ITC Rajputana, Jaipur - a Luxury Collection Hotel

Formerly a Sheraton (and still often referred to as such by locals), the ITC Rajputana is a large, purpose-built hotel in a red-sandstone building that wouldn't look out of place in the old Pink City area of Jaipur. It was one of the first five-pearl hotels to be built in the city, and it has long attracted a mix of Indian business travelers and international tourists, many of whom are families. The grand lobby has marble columns and traditional carved screens ("jalis"), with gorgeous, yellow-glass lanterns suspended from the ceiling and crushed-velvet benches throughout. The grounds are equally lovely, with a mix of sandstone courtyards and a large central pool area with surrounding lawns, plus plenty of flowering bushes and small indigenous trees.

The Rajputana is just across the street from the Jaipur Railway Station (about a three-minute walk away) and provides easy access to the numerous shops and restaurants on M.I. Road. It's about a seven-minute drive to the historic Pink City, while getting to the main Gangori Bazaar and its surrounding historic attractions, including the City Palace, the Hawa Mahal, and the Jantar Mantar takes about 10 minutes by car. It takes roughly the same amount of time to reach both the Albert Hall Museum and the Birla Mandir, both of which are south of the Pink City. The airport is a 20-minute drive away from the hotel, traffic permitting. Factor in about 25 minutes by car for Amber and its famous namesake fort. 

This hotel offers elegant and reasonably well-maintained rooms and suites across five categories, ranging from entry-level Executive Club rooms (29 square meters/312 square feet) to a two-bedroom Presidential Suite spanning 125 square meters (1,345 square feet). Decor varies a bit across types -- Executive Club units and Rajputana Chambers, for example, feature polished green marble floors and cherrywood furniture, while Rajputana Royale rooms have more contemporary decor, with light-wood floors and sleek dark-brown furnishings. Thikana Suites feature dark wood floors and furniture, and bright-red curtains and bed throws. All units have coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibars, safes, free bottled water, and flat-screen TVs with cable and DVD players on request. Wi-Fi is free for guests who book directly with the hotel. Bathrooms in Executive Club rooms and Rajputana Chambers have shower/tub combos and come with robes, slippers, and toiletries, while Rajputana Royale units and the suites feature separate tubs and walk-in showers with large, ceiling-mounted rainfall showerheads. Rooms are generally quiet, though some have drab views over the nearby highway, and some of the linens and furnishings show signs of wear and tear.

The Rajputana offers a full lineup of features to cater to its well-heeled clientele. Chandravanshi Pavilion offers buffet and a la carte dining 24 hours a day, with all sorts of international and Indian specialties, including Rajasthani dishes. Jal Mahal -- renovated in spring 2017 -- also offers buffet dishes but is a bit more upscale; Sunday brunch here is particularly popular. For something a tad fancier, Peshwari serves rich, heavy dishes from the North-West Frontier Province (its sister restaurant in Delhi, Bukhara, has a similar menu and is among the most famous restaurants in the country). Bar options include the Jharoka poolside lounge, with snacks and light meals in addition to coffee and cocktails, and the more refined Sheesh Mahal, a gorgeous mirrored bar (the name means "palace of mirrors") with light meals and a large liquor selection. The hotel offers 24-hour room service. Wellness and leisure services here are excellent, starting with a local branch of Kaya Kalp, a fantastic spa with a full menu of massages and wellness treatments, and haircare and manicures. Yoga classes are available on request. There's also a large, well-equipped 24-hour gym with cardio machines and weight-training equipment, and a large outdoor pool with a kids' splash pool on one end, but lounge chairs are limited. The hotel also has a small kids' play area indoors with a few toys and games plus a couple of recreation rooms with ping pong, billiards, and chess, with croquet offered outside. Business facilities include two meeting rooms, three banquet halls, and an outdoor space for up to 550 people. High-speed Wi-Fi is free throughout for those who book directly through the hotel, and there's plenty of free on-site parking to go around.