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Lakshyaraj Singh , scion of ’s House of Mewar, has more than his fair share of duties as a prince. Besides overseeing the family- run group of heritage hotels and dedicating himself to philanthropic causes, he is the torchbearer of a legacy that dates back to the eighth century. MARWAR talks to the royal hotelier and humanist about his childhood, his passions and the responsibilities he shoulders.

Text Beverly Pereira A prince & a gentleman Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar understands the adage ‘With great power comes great responsibility’ all too well. The only son of Shriji , the 76th Custodian of the House of Mewar, he is the executive director of the HRH Group of Hotels that was established by his father. The family-owned group is reputed for perpetuating the rich legacy of Mewar that dates back to the eighth century and is India’s only chain of heritage palace-hotels and resorts under private ownership. Over the years, the group has sensitively restored and converted many of the palaces and sanctuary-resorts once owned by Lakshyaraj’s grandfather and Mewar patriarch, Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar, who was the 75th custodian in an unbroken chain of maharanas dating back to 734 AD, including iconic figures like Kumbha, Rana Sangha and Rana Pratap. The group has also been at the forefront of making more than just a slice of ’s history accessible to the public through the royal family of Mewar’s self-funded museums.

Redefining luxury The true essence of luxury is portrayed through the lens of heritage, rareness and excellence, and the 33-year-old scion is no stranger to this lexicon of luxury. Every one of the group’s hotels maintains its original character,

Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur MARWAR INDIA I november-december 2018 26 SPECIAL FEATURE 27

ensuring that guests truly ‘Experience the Original in the learnings in Australia. “Hospitality does Clockwise from top left: Abode of the Kings’. For example, at Jagmandir Island come naturally to people from India. At Satkar Banquet Hall at Palace, the group’s heritage hotel situated on an island Blue Mountains, I honed my hospitality the Fateh Prakash Palace; in the serene , the customer is literally the skills with the best-in-class teachers and A bird's-eye view of the king. Built in the 16th and 17th centuries by the deans,” says Lakshyaraj, who went on to spectacular Shiv Niwas of the kingdom of Mewar, the erstwhile palace is intern at Four Seasons and at a fine dining Palace heritage hotel, in steeped in history. It also is the epitome of luxury in its restaurant in Australia, working under Udaipur; Fateh Prakash most authentic form and is truly unique. “The uniqueness some of the finest chefs and restaurant Palace heritage hotel, in is derived from the grand architecture, spacious courtyards owners, before returning to India. Udaipur and lawns and luxurious suites with rare paintings, crystal Even after all these years, Australia chandeliers and objets d’art,” says Lakshyaraj Singh. still has a special place in his heart, and “In the 17th century Jagmandir Island Palace, today we his ties with the country are as strong as are sensitively and effectively catering to the 21st century ever. On a trip to Australia earlier this audience. It is a major challenge for us to maintain and year, he was ecstatic to know that he was keep alive its original character though,” he adds. to be nominated as the Victorian Business Ambassador to boost trade ties between Learning the ropes India and Victoria. As the third generation of hoteliers in his family, Lakshyaraj was entrusted with the responsibility of The business of luxury breathing new life into Jagmandir Island Palace in 2007. Besides Jagmandir Island Palace, He had just returned to India after graduating from the Lakshyaraj oversees other heritage hotels Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School of the group, like and in Australia. Thus, he assumed the position of general Fateh Prakash Palace. Classified under manager at the Jagmandir Island Palace, elevating the the Grand Heritage Palace category, image of the heritage hotel through 2008-09, thanks to his both are located in Udaipur and are MARWAR INDIA I november-december 2018 28 SPECIAL FEATURE 29

