800 kg gold, Rs 14500 in safe….became second wife of a king, the palace where Maharani Gayatri once lived in a luxurious hotel, it's daily rent is…, is in news due to…
In India's different cities of Rajasthan, there are different stories of palaces. From Jaipur to Udaipur to Chittorgarh, these beautiful places in the country have a rich tapestry of art, culture, and history. Often, these places become tourist attractions. In modern times, these palaces have been transformed into hotels showcasing the history of the infrastructure.
Recently, US Vice President JD Vance is on his India tour, and he, along with his family, has chosen to stay at Jaipur's Rambagh Palace, which is considered one of the most luxurious hotels in India. The Rambagh Palace in Jaipur is known for its 190-year-old heritage and royal grandeur. While the rent of the palace skyrockets, the palace's history also has interesting stories to tell. Today, we are not talking about its rent, but about the queen for whom Maharaja Sawai Mansingh II built it.
Maharaja Sawai Mansingh II's third wife, Maharani Gayatri Devi, was different from the rest of the queens. Born on May 23, 1919, in London, Maharani Gayatri always believed in the independence of women and shattering the shackles of patriarchy. At the age of 12, she met Maharaja Sawai Mansingh during a race and fell in love with him.
During that time, the Maharaja had already married twice, and Gayatri's family was against this union. However, with her grit, Gayatri tied the knot with Maharaja Sawai Mansingh II with great zeal and pomp. The duo got married in 1940, and during that era, they spent Rs 3.5 lakh on the wedding.
According to media reports, Maharaja Sawai Mansingh II built the Rambagh Palace for Gayatri Devi. Gayatri was different from the rest of the traditional queens. She did not believe in the ghunghat system, and so she never did it either. Many times, she did not attend the royal family's functions just because she would have to cover her head.
Maharani Gayatri Devi broke all conservative ideas and old traditions. She used to play polo, ride horses, and drive her own car. She was seen driving expensive foreign cars herself, claimed media reports.
She was among the first to get a Mercedes Benz W126 imported to India. The grand Rambagh Palace soon became Maharaja Sawai Mansingh II and Maharani Gayatri Devi's residence.
However, a major twist came when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed emergency and even got Maharani Gayatri Devi arrested. As per a report by The Quint, Gayatri Devi and Indira Gandhi knew each other from their youth.
Both young women attended Patha Bhavana, the school established by Rabindranath Tagore in Santiniketan, West Bengal. Media reports claim that Gayatri brought out the worst in Indira Gandhi, as she couldn't stand Gayatri's beauty.
In 1975, Indira Gandhi ordered a raid conducted by the Income Tax (IT) department, wherein 800 kg of gold was confiscated. Gayatri Devi's property was confiscated by the Income Tax Department under the Gold Control Act of 1968.
Today, the palace has been converted into a luxurious hotel and has 79 rooms, large gardens, swimming pools, drawing rooms, and all the facilities that give it a luxurious look. According to the official website of Taj Hotels, one day tarrif of Rambagh can varry from Rs 35, 000 to Rs 40,000.
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