Pink City’s New Luxury Address
Anantara, the best-known brand of Minor Hotels, has made a splashy entry into India with the launch of Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur.
By Suman Tarafdar
If it’s a wedding in Jaipur, does it count if it is not at Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur? That seems to be the most pressing question for weddings in the offing for this year, as Minor Hotels' Jaipur property has emerged as the favourite destination for weddings in the city. But more on that later.
As you drive south from Jaipur airport on Tonk Road, you cannot miss the shimmering, glowing marvel that is the new Anantara. With a façade that is brightly lit, it is a sight that gets seared in your memory, especially when you glimpse it post-sunset. Literally translated as a garden of jewels, Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur, it’s a name that seems straight out of some paradisiacal vision.
The famed Thai hospitality brand, Anantara, best known for its wellness quotient, has started its India journey with a hotel that is at once rooted in its brand identity, pays homage to the city’s rich cultural legacy and yet weaves in contemporary touches with élan. The brand, almost a quarter of a century old, has 50 luxury addresses around the world, each special, often on the must-visit lists of the contemporary traveller seeking experiential luxury stays that incorporate wellness and local culture in unique ways.
Anantara brings in high-end experiences to Jaipur and elevates the city’s appeal to international travellers seeking world-class hospitality, complementing Jaipur’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage City. A hotel like Anantara, geared up for high-power weddings, fits right into Jaipur’s fame as a city of royalty, glamour and the arts. Jaipur is a prime wedding and event destination, and Anantara addresses this demand with expansive venues like the 9,250sq.ft. Kohinoor Mahal ballroom, 40,900sq.ft. Amer Bagh garden (up to 1,000 guests), and smaller spaces such as Darbar and Swarn Mahal. These cater to large-scale Indian weddings, corporate events, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) tourism, competing with more established venues.
Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur is a stunner, whichever way you look at it. The 150-key resort, spread over five acres, had an unusual start in that for the first four odd months, it was only open for weddings, with leisure guests starting to come in only in March 2025. In a city chock-full of luxury hotels, from erstwhile palaces with royal lineage to newer ones that epitomise the heritage and wealth of a city built on the riches of trade,
Anantara already stands out for its grandeur and experiences on offer. “It's a very guest experience-centric brand, very much a wellness brand and also heavily driven on the quality of food and beverage," points out Vimal Verma, the General Manager of the hotel. Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotels, states: “If you look at Anantara, Jaipur, it brings Indian culture into the hotel. It's not a cookie-cutter approach. Creating those experiences and the storytelling makes us very different from the other brands. People love Anantara as a brand. Maybe 10 years ago, not many people in India knew Anantara, but today everyone knows (the name), and the challenge we have is that most of the owners now want Anantara as a brand, but we cannot do Anantara in all the cities.” Ajay Gangwal, Managing Director, Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur, adds, "This partnership has allowed us to blend local character and charm with world-class service, resulting in a hotel that is both a reflection of Jaipur’s rich history and a symbol of forward-thinking hospitality.”
The grand entrance to the hotel, which has numerous touches of Jaipur's rich heritage.
The hotel offers experiences of local crafts over high tea; The rooms are especially reminiscent of local palace residences.
Heritage-driven grandeur
One of the most striking aspects of the hotel is its design. The structure of the building is unique, a broad U, with its two ‘arms’ tapering towards the base. The architects have drawn generously on the region’s architectural vocabulary, paying homage with the façade of jaalis (lattice work) and jharokhas (bay windows). The front façade with 86 open and 50 closed jharokhas has been directly inspired by Jaipur’s most famous landmark—the Hawa Mahal in the City Palace. The city’s palatial heritage is also referenced in the chhajas (overhanging eaves), chattris (cupola-like structures) and thikri (glass inlay) work on imposing wooden doors with saankal (traditional lock system), shaded corridors, gurgling water channels, lush palm trees, et al.
There is ample use of art, especially in Rang Mahal, where every inch of the walls, floor and ceiling is covered in an intoxicating, heady combination of traditional local paintings and architectural motifs. Just as notable is a veritable portrait of notables in Diwan-e-Khaas, which has hand-drawn paintings in the regional style by S.S. Pandit.
The property is especially noteworthy for its ample meeting and events spaces, all designed to fit in with the larger aesthetic. From the expansive outdoor Amer Bagh, which can accommodate up to 1,000 guests, to the pillarless Kohinoor Mahal ballroom which can host up to 300 attendees, the more intimate venues such as Darbar, the choices are designed to meet any requirement. Especially noteworthy are the poolside Bawdi Bagh, Mor Bagh and the Jai Bagh and the adjoining Rajputana Chowk, effectively the heart of the hotel.
Anantara as a brand is best known for its superlative wellness experiences. The Anantara Spa, where Thai wellness traditions meet local expertise, features an on-site beauty salon and five treatment rooms for guests to rebalance with classic Ayurvedic therapies and indulgent body treatments. Signature offerings range from exotic, like the Pao Ya fire therapy, to beloved spa classics like romantic couples’ journeys. While daily yoga sessions in the serene Amer Bagh and a 24/7 fitness centre ensure routines continue uninterrupted.
Sheesh Mahal—a palace of glass is a veritable jewel box rendered from mirror mosaics and coloured glass.
A taste of luxury
Of course, the most telling experience of a luxury hotel stay is the room experience. Needless to say, the rooms are spacious and generously stocked. Right from the base category, i.e, the 334sq.ft. Premier Room to the massive 1,861sq.ft. Presidential Suite, each is perfectly tailored to make memories. Perhaps the most noteworthy are the one-bedroom suites, which come in two configurations: the 753sq.ft. Jewel Bagh Suite and the 699sq.ft. Terrace Suite.
The terraces are a huge charm of the Terrace Suites. Winters on these decks are especially magical, perfect to enjoy views right from the thoughtfully provided jacuzzi on the terrace. The interiors are rich in touches of Jaipur’s famed opulence. Think patterned white and gold hued stone floors, a spacious and well-appointed and oh-so-luxurious living room, a king bed in a massive bedroom, all the accoutrements that one could expect at this level… The added charm comes from the special touches. Note for example, the two huge window seats—complete with jharokhas for the perfect framing. Or the inlay work mirrors, the uniquely Sanganari style upholstery, the framed art all around—there is much to take in without stepping out.
The Anantara high tea ritual is not to be missed.
The road ahead
Rajakarier is confident about the fast growth of the brand in India. “Some of our hotels are outstanding compared to some of the other concepts. Because we talked about experiential travel, authentic experiences and are indigenous to the culture. If you look at Anantara, Jaipur, it brings Indian culture into the hotel.” Anantara is planning to sign a couple of more properties in the leisure and city destinations. By entering a market with established players, Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur raises the competitive bar. It's design references to the destination, and global brand cachet will likely attract high-spending tourists, further boosting Jaipur’s profile as a luxury destination.
The use of traditional trunks full of liquor bottles adds an element of whimsy.