Jaipur Royal Family: The Kachwaha Dynasty Led by Maharaja Padmanabh Singh

The Jaipur Royal Family is one of India's most prominent and wealthy royal dynasties, tracing their lineage back over a thousand years to the legendary Kachwaha Rajputs. While India abolished royal titles and privileges in 1971, the family continues to hold immense cultural significance and manages a vast portfolio of heritage properties, businesses, and charitable trusts.

Today, the family is led by the young Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh, while his mother Princess Diya Kumari serves as the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan — a remarkable blend of royal heritage and democratic politics.

The Current Royal Family Members

Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh

Born: July 2, 1998 (26 years old)
Title: 12th Maharaja of Jaipur, 40th Head of the Kachwaha Clan
Nickname: "Pacho" (given by his grandmother)

Padmanabh Singh became the titular Maharaja of Jaipur at just 12 years old following the death of his grandfather, Maharaja Bhawani Singh, in 2011. On his 18th birthday in July 2016, he officially ascended to the throne in a grand ceremony at the City Palace.

Though born to Princess Diya Kumari and Narendra Singh, Padmanabh was adopted by his maternal grandparents at age four, making him the direct heir to the Jaipur throne. He is the 303rd descendant of the royal lineage that has called the City Palace home since 1727.

Education

• Mayo College, Ajmer — One of India's most prestigious boarding schools
• Millfield School, Somerset, England — British public school education
• Università e Nobil Collegio Sant'Eligio, Rome — Studying cultural heritage management, art history, and Italian language

Polo Career

Padmanabh is an accomplished polo player of international repute:

• Started competitive polo in 2015 in England
• Member of Guards Polo Club
• Led the Indian national team at Hurlingham Park in 2017 — first Indian team visit in 70+ years
• Named Captain of the Indian National Polo Team in 2022
• Youngest player to win the India Open polo tournament
• Won almost every major polo tournament in India

Recent Achievements (2024)

• Appointed Global Brand Ambassador for U.S. Polo Assn. in February 2024
• Hosted U.S. Polo Assn. fashion showcase in Jaipur in September 2024
• Became Airbnb's first sovereign host in 2019, listing the Gudliya Suite at City Palace for $7,774 per night

Princess Diya Kumari — Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan

Born: January 30, 1971
Current Position: Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan (since December 2023)
Relation: Mother of Maharaja Padmanabh Singh, daughter of late Maharaja Bhawani Singh

Diya Kumari represents a unique blend of royal heritage and democratic politics. She is the only daughter of Maharaja Bhawani Singh and manages the family's extensive portfolio.

Political Career

• Joined BJP in September 2013 in the presence of Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh
• Elected MLA from Sawai Madhopur in 2013
• Elected MP from Rajsamand in 2019 with a margin of 5.51 lakh votes — one of the top 20 biggest victory margins that year
• Won Vidhyadhar Nagar assembly seat in 2023 by 71,368 votes
• Appointed Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan in December 2023

Business & Philanthropy

• Manages City Palace, Jaigarh Fort, and multiple heritage properties
• Runs The Palace School and Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh School
• Oversees Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum Trust
• Founder of the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation (PDKF) for women's empowerment and artisan support

Princess Gauravi Kumari

The younger sister of Maharaja Padmanabh Singh, Gauravi is a modern princess making her mark in fashion and philanthropy.

• Graduate of NYU's Gallatin School with specialization in Media and Communications
• Studied art in Florence, Italy
• General Secretary of the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation (PDKF)
• Named Jimmy Choo Brand Ambassador in June 2024
• Passionate advocate for Jaipur's heritage preservation

Maharaja Lakshraj Prakash of Sirmaur

The youngest sibling, Lakshya Raj Singh, holds the titular title of Maharaja of Sirmaur — inherited through the maternal grandmother's lineage. Rajmata Padmini Devi (their grandmother) belongs to the Sirmaur royal family of Himachal Pradesh.

Rajmata Padmini Devi

The grandmother of the current generation, Padmini Devi was married to Maharaja Bhawani Singh. She continues to be an influential figure in the family and gave Padmanabh his nickname "Pacho."

