Mauli Rituals at The Leela Palace Jaipur - Calm in the Chaos
While our recent trip to Jaipur is behind us, the memory will live on in us, not least because of the few days spent at The Leela Palace Jaipur.
We were there with the team, taking a moment to celebrate the past year; which was full in every sense of the word. From shooting our campaign to sightseeing, shopping and creating a brand new launch. It felt important to pause and mark it, and to do so somewhere that allowed us to step out of the noise and into something calmer.
Arriving at The Leela Palace, Jaipur
Jaipur itself is wonderfully vibrant, colourful and chaotic in equal measures. The Leela sits just beyond the city, set against the foothills of the Aravalli Range, and the shift is immediate. The pace softens. The air feels fresher and your eyes begin to rest on the many thoughtfully curated elements of property.
We were welcomed by Rajasthani dancers and folk musicians, with rose petals scattered underfoot and garlands gently placed around our necks; a moment that felt both joyful and deeply rooted in tradition. For many of the team, it was something entirely new and left them feeling so in love with the city. And yet, what stayed with me wasn’t just the ceremony, but the warmth that followed. Every member of the team made us feel genuinely cared for, not in a formal way, but in way that felt instinctive and sincere.
An Accommodation Like No Other
Our room was beautifully designed, with a private pool and a generous outdoor seating area, that quickly became our base. We shot much of the campaign there, and even with eight of us shooting, styling, moving, resetting; it never once felt crowded. There was an ease to the space that allowed everything to flow.
The days unfolded gently. Breakfast accompanied by the soft sound of sitar and flute, with the Aravalli hills in the distance. Time spent in the spa, where I had one of the most deeply relaxing massages I’ve experienced in a long time. The kind that lingers and gave me the energy to keep up with the pace of the trip.
Anita's Highlight
But the highlight, without question, was the dining experience at Sheesh Mahal at The Leela Palace Jaipur. I don’t say this lightly, but in all my years of travel, I have yet to experience anything quite like it.
The entire restaurant is adorned with thousands of hand-cut mirrors, inspired by Rajasthan’s historic palaces, originally created to amplify candlelight. Here, the regal tradition is brought to life beautifully. No harsh lighting, no visible electricity; simply the flickering glow that reflects endlessly, so the room feels almost suspended in light.
I was there with Bittu, and it felt incredibly romantic, but not in a staged, performative way. Something about the space shifts you. Conversation softens. You slow down. We savoured the refined 7 course tasting menu and the moment itself.
It’s rare to find somewhere that feels both considered and effortless. Rooted in tradition, yet entirely relevant and much appreciated in our age of digital overload. If you head to Jaipur, do please visit this restaurant. You won’t regret it.
Here, in this palace, I left behind the tooting horns, the rickshaws, the shopping and experienced something far more precious. The joy of simply being.
