Indian memories : the Rambagh palace.

Rambagh Palace Hotel, Jaipur,  Photo by Booking.com

Rambagh Palace Hotel, Jaipur India, Photo by Isiinda.com

Dining Room, Rambagh Palace Hotel, photo by designer travel.co.uk

These first three photos are taken from the web and even more astonishing views can be found online of the 5 star Hotel which is now known as the Rambagh Palace Hotel. 

This palace was once was the home of the Maharajah Sawai Man Singh II , (Bubble's father) who made it his principal residence and added a number of royal suites in 1931. 

Man Singh II was married three times and his three wives lived in the same household together, as per Indian custom. His first two marriages were to brides chosen from the royals of Jodphur whose social ranking were similar to his own.  The senior Maharani 

(Bubble's mother) was known as "First her Highness" : Marudhar Kunwar.  

  In 1940 Man Singh II married for the third and last time to Gayatri Deevi , daughter of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar.  We were introduced to her by our friend George Galitzin, and were invited to her home near the Rambagh palace. 

 Over her lifetime, Gayatri had become a celebrity of sorts because of her fashion consciousness and beauty but also because she became a politician and parliamentarian.  She lived to 90 years old, dying in 2009.  

Included here is a picture of her among some of our party.  I remember her home being full of silver frames showing her with many famous people.  She wrote " A Princess Remembers" a book that I found a fascinating read. 

We all stayed at the Palace Hotel at the end of our visit for several nights.  The story here is that we were shown a room with an ante chamber (4 x as large as our present bedroom), a sort of extension room to a huge bedroom with an equally immense bed.  We were assigned to share this arrangement with another couple that we barely knew. 

 The men decided to flip a coin to see who would get the large room.  The other fellow tossed the coin and called it, and won the toss.  His "girlfriend" of around 50 years old, expected that he would choose the huge bed....but her male companion wanted the ante chamber with twin beds instead.  

  The woman could not believe his poor choice and had a small nervous breakdown before our eyes explaining to him again and again "but you won the toss!".  

Monsieur and I slept that night in the enormous bed. 

Roger Marchese 1983, our photographer. 

Although, Roger's family is of Italian origin, one day at the Palace,  we dressed him in a turban and he could have easily passed as an Indian.  Roge took all of these photos....except this one. Ha.

Mary M Payne in 1983,  Photo by Roger Marchese

At the end of our stay we visited one of the several gift shops associated with the Palace.  I chose a beautiful white wool shawl, embroidered with colorful flowers.   The boy in the shop said that he would go into the back and get a duplicate shawl already wrapped.  While I was waiting for him to return another man entered the shop and finished the transaction with me with a shawl he took off the shelf behind him.  

When I got on the bus and pulled out my shawl, 250 American dollars fell out.  

I have my own theory about this but I will always think of that shawl as my good luck find. 

Musicians with Jean Galitzin, and unknown lady,  Photo by Roger Marchese

Monsieur and the Cobra.  Photo by Roger Marchese

Gayatri Devi with English guests 1983 ,  photo by Roger Marchese

 Mary M Payne, 1983 at Quwwat-ul Islam Mosque, 1983 Delhi,  Photo by Roger Marchese

The Iron Pillar is in the centre of the courtyard of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque (begun 1193), one of the oldest surviving mosques in the sub-continent. The pillar is 7.2 metres tall and 37 cm in diameter and was once topped with an image of Garuda, a Hindu bird god.  The origins of the pillar remain obscure, although it was possibly taken from a Vishnu temple before the construction of the complex. Virtually rust-free, the pillar is 98% pure iron and is a puzzle to metallurgists. Legend has it that anyone who can encircle the column with their arms behind their back will have their wishes granted.   I understand now that the pillar is protected so one can't try this.   I am pretty sure that my wish came true. 

Maybe my wish was that I would never forget my stay in India and that wish still holds true.

 It didn't take a snake charmer, India and all I saw there so long ago has me charmed to this day. 

Snake charmer, India photo by Roger Marchese