Live like a maharajah: you can now book a stay at Jaipur's City Palace via Airbnb


Emma Day
  • English
  • Arabic

The term "live like a king" can apply to many five-star resorts, but one new accommodation option is allowing guests to do exactly that.

The City Palace of Jaipur, located in the Indian state of Rajasthan, will soon offer travellers the chance to spend the night in one of its luxurious suites, the first time the royal abode has opened up its doors for bookings.

The Gudliya Suite will be welcoming guests from Saturday, November 23, after joining the listings on Airbnb this week, making Jaipur's royal family the first regal hosts on the accommodation booking website.

The opportunity was made possible by Maharajah Sawai Padmanabh Singh, who has opened up the 300-year-old palace to guests in a bid to support female empowerment programmes.

Proceeds from bookings will go towards supporting the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation, a non-profit that runs initiatives aimed at aiding women and girls in Rajasthan's rural areas.

“I am thrilled that my family and I are partnering with Airbnb to bring the splendour of Rajasthan to life for travellers from around the world," said Maharajah Sawai in a statement. "I am happy that the experience of quintessential Indian hospitality will be shared with others."

The one-bedroom suite is located in the palace's private quarters, which until now have been used exclusively by the royal family and their invited guests. With a separate lounge, kitchen, bathroom and indoor swimming pool, there's plenty to do during a stay, with a private butler and guide on hand, the latter of whom can arrange curated experiences around Jaipur, from guided tours to shopping excursions.

The palace is opening up its doors to overnight guests for the first time. Courtesy Airbnb
The palace is opening up its doors to overnight guests for the first time. Courtesy Airbnb

According to the Airbnb listing, the late Princess Diana of Wales and Oprah Winfrey have both stayed at the palace, and guests will also be able to tuck into authentic Rajasthani fare at City Palace's in-house restaurant, Baradari, during their stay.

The palace itself was built in 1727 by Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II. It features its own museum, which suite guests will get a guided tour of, as well as sprawling gardens dotted with resident peacocks.

Living like a royal doesn't come cheap, though, with a night at the City Palace coming in $8,000 (Dh29,385). However, for selected dates between November 23 and Tuesday, December 31, a night's stay will cost $1,000, with Airbnb contributing the outstanding $7,000 to the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation.

Australia tour of Pakistan

March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi

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How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
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  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.

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May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'

Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff 

Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson 

Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party

Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters 

Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz 

Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party 

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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz