It was constructed by Sawai Man Singh, who was famously Westernised, to serve as a sort of Rajput Downton Abbey. When Sawai Man Singh lived there, you had to wear white tie and tails for dinner. The glamour of the Jaipur family survived his death largely because Gayatri Devi (Ayesha) remained a well-known figure in global jet set circles and maintained a residence in England. I was going to offer the lady a ride anyway but when I got closer, I realized to my surprise, that it was Gayatri Devi. In fact, India’s princely tradition works best as a fantasy, a fairy tale.

Source: Hindustan Times November 04, 2020 12:50 UTC