Now Open: Raffles Jaipur, the brand’s second resort in India

Accor’s luxury hospitality brand Raffles has opened its second resort in India – Raffles Jaipur. The Indian state of Rajasthan is now home to two Raffles in the country – the famous Raffles Udaipur and now Raffles Jaipur. Let’s get into the details and the pricing of this ultra-luxurious resort.

Location

Raffles Jaipur is the brand’s first resort in the famous Golden Triangle route of India which covers three cities – New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The hotel is located in the Kukas area of Jaipur, some 20 kilometres outside the city and just beside the Fairmont Jaipur, Accor’s another premium brand.

Jaipur International Airport is 28 kilometres or a 1-hour drive away while Jaipur Railway Station is 20 kilometres or a 45-minute drive away.

Interiors

According to the hotel group, Raffles Jaipur is a “graceful palace hideaway of authentic beauty and contemporary charm”. The palace is carved in pure white marble. The brand says that it is a “modern-day recreation of a zenana, or women’s quarters within a palace of the Mughal Empire and has been meticulously fashioned by handpicked local master artisans, bringing you to the heart of Rajasthan’s shining culture”.

Accommodations

All of the 50 rooms and suites reflect the rich heritage of Rajasthan and have been handcrafted by skilled artisans, preserving age-old traditions passed down through generations. Every room is unique in both design and decor, interweaving authentic cultural references and intricate details gracing every corner, from the painted corniced ceilings and elaborate golden murals to the bone-inlay wooden furniture, locally sourced objects and exquisite carpets woven in Jaipur. A spacious balcony extends the living space outdoors, and most rooms offer breathtaking views of the Aravalli Hills.

The base rooms – the Landmark rooms – start at a generous 70 square meters or 753 square feet.

The Junior Suite features a daybed and a private tub while the Signature Suite has a separate living room that is adorned with fine Mughal furnishings. Other suites include “Raffles Suite with Plunge Pool”, “Princess Suite with Pool” and the “Maharani Royal Suite with Pool”.

The biggest is the “Rajmata Two-Bedroom Presidential Suite with Pool” measuring 239 square meters or 2572 square feet.

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Dining

Arkaa is inspired by the plant-based culinary tradition of erstwhile ladies’ palace quarters (zenanas). The restaurant “presents a progressive ethno-botanical dining experience in a sparkling setting” and celebrates the essence of North West Frontier Region. It also has an extensive wine list, featuring natural and organic options among the country’s finest.

Raffles’ signature Writers Bar is “a hub of mixology excellence and literary treasures, reinterpreted through a Rajasthani lens”. Guests can taste the signatures – spicy Mumbai Mule or Jaipur Sling, the hotel’s twist on the famous Singapore Sling of Raffles Singapore – along with small plates and single-bite canapés that celebrates Raffles’ Singaporean heritage and India’s diverse culinary flavours. There’s also a wine-cellar accessible via a cinematic winding staircase.

Safir Atrium Tea & Champagne Lounge presents tea-infused sweet and savoury delights, such as their black tea smoked salmon tart and Earl Grey moist cake, paired with an extensive selection of loose-leaf teas, champagne and tea-based whisky cocktails inspired by Scottish explorer Major Robert Bruce – the discoverer of India’s first native tea variety. Guests can find “trolleys laden with jewel-like finger foods” and the tableside slicing of Atrium Cake – a ceremonial highlight of the resort.

Sehara is the resort’s rooftop restaurant and bar serving “Mediterranean-inspired dishes, featuring Italian specialities crafted with fresh, colourful produce, responsibly sourced meat, and sustainably caught seafood from the Indian Ocean”.

Wellness and Facilities

The signature Raffles Spa combines “traditional and innovative treatments for a holistic and deeply replenishing wellbeing experience, complemented by essential fitness accoutrements and hot and cold mineral pools”. Also, experienced healers offer masterclasses and one-to-one sessions in yoga and meditation. A fitness centre is also present at the resort along with an infinity rooftop pool and bar.

The resort also offers guided hikes at dawn “to discover little-known scenic viewpoints, where royal visitors would once have travelled guided only by the sun and the stars”.

Pricing

For a stay on 15th July 2024, the Landmark room starts at INR 47200 (USD 565.45) including breakfast and all taxes while it is INR 54280 (USD 650.27)including half board and all taxes.

The Junior Suite starts at INR56640 (USD 678.84)and INR63720 (USD 763.36)for breakfast and half board respectively (including all taxes).

The presidential suite starts at INR519200 (USD 6219.97) and INR526280 (USD 6304.79)for breakfast and half board respectively (including all taxes). Do note that July is considered an off-season in Rajasthan so the prices in Winter season (October-February/March) are much higher. For comparison, rates for a night on 15th November 2024 for the base Landmark rooms start at INR118000 (USD 1413.63) including breakfast and taxes.

*Conversion rates based on the INR-USD exchange rate of INR 1= USD 0.012 approx

Featured image by Accor

All the other images by Raffles

What do you think of Raffles Jaipur? Let me know in the comments section below.

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