Open your eyes in the morning and you realise you are in a place which looks no less than a palace and you feel no less than a princess? Sounds like a dream right? Well, sometimes dreams do come true. There are times when I truly cherish the perks of being a travel & lifestyle blogger. And being invited to stay at the beautiful and luxurious places like Fairmont Hotel, Jaipur was one such time i counted myself among the privileged ones! Who would not want to have a taste of royalty for two nights? I headed off in excitement and was eager to see what’s in store.
A Grand Welcome
I was greeted by the Five Senses Welcome which is a small performance by the traditional Rajasthani folk singers and dancers, a surprise shower of rose petals and a cool drink. Best welcome ever! Someone actually performed for me and I loved the drum beats and the song – “Kesariya…balam aayo…padharon mhare des” I kept humming the hook line as that’s all I knew. I finished my welcome drink and checked into my Fairmont Gold room. Barely containing my excitement I entered the room and the first thing I fell in love with was the romantic four poster bed. The curtains and upholstery, the furniture, the decor and the small personalised welcome note all felt grand yet warmly hospitable. Out of sheer habit I checked the bathroom and my first thought was…which one do I love more – the bed or the beautiful bathtub? I arrived late and hence missed my breakfast, so quickly dressed, grabbed a snack and left to take a tour of the hotel.
The Interior
As I walked, I looked around the hotel and was amazed on how beautiful it was. A huge door that’s more then 350 years old takes opens into a Mughal inspired geometrical garden. The hotel had the look of a fort from outside and inside it was a palace. The carvings on the walls tell us about the Mughals and the Rajputs and the grand interiors were a mix of both traditional and modern architectural designs. The Rang Mahal which is kind of an art and entertainment center near the entrance lobby was decorated with hand made paintings with natural colours extracted from fruits and vegetables. The ceiling had 64 dance poses carved on it depicting the cultural heritage of our country. I was just awestruck by every detail and story behind each section of the hotel reflecting the skills of the artisans and their hardwork.
A Royal Lunch And A Live Performance
Feeling ravenous by now, I decided to make it on time for lunch. The hotel has a number of restaurants serving from the royal Rajasthani cuisines to Mediterranean inspired delicacies. I tried the traditional Rajasthani Thali which consisted of the typical flavours of the state like the Gatte ki Sabzi, Marwaari Aloo Pyaaz ki Sabzi, Rajasthani Daal Bati Choorma, Laal Maas, Baajre ki Roti etc. to name a few. After relishing all these, I had to take a stroll to digest my lunch and also leisurely found myself indulging the shutterbug in me and clicked a few pictures of the beautiful spaces around me. The pool at The Fairmont Jaipur is amongst its great attractions. I happily gave into its allure and spent the rest of the afternoon in the cool blue water enjoying the stunning view of the hotel. It was evening by then and the sunset view from the rooftop is indescribably beautiful . A lovely bonfire was arranged outside after dark and the evening was brightened up by another lively performance by the folk artists. I too tried a few steps along with the Kalbeliya dancers trying to learn their form. A specially curated traditional dinner was arranged which again was a lavish affair. I was too tired by then and the bed in my room was still waiting for me to sink into it dreaming of palaces and princes!
The Next Morning – Breakfast | Lifestyle Shoot
I woke up early and hit the gym not just to check it out but also out of guilt of indulging in the delectable cuisine of the night before and knowing there is more to come! Post workout, a quick shower and it was time for breakfast. A wholesome breakfast of everything I love – cereals, toasts, eggs, fruits..an excellent start to the day.
I decided to cover the rest of the hotel and also carry on with my lifestyle shoot. Have shared some really nice shots that I got with wonderful backdrops of the hotel view. Every corner of the hotel looked so elegant and magnificent that it takes you back to that royal era that we have read in books or have seen in movies.
And now for some shopping. I was ready to splurge on some traditional wear and accessories . It is a one stop solution for people who stay there as you have stores for clothes, jewellery , paintings and other artefacts. If you are on a holiday, a visit to the spa is a must. What interested me in Ruhab, the spa is its extraordinary treatments as per zodiac signs which I kept it in my list for my next visit as I had some other things to be covered. The next day I had an early morning flight and hence had an early dinner and went to sleep.
Au revoir
Early morning, I reluctantly got ready for my flight, had a quick breakfast and checked out of the hotel. Obviously with a heavy heart as I couldnt stop thinking about what an amazing experience it was. My two days at The Fairmont Jaipur was like a Royal fantasy come true and a memory to be cherished and I really hope to visit it again. Soon!
Nicole Nilakshi 