for making our Hi-Tea experience so pleasant and memorable. Excellent hospitality and a wonderful reflection of true five-star service. Highly recommended!

The restaurant is beautiful and take you back in time. The food, however, could be better for the money you pay.

I've stayed in some pretty spectacular hotels during my travels, but **Rambagh Palace** in Jaipur is something else entirely. I've never actually stayed in a real palace before, so when the opportunity came along to spend a night here in April 2026, I couldn't resist. We booked a **Palace Room with Garden View** — although, having discovered just how much there is to do here, my biggest regret is that we only stayed for one night! I think I may have found my excuse to go back. Welcome to the Palace The royal treatment started before we'd even reached reception. We were greeted by a gentleman carrying a traditional sunshade over us while two women dressed in beautiful sarees showered us with rose petals. Now, I'm not going to pretend that happens every time I check into a hotel. It was **very impressive**. And it set the tone perfectly for what followed. A Palace With a History Rambagh Palace dates back to **1835**, when it was originally built on a much more modest scale for the queen's favourite handmaiden. It subsequently became a royal guesthouse and hunting lodge before eventually becoming the residence of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and Maharani Gayatri Devi. Today, the palace is part of the Taj Hotels collection and has been transformed into a luxury hotel while retaining much of its royal character. The property sprawls across **47 acres**, with elaborate gardens, marble detailing, Mughal-inspired architecture and, as I discovered, an extraordinary number of peacocks. And when I say palace, I really mean palace. Our Room Our Palace Room was large, comfortable and decorated in a grand colonial style that felt entirely appropriate for the setting. There were some wonderfully quirky touches too, including some rather interesting bedside light switches — the sort of thing you find yourself playing with just because they're different! The bathroom was equally unusual, with a large internal window allowing you to see into the bedroom. I'm sure there are couples who absolutely love this sort of thing. There are window shutters for those who prefer a bit more privacy in the bath! Peacocks, Vintage Cars & More This is where I really wish we'd stayed longer. The hotel has an impressive range of activities and experiences, and I simply didn't realise quite how much there was to do before we arrived. The grounds are enormous and are home to **hundreds of peacocks**, which you can even arrange to feed. Yes — you can actually wander around a former royal palace feeding peacocks. That's not a sentence you get to say every day. We took advantage of the complimentary electric carriage ride around the grounds — essentially a horse-and-carriage experience without the horse — as well as a **free vintage car ride**. There was also a complimentary pottery-making class that we didn't have time to try, which is now firmly on my list for the return visit. And that's the problem with staying for just one night: **there simply isn't enough time to play royalty properly.** An Evening of Indian Tradition We spent some time enjoying drinks on the enormous verandah overlooking the gardens, where we watched the evening **lamp-lighting ceremony** and the creation of a beautiful flower-petal rangoli. Later in the evening, live musicians performed outside, and there was even complimentary **mehndi**, which my girlfriend took advantage of and had applied to her hands. It's these experiences that make Rambagh Palace feel much more than simply an expensive hotel. You're not just sleeping somewhere luxurious — you're being given an opportunity to experience a little piece of Rajasthan's royal heritage. Dinner Fit for a Maharaja Dinner in the hotel's Indian restaurant was another highlight. And when I say **opulent**, I'm struggling to find a better word. The dining room itself was spectacular. We happened to be the only guests when we arrived, which made the whole experience feel almost absurdly exclusive. For a brief moment, we genuinely felt like royalty. There was also a musician playing bowls of water rather like a xylophone, and he invited me to have a go. I'm pleased to report that I didn't completely destroy the performance. The food was excellent, the service was outstanding and the surroundings were simply unforgettable. Breakfast With a Musical Accompaniment Even breakfast felt suitably regal. We were greeted by a musician playing an Indian flute, creating a wonderfully tranquil atmosphere first thing in the morning. The food was excellent too, with a great mixture of Indian and Western choices. I enjoyed having a bit of both — because when you're staying somewhere like this, choosing between Indian and Western breakfast feels like an unnecessary problem to have! Time to cool off! There are also TWO swimming pools! One huge indoor pool (which was totally empty but also very cold!) There was a smaller outdoor pool and jacuzzi which was lovely and warm and we again had the whole pool to ourselves (other than the odd peacock walking past!) Is It Really One of the World's Best Hotels? This is something I was particularly curious about because I'd heard Rambagh Palace described as **the best hotel in the world**. Having checked the awards, I'd be slightly more careful with that claim. Rambagh Palace has an impressive collection of accolades. It has won **India's Leading Hotel**, **India's Leading Luxury Hotel**, and **Rajasthan's Leading Heritage Hotel**, including the latter in 2023 and again in 2025 at the World Travel Awards. So while I can't verify that it has officially been named *the world's best hotel*, it certainly has an award cabinet that would make most hotels jealous. And having stayed there, I can understand why. Would I Stay Again? Absolutely. In fact, the only thing I'd change about my stay would be the length. **One night simply wasn't enough.** Between the palace itself, the enormous grounds, the peacocks, vintage cars, cultural experiences, restaurants, live music and the sheer sense of history surrounding you, Rambagh Palace is a hotel where you really need time to slow down and enjoy it. It isn't cheap — but for me, this is one of those occasions where the experience genuinely justifies the price. You're not simply booking a luxury hotel room. You're booking **a night in a palace**. And that's rather difficult to beat. **Verdict: A genuinely regal experience in one of India's most extraordinary palace hotels. Come for the luxury, stay for the peacocks, vintage cars, music, food and the feeling that you've temporarily become Maharaja for the night.**

Service was impeccable. The staff was extremely courteous, attentive without being intrusive. They made sure everything was comfortable and on time, despite a busy wedding season. Heartfelt Thanks to Mr. Prem Singh Bhati Ji & Sourabh Ji A special mention to Mr. Prem Singh Bhati Ji and Sourabh Ji at Rambagh Palace Despite the palace being fully booked due to a wedding event, they personally took care of our table at The Rajput Room and ensured everything was perfect — from seating to service.

Very pleasant experience. Loved the royal treatment as usual. Special mention to Mr. Manish Sharma, for enhancing my pool and fitness experience with a lovely cup of detox tea after my swim. And special mention to Mr. Nagendra Singh for the lovely housekeeping services. Will visit again for sure.