The words Maharaja or Nawaab conjure up images of grandeur, palaces, Rolls Royces, and a jet-setting lifestyle. But in the 1950s, when the monarchy was abolished, all the titles and their rule came to a standstill. In the 21st century, you can’t help but wonder: Are the royals still living an opulent life? Well, not all of them but a few are for sure.
Jaipur
The royal family has given the Rambagh Palace to Taj Hotels to run. Padmanabh Singh, the young king himself, partnered with AirBnB and put up a suite in the Jaipur city palace on the travel website where tourists can come, stay, and get a taste of the royal life. All the proceeds from this would go to the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation.
Jodhpur
A part of the Umaid Bhawan Palace is open to tourists, and the rest is managed by the Taj Group of Hotels, which runs the place in partnership with the family. Maharaja Gaj Singh has not only served a term as a member of the Rajya Sabha, but he also served as Indian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago a few years back.
Pataudi
Mansoor Ali Khan was the last titular Nawab. He was a cricketer, and his son, Saif Ali Khan, is an actor. According to reports, he earned 66 lakhs last year.
Udaipur
Besides being a nominal king, Arvind Singh is a very successful businessman. He is the head of the HRH Group of Hotels, which has over 10 hotels under it. He has also given some places that still belong to the royal family on lease, notably the Lake Palace and some portions of Udaipur City Palace.
Mysore
The royal family’s brand, Royal Silk of Mysore, started by Srikantadatta, has remained a major success. The new king, however, holds a degree in English literature and economics. He tied the knot with the Princess of Dungarpur, Trishika Kumar Singh, in 2016. It is rumoured that the family has assets worth Rs 10,000 crore.
