| Bissau Palace Hotel, Jaipur | |
|---|---|
 Bissau Palace Hotel in Jaipur | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Jaipur, Rajasthan, India |
| Other information | |
| Number of suites | 36 |
| Number of restaurants | 2 |
| Parking | Yes |
The Bissau Palace Hotel, Jaipur is a heritage hotel in Jaipur, in India. Built in the 19th century, it was the palace of Raghubir Singhji, a royal nobleman. It is located just outside the walls of the old city of Jaipur, a short distance to the north of Chand Pol (an entrance gate to the old city). It is situated 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) northeast of the downtown area.[1]
History
[edit]Built in the 19th century during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jagat Singh (1803–18),[2] the structure originally served as a palace of the nobleman Rawal Raja Raghubir Singhji.[3] The Shekhawati estate was home to the rawals of Bissau.[2] The palace was converted to a hotel in 1965.[4] Now a heritage hotel,[5] it is situated in Jaipur's old bazaar area.[2]
Architecture and fittings
[edit]Bissau Palace Hotel has a curved entry facade, and the enclosed area within the palace displays checkerboard patterned flooring,[3] while the lounge has wooden floors.[6] There are 36 rooms, some of which have unique bed fittings and ornamentation, including antique furnishings and artifacts. Over the fireplace in the palace hangs a painting of the Maharaja of Bissau with his courtiers.[6] Also seen on the walls of the palace are swords that were used during encounters with Muslims.[6] Next to the sitting room is a wood-paneled library filled with old books. Along with exhibits of typical artifacts of Rajasthan, there are many showcases containing jewelry, weapons, sculptures of elephants, vases, and photographs – including a tiger shikar scene and Lord Mountbatten visiting the royal family of Bissau.[6] The hotel has three restaurants,[7] including one on the rooftop, and presents Rajasthani folk dancers during buffet dinners.[8]
Grounds
[edit]Bissau Palace Hotel is reached via a circular entry way.[9] A well-tended garden, housed with many species of birds, is part of the grounds. Among the other facilities are a swimming pool and tennis courts.[3][6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ Bhatt 2006, p. 373.
- ^ a b c Martinelli, Michell & Nath 2005, p. 56.
- ^ a b c Page 2013, p. 11.
- ^ Bentley 2011, p. 19.
- ^ Raina & Agarwal 2004, p. 115.
- ^ a b c d e Bentley 2011, p. 17.
- ^ a b "Hotel Bissau Palace". Lonely Planet.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ Horton, Finlay & Plunkett 2002, p. 191.
- ^ Bernard 2008, p. 127.
Bibliography
[edit]- Bernard, Trisha (1 August 2008). With the Kama Sutra Under My Arm: My Madcap Misadventures Across India. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 978-1-4027-5712-9.
- Bhatt, Shankarlal C. (2006). Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: In 36 Volumes. Rajasthan. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7835-379-1.
- Bentley, Cheryl (1 February 2011). A Guide to the Palace Hotels of India. Hunter Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-1-58843-970-3.
- Horton, Patrick; Finlay, Hugh; Plunkett, Richard (2002). Delhi. Lonely Planet. ISBN 978-1-86450-297-8.
- Martinelli, Antonio; Michell, George; Nath, Aman (1 March 2005). Palaces of Rajasthan. Frances Lincoln. ISBN 9780711225053.
- Page, Mary (April 2013). The Grand New Delhi Escapade. Strategic Book Publishing. ISBN 978-1-62516-020-1.
- Raina, A. K.; Agarwal, Dr. S. K. (1 January 2004). The Essence of Tourism Development: Dynamics, Philosophy, and Strategies. Sarup & Sons. ISBN 978-81-7625-527-1.