The Timeless Elegance of Diggi Palace: A Heritage Hotel in Jaipur
Rajasthan is known for its palaces, forts, monuments, and havelis. Heritage hotels promote tourism, as people exploring the city will get a complete go-through of a life filled with culture and traditions. The basic feature of a heritage hotel is to deliver the authentic recollection of living styles of the royals and the preserved culture and their legacy. A heritage hospitality offers crafts, customs, cuisine, folk music, and dance to its guests and promotes the local culture and craftsmanship. One such heritage palace is situated in Rajasthan, which will furnish you with the culture and royal experience of the state.
Nestled in the heart of Jaipur, the Diggi Palace is a living heritage hotel offering royal hospitality to its guests. The palace is an architectural masterpiece that was built in the 1860s and offers the history and ancient stories of the centuries after its establishment. The iconic structure offers nothing but the intricate designs and ornate style of architecture with a mixture of traditional values and modernity. The courtyards, arches, frescoes, decor, and portraits of the royal family in the palace showcase the living style of the royals and provide an authentic experience of the culture of the Pink City. We call it living as the members of the Diggi family still reside in a part of the palace, and the other part has been transformed into a heritage hotel. In this blog, we will get to know about the history of Diggi Palace and the highlights of this heritage hospitality.
Table of contents
- History of Diggi Palace
- Architectural Highlights
- Experience the Royal Hospitality
- Cultural Significance
- Dining at Diggi Palace
- Nearby Attractions and Experiences
- Why choose Diggi Palace for your stay in Jaipur
- Conclusion
History of Diggi Palace
The Diggi Palace, built in the 19th century, was the city residence of the Thakurs of Diggi, from the Rajput family of the Khangarot clan. The palace showcases ornate and intricate styles of architecture. In the late 20th century, a prominent part of the palace was converted into a heritage hotel by Thakur Ram Pratap Singh Diggi. The rest of the palace is still used by the members of the Diggi family as their residence.
The hospitality is a wonderful mixture of Rajput and Mughal architecture with a touch of European elements. The detailed courtyards, delicate jharokhas, and cenotaphs, or “chhatris,” portray the Rajput style of architecture. Whereas, the imperial doorways, royal frescoes, and lush green gardens highlight the influences of Mughal architecture from their reign. Enhancing the beauty of the palace, it has touches of some European elements such as verandas, iron detailing, and high ceilings from the British era.
The maintenance of the palace and its elements is quite essential for preserving the heritage of the palace and helping the guests to build an authentic connection with the culture and heritage of the hotel. Keeping this in mind, the Diggi Palace has preserved every element of its property, such as the frescoes, courtyards, and jharokhas. The Rajput decor and the crafts, the significant elements of the palace, have been given attention to detail to give you the best royal experience of the Rajasthani culture.
Architectural Highlights
The Diggi Palace is a magnificent piece of architecture as it offers a fusion of elements from Rajput, Mughal, and European architecture. This 19th-century marvel starts with an opulent and regal facade and moves into the palace. The palace is composed with symmetry, proportion, and ornamentation in each corner. It was designed as a residence for the Diggi family, which gives it the warmth and welcoming energy, staying here feels like living in a noble home. The courtyards of the palace have different vibes and aesthetics. Each and every courtyard is distant from each other. The entrance and the gateways are designed with ornate designs and styles, walking by them feels like walking through history.
The entire Palace Hotel gives a serene ambience and fantastic architectural designs. Each and every element of architectural detailing demonstrates the local craftsmanship and their skills. Every part of the property is made with different themes dedicated to each corner. The stone carvings on the balconies, archways, and pillars and the intricate wooden carvings in its interiors show the delicate work of the artisans and their talent. The antique decor gives the palace an authentic feel, like the chandeliers, hand paintings, textiles, portraits, and photographs of the royal family. The hospitality has been maintained and preserved by the Diggi family to retain its authentic and architectural value.
The palace was established by the Rajputs, who gave the palace a bold and grand aesthetic and afterwards got influenced by the Mughal architecture styles, which presented the palace with softer and ornate designs with a touch of elegance, regalness, and serene nature. Whereas the European elements such as verandas and high ceilings were infused into the palace in the British era.
Experience the Royal Hospitality
To soak in the spirit of Rajasthan, you should definitely stay at the Diggi Palace. You will witness heritage with aesthetics, culture with elegance, and traditional values with modernity. The heritage hotel offers welcoming vibes as soon as you enter the property, with marigold garlands and a traditional greeting of Rajasthan. The staff is really hospitable and eager to help you with anything you require during your stay with them. The hospitality is filled with the warmth of the home-style cuisines and is rich in culture and tranquilizing traditions.
The palace gives out such royal yet inviting vibes, and so do its rooms. Each and every room offers different feels and has its own unique design. The elements of every room are distinctive and antique, which makes your experience on your stay rare, as no one else will be able to live through that experience. The rooms provide modern-day comfort with heritage interiors. The suite has free wifi, a comfortable bed, air conditioning, and an ensuite bathroom to enjoy a convenient stay. Whereas antique furnishings and cultural elements ensure a royal stay.
The hospitality also has amenities like a swimming pool surrounded by lush green Mughal-style gardens, a library, and an open-air yoga corner for the guests. The hotel also houses two restaurants, namely, “Labrass at Diggi” and “The Baradari Mahal,” which offer authentic cuisine of Rajasthan and various other cuisines.