The Kachwaha Dynasty: A Thousand-Year Legacy

The Jaipur Royal Family belongs to the Kachwaha Rajput clan, one of India's most distinguished royal lineages.

Origins

• Claim descent from Kusha, son of the legendary Lord Rama (Suryavanshi/Sun Dynasty)
• Migrated from Gwalior to the Dhundhar region around the 11th century
• Established rule in Amber under Duleh Rai, who captured Amber Fort in the 11th century

Key Rulers in History

Sawai Jai Singh II (1688-1743) — Founder of Jaipur

The 30th Kachwaha ruler and the visionary who built the Pink City:

• Became ruler of Amber at age 11
• Given the title "Sawai" (meaning "one and a quarter times superior") by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
• Founded the city of Jaipur in 1727 and moved the capital from Amber
• Commissioned the famous Jantar Mantar observatories in Jaipur and other cities
• Created Jaivana, the world's largest wheeled cannon, at Jaigarh Fort
• Renowned for expertise in mathematics, astronomy, and architecture

Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II (1912-1970) — Last Ruling Maharaja

The last sovereign ruler of Jaipur during British India:

• Adopted as heir by Maharaja Madho Singh II in 1921
• Enthroned as Maharaja on September 7, 1922
• Ruled Jaipur State until India's independence in 1947
• Merged Jaipur with the new state of Rajasthan in 1949
• Appointed first Raj Pramukh (Governor) of Rajasthan
• Married the legendary Maharani Gayatri Devi of Cooch Behar in 1940
• Died tragically in a polo accident in England in 1970

Maharani Gayatri Devi (1919-2009)

Perhaps the most famous member of the Jaipur royal family globally:

• Third wife of Man Singh II
• Named one of the world's most beautiful women by Vogue
• Elected to Parliament in 1962 with a world record 1.92 million votes
• Fashion icon and global celebrity
• Author of the memoir "A Princess Remembers"

Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh (1931-2011)

Father of Diya Kumari and grandfather of Padmanabh Singh:

• Son of Man Singh II
• Decorated soldier who served in the Indian Army
• Awarded Maha Vir Chakra for bravery in the 1971 Indo-Pak War
• Managed the royal estates and heritage properties

Royal Wealth & Properties

The Jaipur Royal Family is among India's wealthiest royal dynasties:

Estimated Net Worth

• Total family wealth: Estimated at ₹20,000 crore ($2.8 billion USD)
• Maharaja Padmanabh Singh's personal fortune: $697-855 million USD

Major Properties

• City Palace, Jaipur — 300-year-old royal residence, now partially a museum
• Jaigarh Fort — Historic fortress housing the Jaivana cannon
• Rambagh Palace — Now a luxury Taj hotel
• Jaipur House, Delhi — Heritage property in the capital
• Jai Mahal Palace — Another luxury hotel property

Businesses & Trusts

• Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum Trust
• Jaigarh Public Charitable Trust
• The Palace School
• Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh School
• Multiple luxury hotel partnerships

Living at City Palace

Unlike many former royal families who have moved to modern residences, the Jaipur royals continue to live in a private section of the City Palace. The Chandra Mahal, a seven-story structure, remains the family's primary residence, while other parts of the palace complex are open to visitors as a museum.

The Gudliya Suite, a luxury accommodation within City Palace, was famously listed on Airbnb in 2019, making Padmanabh Singh the platform's first sovereign host. At $7,774 per night, proceeds support the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation's work with local artisans and women.

Modern Relevance

The Jaipur Royal Family has successfully navigated the transition from sovereign rulers to cultural custodians and, in Diya Kumari's case, elected representatives. They represent a unique chapter in Indian democracy — where centuries-old royal heritage coexists with modern democratic participation.

Through their management of heritage properties, support for traditional crafts via PDKF, and representation of Rajasthani culture on global platforms, the family continues to play an important role in preserving and promoting Jaipur's legacy as the Pink City.

Quick Facts

The Jaipur Royal Family stands as a living connection between India's magnificent past and its dynamic present — a reminder that while kingdoms may end, legacies endure.