Samode HaveliHaveliA traditional townhouse or mansion built around one or more internal courtyards.Read in the glossary was built as the town residence of the rulers of Samode and has never left the family; their descendants run it now, which is why it reads as a house that takes guests rather than a hotel dressed as a house. Fifty rooms are arranged around a sequence of courtyards and a walled garden, and the address is the thing — inside the old city walls, where most of Jaipur's grand hotels sit well outside them.
The two Sheesh Mahal suites are the reason people book a year out: original fresco work and mirrored walls, in rooms that were painted for the family rather than for the trade. The rest of the house is quieter than that — deep verandahs, a pool set below the terraces, and a roofline that looks straight out over the old city at dusk.
Why We Place Guests Here
- Location does the work: inside the walled city, so the bazaars and the City Palace are a short walk rather than a drive across modern Jaipur.
- It suits travellers who would rather stay in a family house than a palace hotel — the scale is domestic and the service is unscripted.
- The Sheesh Mahal suites are worth the upgrade and worth the lead time; we book them at the same moment we hold the room.
The Table
- Courtyard dinners under the frescoes
- Poolside bar
- Rooftop sundowners over the old city
The Elevated India Signature
The two Sheesh Mahal suites — original fresco and mirror work, painted for the family that still owns the house.
Questions, Answered
How old is Samode Haveli, and is it still family-owned?
It was built around 225 years ago as the Jaipur residence of the rulers of Samode, and their descendants still own and run it — the family connection is continuous rather than restored.
What is the Sheesh Mahal at Samode Haveli?
Two suites finished in original fresco painting and mirror work. They are the most requested rooms in the house and the first to go in season.
Journeys That Take You There
Explore the destination guide: Jaipur, Rajasthan ↗
Photography: Photograph courtesy Samode Hotels