Celebrating the royal sport of Polo at The Leela Palace Jaipur
- Featured Lifestyle Travel & Hospitality
Schenelle Dsouza- 7 minutes read
Schenelle Dsouza
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts recently collaborated with the Rajasthan Polo Club to shine a light on the royal sport of India – Polo. Celebrating its inaugural sponsorship of The Leela Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Polo Cup 2022, The Leela hosted a weekend of celebration with the final tournament commencing on October 9.
The tournament itself took place from October 3-9. The weekend was a celebration to remember. It gave guests and visitors an opportunity to experience the rich culture and traditions of India – supported by a luxurious experience at The Leela Palace Jaipur, along with a viewing of the famed sport of the kings, at the Rajasthan Polo Club, in the presence of the Royal Family of Jaipur.
Commenting on the inaugural sponsorship, Mr Anuraag Bhatnagar – Chief Operating Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, said, “We feel honoured to associate with the royal family and Rajasthan Polo Club for our inaugural sponsorship of Polo in India with The Leela Maharaj Sawai Man Singh Polo Cup 2022. We are also very grateful to our guests for their wonderful feedback on experiencing our curated weekend of Polo. We look forward to our coming years of partnership and taking the game of polo to greater heights.”
A royal sport
What made the event memorable was the rich history associated with the Rajasthan Polo Club and the Royal Family in Jaipur, now shared in line with the legacy of The Leela brand. The Leela’s, rooted in its offering of India’s rich heritage, has a distinct aesthetic that celebrates the country’s rich traditions – the art, craft, culture and cuisine, bringing these aspects to the rest of the world. And the association between the royal sport of polo and a brand known as the hallmark of Indian luxury, makes The Leela Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Polo Cup 2022 a perfect vantage to indulge in timeless traditions, exploring the magic of one of the oldest games in the world.
“Polo in Jaipur is at a very interesting stage today. We’re one of the few cities in the world with the richest history as far as the sport of polo is concerned,” HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh added. “We’ve had some of the greatest players and victories that have been celebrated in Jaipur as well as by the team abroad. And it seems like the sport here is back on track because of events like these (The Leela Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Polo Cup 2022). I think household names like The Leela becoming associated with polo helps promote the sport further.”
Grand celebrations
A prelude to the final match on October 9, The Leela Palace Jaipur hosted a Royal Soiree at Mohan Mahal, the specialty Indian restaurant inspired by the famed Sheesh Mahal, welcoming prestigious guests which included celebrated names like Kajal Aggarwal, Gautam Kitchlu, Swedish actress Elli AvrRam, and Shobhaa De among other notable dignitaries in the presence of members of the royal family of Jaipur which included Maharaja Narendra Singh, Rajkumari Gauravi Kumari, and His Highness Maharaj Sawai Padmanabh Singh who led The Leela Polo Team.
Post the game, The Leela also hosted a Champagne Afternoon Tea to celebrate the association. This event was hosted by Anuraag Bhatnagar – Chief Operating Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts and Chandrashekhar Joshi – General Manager, The Leela Palace Jaipur.