Cultural Significance
The Diggi Palace is abundant in the cultures and traditions of Rajasthan. The royal abode is a magnificent spot to hold any cultural programs because of the historic cultural value it carries and the fusion of Mughal and Rajput styled architecture with elements from the colonial era. The palace is the venue for various art exhibitions, music festivals, heritage walks, and government backed cultural programs.
The aura of the Diggi palace screams royal and grand yet with the warmth of a home with grandeur. The ambience and the architectural style of the hospitality makes it a great venue for special celebrations such as weddings and grand celebrations. The heritage hotel Jaipur is enriched with elements that portray elegance and royalty which gives it a perfect aesthetic for a traditional Indian wedding. The serene gardens are just spectacular for a grand celebration. The noble estate celebrates all the festivals such as Diwali, Holi, and Teej in all their glory signifying the importance of them in Rajasthan’s culture.
This majestic hotel supports the local artisans and craftsmen by showcasing their work in the palace. The elements of interiors and exteriors in the hospitality is sourced locally by them to keep the authentic vibes of Rajasthani culture in the palace. The hospitality has a boutique within its boundaries showcasing the work of the local artisans and craftsmen and also holds workshops, cultural events and exhibitions, exhibiting their best work. The manor also houses folk performances including Rajasthani dancers and musicians with their traditional attire promoting the local culture.
Dining at Diggi Palace
To treat your taste buds with authentic Rajasthani cuisine, one should definitely dine at the Diggi Palace. The authentic recipes sourced from the kitchen of the royal household will leave your mouth filled with flavor and spices inherited through generations. The Laal Maas, Ker Sangri, and Gatte ki Sabzi are prepared with the traditional techniques and family recipes, which will make you fall in love with the essence of the authenticity of the cuisine.
The presentation of the dishes in elegant and ornate settings with delicate crockery and silverware will facilitate you with a special and royal experience inside the hospitality. The signature dishes of the royal kitchen serving the guests of the palace include laal maas, dal baati churma, bajra roti, missi roti, and many more. To get a more elaborate taste of the royal cuisine, you can also visit the in-house restaurants at Diggi Palace.
The courtyards, lush green garden terrace, and dining halls make perfect places to have this delightful dining experience with the aromas of the royal recipes. With frescoes, chandeliers, and the mesmerizing architecture of the palace, it gives a different yet elegant setting for dining. Dining at the Diggi Palace will leave you in awe with the flavors and royal dining experience.
Nearby Attractions and Experiences
The 19th-century marvel, Diggi Palace, is situated in Jaipur, the Pink City. The hospitality acts as a center for all the nearby attractions of the Pink City. You can experience the magnificence of the heritage sites such as Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Birla Mandir, Amer Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Jal Mahal, and the astronomic site, Jantar Mantar, where every single one of them will leave you awestruck with its historic and architectural grandeur.
One can also take a tour of the old city, where all the buildings are painted with pink pigment, and visit the hidden temples of deities such as Govind Devji Temple and the Galtaji Temple, the phenomenal havelis, the Johari Bazar, and the Bapu Bazar. One can also attend workshops on traditional Rajasthani cuisine cooking, block printing, and blue pottery. To get an in-depth experience of Rajasthan’s traditions and culture, one should definitely visit Chokhi Dhani, as it provides a full live walkthrough of Rajasthan’s customs.
Wildlife enthusiasts should definitely explore the Jhalana Leopard Safari Park to witness the raw wildlife of the semi-arid land. During winters, the hot air balloon rides give a glorifying view of Jaipur city and the Aravalli hills. One should absolutely experience the celebrations around the festivals of Holi, Diwali, Teej, Makar Sakrant, and many more, as the entire city is indulged in the traditions and culture of the festivals.
Why choose Diggi Palace for your stay in Jaipur?
Diggi Palace offers a stay accompanied by a fusion of heritage with modernity. The Rajput and Mughal style architecture infused with the elements from the British period gives it aesthetic value, and regal character. The palace hotel offers serene gardens with Mughal influence and offers a calming atmosphere to the guests. The hospitality is a living heritage, with the members of the royal family still residing in one part of the palace. To retain the authenticity of the culture and heritage of the hospitality, the maintenance of the palace is carried out by the royal family. The Palace Hotel is a perfect spot for event hosting through immersion in the culture and traditions of Rajasthan. The royal hospitality offers luxury with comfort from its different kinds of services, such as palace suites, courtyard suites, heritage deluxe hotel rooms, in-house restaurants, a bar, a swimming pool, banquets and wedding services, yoga and gym areas, and many more.
All the guests who have visited the Diggi Palace leave the hospitality with a feeling of fulfillment and in awe of the beautiful heritage, culture, and architecture.
The best time to visit the Diggi Palace is during the months of October to March, as the weather of Jaipur at this point is quite pleasant due to the winter season. This is the peak season to visit the palace hotel because of all the festivals that happen during this period, namely, Diwali, Holi, and Makar Sakrant. If you are planning on visiting the palace hotel during the off-season, then do not forget to avail the discounts on the booking of the hospitality.
Conclusion
For the travelers looking to find calming, serene vibes with royal heritage and rich cultures and traditions, the Diggi Palace Hotel is going to be the end of your search. The Palace Hotel offers rich architectural styles of Rajputs and Mughals with modern luxury stays. Your stay with the hotel will leave a permanent memory in your heart of the regal hospitality and magnificent property.