47 Jobner Bagh, Jaipur, India – TRAVEL INSIDER

Jaipur’s best-kept secret – until now – this 12 -room property sits in what was once the Maharajah of Jobner’s lush private garden. Small but perfectly formed, the hotel’s elegant curved walls also conceal a boutique of souvenirs and even an Ayurvedic spa.

HÔTEL 47 JOBNER BAGH
MIEUX QU’À LA MAISON

Pour s’extraire de la ville tout en y séjournant, rien de tel que de poser ses valises dans cette maison d’hôtes d’une dizaine de chambres. Son propriétaire, Shiva Gujar, voulait un lieu intemporel. Pari réussi grâce à l’aide de l’architecte Paola Giacomini qui a dessiné une grande maison immaculée aux courbes douces où les chambres sobres et confortables sont autant d’écrins aux rêves des voyageurs. Parmi les atouts de l’adresse, une belle terrasse où l’on s’attable face au fort Nahargarh, un petit spa au sous-sol, un jardin fleuri et une ravissante boutique offrant une sélection de couvertures artisanales en laine, de pashminas et de kanthas (plaid réalisé avec des saris recyclés et piqué main), bijoux anciens, châles…

47 JOBNER BAGH – CN TRAVELLER

Until recently visitors to Jaipur, the pink capital of Rajasthan, had two options: stay in a restored palace or a zero-star guesthouse. Which is why this wonderful new haven is proving such a draw, particularly among the fashion crowd who appreciate its refined but relaxed aesthetic and extraordinary value for money.
Staying at 47 JobnerBagh is like moving in with an old pal and meeting their interesting, creative friends. The owner, Shiva Gujar, who has been in the jewellery business for a couple of decades, worked with the late Italian architect Paola Giacomini to create the charming, 11-bedroom retreat with its whitewashed, curved jali walls and wide terraces; the simple, sunlit interiors are furnished with much-loved antiques and vintage Indian pieces.
The hotel is just beyond the edge of the old walled city, in what was once the garden of the Maharajah of Jobner’shaveli, and there is a splendid roof terrace with views of the 18th-century Nahargarh Fort. Shiva’s wife Anita creates wonderful home-cooked Indian suppers, which you can eat in the garden or candle-lit dining room; her friendly staff serve tea, coffee, nimbupani (lemon water) and snacks throughout the day. The delightful Megha, Shiva’s daughter, runs a stylish shop selling local textiles and crafts. The small spa offers both Ayruvedic and aromatherapy massages and he’s also an excellent yoga teacher.

47 JOBNER BAGH – SAGE CLARE

Travelling to India regularly sees me on the hunt for new and upcoming guesthouses to stay in… You could say I have a slight obsession! This is how I stumbled across Hotel 47 JobnerBagh, a recently opened guesthouse on the Jaipur scene and one that I’ve pegged to stay in next time I visit. Could certainly see myself, at the end of a long day, relaxing on that serene terrace sipping on chai and breathing in the sweet scent of jasmine. I’mcoming for youNumber 47!

Hotel 47 Jobner Bagh

Undoubtedly the most exciting new addition to this chapter for luxury wanderers. This is a truly gorgeous small property offering sensitive design, warm family style service, and great value for money.

Described as a luxury, family-run guesthouse by the owner, Mr Shiva Gujar, who has worked in jewellery and hospitality for over two decades. His wife Mrs Anita is the queen of the kitchen overseeing the home-style Indian cooking and at the front desk is their lovely daughter Megha, who runs the hotel and boutique.

The 11-room property was designed by an Italian architect and is beautifully finished and detailed. A celebrated artist, who was staying at the hotel, told me that the building was ‘pleasant to the touch’ and emphasized the fabulous details like the curved jail screens.

I really liked rooms 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8, which all have terraces. If available, book the only suite, room 11, which has a small private lawn terrace, delicate jasmine garden and the bathroom has his and hers showers. Fabulous!

The rooftop terrace offers spectacular views across to the Nahalgarh Fort (the tiger fort) and is a perfect place for an afternoon tea or a sundowner.
 Dinner is served in the gardens on the ground floor. A spa will open soon and a plunge pool is at the planning stage.

There is a lovely boutique in the reception area and there will be a specialist jewellery store opening next to the spa. My advice is to book early, since seeing the property a few weeks ago, I have had four friends check in and all gave rave reviews!

47 JOBNER BAGH – HOUSE & GARDEN

The experience begins in the grounds of the NarainNiwas Palace hotel (hotelnarainniwas.com). You enter the bar via a garden, where blue and white canopied divans piled with block-printed cushions host a relaxed cocktail crowd around flaming fire pits. The interior is a series of smaller rooms, each its own wonderland, where hand-painted murals of white and blue flowers provide a fanciful backdrop.

Bar Palladio was designed by Marie-Anne Oudejans, the founder of fashion brand Tocca. She drew inspiration from Mughal’s regal style and the intimacy and warmth of Venetian stalwarts such as Harry’s Bar and Caffè Florian, even bringing in an Italian chef from Hotel Villa Cipriani, but her interpretation feels new. After a week in Jaipur, the home of block-printing, I thought I had seen it all, but the upholstery here presented completely new ideas.

From the carved stone bar to the hand-painted walls and aforementioned printed textiles, everything was created in Jaipur by local craftspeople. The chef cooks Northern Italian food with a nod to India and the cocktail list is extensive and every bit as inventive as the surroundings.
Where to stay

Staying at 47 JobnerBagh (jobnerbagh.com) elicits that rather guilty pleasure where you feel sorry for people who are staying in other hotels because you have found a hidden treasure. 
This structure was designed and built with great love and care by Shiva Gujar, his wife Anita and their friends. Set in a small and pretty garden on a residential street, the building is colonial in style with wonderful curved jali-screen balconies.

The hotel is small, with only 10 simple rooms designed by an Italian architect; has polished concrete floors, tadelakt-plastered bathrooms and the softest vintage Gudri quilts on the beds. My room had simple antique wooden furniture and a great little balcony with banana- leaves curtains – a perfect place for the mind to wander after a hectic day of shopping. Dotted throughout the garden are relaxing areas for reading or enjoying an evening aperitif and there is also a roof terrace with a view of the Aravalli chain, with its Nahargarh (‘house of tigers’) Forte and Ganesh Temple. Anita oversees the kitchen in the ground – floor restaurant; the home-cooked Rajasthani food is delicious.

There is also a charming spa and a small antique shop overseen by Shiva and Anita’s daughter, Megha.

47 JOBNER BAGH – BEAUTIFUL HOMES

Holding on to its old-world charm, 47 JobnerBagh shows us how to marry vintage elements with elegant and simple design.

t’s the charming interiors of 47 JobnerBagh that really caught our attention. The predominantly white colour palette is brought to life with traditional dark wood furniture, and sculpted detailing that is softened with curved elements, warm lighting and flowy window furnishings.

FThe key to this look is to bring in only a few visually heavy, antique and vintage pieces and pair them with minimal furnishings in soft, muted colours. The bedrooms feature antique desks and chairs, traditional bedside tables and Colonial-style dressers set against creamy white walls. Take a cue and mix these cumbersome pieces with streamlined ones like the simple, low bed.

Add some vintage appeal to your home with a gallery wall of old framed photographs in black and white and sepia tones. You can also use distressed furniture in warm, muted colors such as the olive green closet and pieces repurposed pieces like old doors molded like a tall headboard. Polished concrete flooring and white walls form the perfect canvas for this look.