recipients of the National Tourism Award in 'Heritage Grand' category. The Fateh Prakash Palace is home to one of the world’s largest private collections of crystal under a single roof, housing an incredible collection of crystal ware, ranging from decanters and glasses to washing bowls and even furniture—each customised for the House of Mewar and bearing a delicately etched crest of Mewar. A visit to Jagriti, Prakash Palace, they know that they have Top left: Lakshyaraj the heritage exhibition at Jagmandir a world-class museum adjoining it,” he Singh Mewar (left) Island Palace, is just as insightful. Even explains. with Shriji Arvind the group’s Royal Retreats like Shikarbadi Singh Mewar, the 76th Hotel in Udaipur, Karni Bhawan Palace Life inside the palace walls Custodian of the House in Bikaner, Gorbandh Palace in Jaisalmer, Before leaving India to pursue further of Mewar; Fateh Bagh in Ranakpur and The Aodhi studies in Australia, his life had always Top right: Lakshyaraj in offer the curious traveller been firmly rooted in Udaipur. It was on Singh Mewar after a glimpse into the lives of erstwhile these very grounds of the sprawling City concluding morning Mewar royalty. “At HRH Group, we have Palace complex that Lakshyaraj spent all Hawan-Poojan at always been committed to 'marketing the of his childhood. “Life and growing up in destination', rather than merely marketing the City Palace has been a dream! I live Smarak Samiti the palace-hotels, however unique these in our ancestral home beside a lake that may be,” says the hotelier, who was is surrounded by hills; and our private honoured with the ‘Young Hotelier of the residence is Shambhu Niwas,” he says, Year 2018’ award, in addition to earning adding that his office is located near the The regal other entrepreneurial accolades over the Tripolya, or the famous gateways (pols) experiences years. into the City Palace. Like his father in Udaipur are Then, there’s the City Palace Museum. and grandfather, he has studied at the Located at the City Palace complex, it prestigious Mayo College in . “It is richly diverse. is a repository of rare paintings, murals, a family tradition and I was immensely Our guests photographs and armaments, intended at proud to uphold it. Mayo College was a absorb the preserving the cultural heritage and the tremendous learning experience. My love living heritage time honoured traditions of the people of for cricket and sports in general grew and Mewar. “The regal experiences in Udaipur flourished there. And I made friendships of Mewar as are richly diverse. Our guests absorb the which have stood the test of time,” he they enjoy their living heritage of Mewar as they enjoy says, reminiscing about his days at his holidays with us their holidays with us. When guests are alma mater. staying at Shiv Niwas Palace or Fateh His childhood, he admits, was just MARWAR INDIA I november-december 2018 30 SPECIAL FEATURE 31

like any other child’s. “My parents—Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar and Vijayraj Kumari Mewar—have been strict disciplinarians without being overbearing. My dear mother instilled in us the belief that we have to be a part of the world we live in yet have the sensibility to remain apart. There has been enormous amount of freedom to do what one likes, to travel and develop one’s passions,” says Lakshyaraj. Today, he remains devoted to bringing up his daughter, Mohlakshika, together with his wife, Nivritti Kumari Mewar, who is “a professional in her own right”. “Yes, bringing up a child is a great responsibility and we feel blessed to have so much love and support,” he says, explaining that both sets of grandparents dote on their daughter as well. Clockwise from top left: Lakshyaraj Singh The joy of giving Mewar receiving the green and gold jersey of Philanthropy is a way of pride and confidence in people, remain the Australian Cricket Team at the Melbourne life in the Mewar family ethos, and in closest to his heart. Cricket Club, Australia; Lakshyaraj Singh January this year, Lakshyaraj flagged Mewar with wife Nivritti Kumari Mewar off a pan-India clothes donation drive Leisurely pursuits and daughter Mohlakshika; Lakshyaraj Singh called Vastra Daan. It involved collecting “Leisure time is with friends and I have Mewar posing with certificate awarded by India 3,01,500 clothes for recycle donation and a very small circle of friends. I relax with Book of Records for donating a record 3,01,500 giving them away to the underprivileged them, sharing laughter and food.” Also, clothes at his Vastra Daan initiative; from across the world. It was lauded music is more than just a passion for him, Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar with music composer as a pioneering initiative. “We live Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s qawwalis Salim Merchant and Sanjay Datta, Principal, philanthropy every day, not just indulge being a favourite. “Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Maharana Mewar Public School, giving away in it for a few days,” he says. At present, Khan is the ultimate singer and performer! the Cockhouse Trophy to Pratap House during Lakshyaraj is also engaged as a trustee Every qawwali of the Ustad is sublime and Annual Prize Giving Ceremony, 2016 of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable unique. I have built up an entire collection Foundation (MMCF), established by of his qawwalis which I treasure. My ring- his late grandfather in 1969 to ensure tone is also from the Ustad’s qawwali! I the continuity of the House of Mewar. only wish I had heard him live.” And under Eternal Mewar, a project that encompasses non-profit and philanthropic Cricket is another passion, the seeds I’m actively involved with the Rajasthan undertakings of the Mewars, he has of which were sown during his Mayo Cricket Association, mentoring young been involved in various developmental days, even nurturing a desire to play for teams and promising players from our projects and confesses that the growth of the state and the country. “I learnt the state and district. It is yet another huge the Maharana Mewar Public School and value of teamwork and the importance responsibility to shoulder. But I love the Maharana Pratap Smarak Smriti, an of leadership through cricket. While it!” concludes the House of Mewar’s organisation that aims to instill a sense of I’ve given up competitive cricket now, promising scion.