Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur, 21, has been making headlines for a while now. He walked the runway for Dolce & Gabanna as part of the latter’s all-star lineup in Milan, was featured on the cover of GQ Spain , and was the youngest-ever member of the Indian polo team, at just 18. The latest on this suave royal’s list is his move to rent out the Gudliya Suite in his home, the 300-year-old City Palace, on Airbnb. The proceeds from the venture will go towards supporting the rural women's empowerment initiatives of the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation (named after his mother).
Big on preserving Indian heritage, the royal is not new to the hospitality industry — he has been involved in promoting several palaces turned into hotels in Jaipur, like the Sujan Rajmahal Palace. In fact, in an earlier interview with The Hindu , Singh, who is the first royal host on the platform, had stressed on the link between heritage and tourism. “It (heritage) could generate so much tourism. One shouldn’t be ashamed of it (tourism) or resent it. It’s something we need to preserve and celebrate,” he had said.
What does the Gudliya suite come with? Built in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, it is located in the private sections of the palace, and has a lounge, kitchen, bathroom and an indoor swimming pool of its own. The suite will be available for stays starting November 23, at an inaugural offer of approximately ₹71,445.50 per night (and Airbnb paying the difference as a contribution to the foundation). The original tariff of ₹5,72,280 (approximately) per night begins with the new year (January 1, 2020). Details: airbnb.com/CityPalaceJaipur
Airbnb’s first royal host — Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur
The City Palace, Jaipur
The insides of the palace
The insides of the palace
The Gudliya suite, City Palace, Jaipur
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