Live life king size at $8K: Padmanabh Singh opens up a suite at Jaipur's City Palace to guests, becomes Airbnb's first royal host
You can now check into a real-life palace.
By ET Online | Updated:
Agencies
The move makes the 21-year-old Padmanabh Singh the first royal host on the platform.
Always dreamt of living like royalty? Your dream can now come true at Jaipur's 300-year-old City Palace, thanks to Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh and Airbnb.
The young, polo-playing royal has tied up with the travel platform to open the Gudliya Suite at his home to travellers.
The move, that makes the 21-year-old the first royal host on the platform, will support empowerment initiatives for rural women by the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation.
Ornate chambers, large reception halls, crystal chandeliers, gilded wall decorations, intricate carvings define the interiors of the palace. Talking about the initiative, Padmanabh Singh said in a statement, “My own travels with Airbnb have made me feel very welcome in new cities and cultures, and I am happy that the experience of quintessential Indian hospitality will be shared with others.”
The luxurious Gudliya Suite, located within one of the private sections of the royal palace, includes its own lounge, kitchen, and private, indoor swimming pool.
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The Gudiya suite can be booked from November 23. Guests who book a stay at the palace, will be attended to by a private butler, and get a chance to indulge in specially-curated experiences that including shopping tours, guided walks through local museums among other excursions. They will also get to dine at the palace's terrace and dig into authentic Rajasthani meals, and enjoy an afternoon tea in the lush gardens.
The City Palace, built in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II - the founder of the city of Jaipur, has previously hosted dignitaries like Jackie Kennedy, Bill Clinton and Prince Charles among others. Ornate chambers, large reception halls, crystal chandeliers, gilded wall decorations, intricate carvings define the interiors of the palace, that also houses a museum in addition to the royal residence. The City Palace was built in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II - the founder of the city of Jaipur. The Gudiya suite can be booked from November 23, 2019.
A night's stay will cost guests $8,000, with proceeds from each booking going to the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation. However, as a special inaugural offer, the suite can be booked at $1,000 per night, with Airbnb paying the balance amount for each booking as a contribution to the foundation. The special offer is valid till the end of this year.
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