Coming from a tiny cosmopolis like Singapore, where the common consensus often begs of a whole world to see, that ask is surprisingly easy to fulfil by way of a direct flight to India. After all, one can spend six months in India and still have yet to scratch the surface of the vast continent. Just five hours from Singapore, I found myself in the heart and soul of the financial hub, Mumbai. Horns blaring and humidity rising, I speedily got past congestion on the road to arrive at the newly-opened Fairmont Mumbai, just a stone’s throw away from the airport.
A grand edifice that sings of Art Deco splendour, no expense was spared when it came to dreaming up the rooms and suites. In a city where efficiency and innovation flows through its veins, the hotel’s furnishings and facilities honoured all of that accordingly. From a wellness facility bolstered by technological advances and state-of-the-art machines to dizzying entertainment venues, Fairmont Hotel & Resorts made sure its debut in Mumbai was an impactful one.
Jaipur, and its breathtaking modern charms
And it certainly is no stranger to establishing a foothold in India, as I soon found out, its repertoire well preceded itself over in Jaipur. A short domestic flight later, I landed in the captivating destination that is the Rajasthan capital, famed for being ‘accidentally Wes Anderson’ but more commonly known as The Pink City.
Built like a fort amidst the Aravalli hills, Fairmont Jaipur takes over a former aristocratic palace that dates back to 1745. It melds Rajputana and Mughal architecture with modernity, whilst still retaining the vital core of its history. More importantly, its interior brims with Rajasthani pride, from hand-drawn miniature paintings on the walls to mother-of-pearl embedded within the furnishings. One, being a 400-year-old door that’s since been restored. Upon arrival, blessings are granted to every guest with a sweet serenade of a sarangi as another hotel staff showers you with rose petals from a tower above. Inside, your worldview expands—of a glorious garden leading to the main lobby bar where you marvel at the hills in the distance, as well as the majestic silhouette of Raffles Jaipur just next door.
The Fairmont Hotel & Resorts experience in India also means a palatial stay—as I took a long lap around my Terrace Suite, replete with a huge outdoor patio that could easily host a sizable party or simply where I could do my morning yoga. Out of my living quarters, I wasted no time in visiting the Ruhab Spa—where one can indulge in a hammam experience or take on a massage tailored to your star sign. This was then followed by a number of meals within the property—where I learnt of the love language in the region, which is to feed. I started every meal with a jal-jeera, and worked my way through the various biryanis, daal, mutton curries and ultimately ending with kulfi, a frozen dense milky stick shaped like an ice cream.
To get to know the lay of the land, the experiences at Fairmont ventured to a neighbouring village with craft as the beating heart. There, we got acquainted with gota patti, an applique technique from Rajasthan where a zari ribbon takes on elaborate patterns and is sewn on to the borders. Gota craftsmen were hard at work on a saree, which typically is reserved for special and auspicious occasions. In the same village, the chief’s son took us through his booming pottery business and studio before leading us to a delectable breakfast cooked on site by the Fairmont team. Where fresh dal paratha (a Punjabi flatbread made from leftover lentil curry) and dal baati (lentils soup and bread) tickled our taste buds, whilst offering a warm burst of Rajasthani hospitality.
Next stop, the City Palace awaits. A modern, trendy pitstop that unlike most palaces, has managed to innovate through the intersections of fashion and culture—under the midas hands of the king and princess of Jaipur respectively—Padmanabh Singh and Gaura Vikumari. Beyond taking in some of the most iconic spaces where past royals used to inhibit—from the awe-inspiring Blue Room (Chhavi Niwas) to Shobha Niwas that was previously used for religious practices—where a dizzying display of gold and glasswork come together. Of course, slot in a visit to PDFK—the princess’s very own fashion label—of tropical printed garments and loungewear that reps Jaipur proudly on its sleeves. Just a tip of the iceberg, especially if you’re talking about the city’s fashion scene—booming and stacked with plenty of designers steadily on the rise.
Every turn of the corner in Jaipur sings of the city’s creative, thriving spirit. This is very much accentuated in boutique hotel The Johri, housed in a 19th-century haveli parked in the midst of a dusty jowari bazaar—with a restaurant that serves up cutting-edge Indian fare. It’s a spot that plays right into what Wes Anderson was inspired about Jaipur, and probably just one of the many many chic addresses in the city.
The romance of Udaipur
There’s something about the City of Lakes. Whilst not as modern as its neighbour Jaipur, its astonishing architecture that comes through many a luxury hotel tells you something about what city-dwellers seek out when they visit. And this is where Fairmont Udaipur Palace steps in—its recent opening sees a sprawling 18-acre estate carved from stone. Of majestic design that welcomes surrounding nature into its royal quarters. Right from the welcome reception flanked by cannons to the main lobby with a spellbinding centrepiece of the dome, there’s art, precision and an ode to Rajasthan. Most prominently, Thikri work is peppered within the many panels of the hotel—a traditional Rajasthani mirror inlay craft that features motifs of the region’s natural wonders and royal legacy.
Just at my room’s balcony, I took a languid dip in a semi-private pool with a gracious view of Aravalli hills looming in the background. A constant fixture that the hotel made sure guests could always get access to—its vast and enchanting valleys that granted a mesmerising allure to any simple activity, whether you were getting a drink out on the lobby terrace or making your way to the spa. The hotel’s restaurants also made it difficult to venture out for a meal—a sumptuous breakfast at Bahaar, where masala dosas and chai became a delicious routine or even at Dastaan, where innovative plates of foreign cuisines are served in a room built like a private library. Not forgetting, for the sundowners—copious cocktails were sipped at the hotel’s main bar, Dahaad.
With the hills as your friendly neighbour, it would be remiss to not venture out. With the help of Fairmont, a sojourn can be arranged via a Jeep or on the back of a horse, as you get thicker into the woods to enjoy a delectable breakfast spread.
Well at Fairmont, other modes of transport swerve in as part of the guest experience—a vintage Bentley rolled up to the lobby to drive us to the Udaipur City Palace. Cruising in a rare and exquisite vehicle was one treasured aspect whilst the view of the city also made the commute all that special—passing by locals busying about their days in trade as well as famous lakes that were featured in notable films like The Tourist.
After an insightful palace tour that took us back to the early centuries of royals in their respective quarters, the fun resumed with a surprise boat ride. One that featured the natural waters via a tranquil and relaxing drive on the lake where dreamy scenes of Lake Palace and The Leela Palace came into view.
In Udaipur, there was mystique, a covetable sense of stillness and most of all, plenty of romance to top off a fulfilling day in this city.
