Meet Akshayraj Singh Shaktawat Content creator and hotelier Akshayraj Singh Shaktawat is no stranger to the colourful land of Rajasthan.
Rajput men are known for their dashing demeanor and drop-dead gorgeous dress style. Most of them enjoy wearing their breeches, band galas, achkans et al. Their penchant for jewellery is also historic. Many vintage portraits and paintings show Maharajas wearing elaborate, diamonds, emeralds and pearls around their neck, kalgis on their pugrees and voluminous rings on their fingers. Rajasthan- the state that captures the imagination of everyone who visits it, has stood the test of time and circumstances and till date it retains its heritage, values and traditions. The Rajputs of Rajasthan are famous for their grace, honesty, valour and hospitality. We, the Jagat Collection fraternity, hold these values close to our heart and by reworking these ideas to suit the needs of modern times, proudly present the legacy of ‘living heritage’.
Our properties, Jagat Niwas Palace and Dev Niwas, are both heritage mansions staying true to the bygone era in context of the architecture and decor. We aim at not only providing a comfortable and memorable stay but also, to make you a part of our legacy and immerse you in the opulence of Rajasthani culture and hospitality. With more than 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry, our patron - Thakur Devraj Singh Jagat, welcomes you to revel in the effervescence of all that Rajasthan has to offer - the vibrant festivals, panoramic landscapes, customary traditions, exceptional gastronomy, colourful regalia, unique architecture and imperial history.
Akshayraj Singh Shaktawat’s family owns two hotels, one at Udaipur and another at Bundi. He also has a lifestyle boutique called Jagat Nikhar and also has a collection of Jagat Luxury Boats. He is also a content creator for many brands in the country.
Akshayraj was born and brought up in Udaipur initially. Then he went to the Mayo College, Ajmer for his schooling and did his graduation from Hindu College, New Delhi. Akshayraj thinks his upbringing in Udaipur and the schooling in Mayo has shaped him into what he is today. He remembers growing up in a happy family environment.
As a brand, Jagat Collection has always been working on sustainable tourism and promoting the idea of slow living. What we thought would prevail post-lockdown as a mindset for consumers and service providers would be a very strong and conscious move toward these ideas, but I think everyone is again starting to take their surroundings and heritage for granted. Although I cannot speak for others, I can confidently say that Jagat Collection will continue to strive towards creating a better legacy opposed to one of taking nature for granted. This needs to be applied not only to the hospitality sector but throughout all industries.Talking about the hospitality sector, he says that India as a country is known for its hospitality and he has incorporated this factor in his hotel business in the five years that he has been associated with it. He always strives to make his guests feel welcomed. Akshayraj thinks that Philosophy and Psychology, his subjects in college, must be introduced in all the schools as they give an ethical edge to your thinking. He feels Philosophy makes you ask the questions.
When asked about the Covid times, he says that the lockdown affected their business hugely. However, he says that they had always maintained a high level of hygiene in their hotels so they were able to cope with the Covid protocols easily when things got unlocked. He informs that the profile of their clients changed from mostly international tourists to domestic ones. But he thinks Covid made everyone just calm down a bit.
Akshay does not remember any big failures in life and says he takes even setbacks as learning experiences. Even if he gets a chance to travel back in time, he would not change anything as he is happy at the way his life has shaped up.
In his free time, Akshayraj likes to travel and also document it. Travelling and documenting travel energises him. He loves to explore new cities and new cultures, document them and then share them on his various social media profiles
It started with a staycation in Udaipur at The Royal Retreat Resort & Spa for more than 10 days. That encouraged me to explore even further. But my first trip out of my hometown was to Kumbalgarh for my birthday, which—although a baby step in terms of distance—helped kicked off the travels ahead. I realised that, to a certain extent, if you keep all precautions in mind at all times, then travelling right now is actually great. Hotels have never been more accessible! However, I ensure I take care of my health by taking immunity-boosting measures.To start off, I am probably as paranoid as anybody when it comes to COVID-19.
So my first concern was the number of cases in the area, and the kind of precautions being taken by the property. It was only after I checked the number of rooms occupied at my accommodation and getting comfortable with everything did I confirm my travel plans. I stayed at Fateh Safari Suites in Kumbhalgarh, which is a secluded property. That definitely gave me peace of mind. It was a breath of fresh air! A change in scenery really refreshes you and staying indoors for so long had me all craving it even more!Honestly, Travel + Leisure India & South Asia’s social media content has been giving me travel goals! I have full itineraries now for when the pandemic goes away for good. Other than that, I have been exploring my hometown Udaipur a lot! There is so much this beautiful city has to offer, and I never got a chance to see it earlier because I never found the time. So, whenever anyone comes here, they now know who to ask for the best hikes and unexplored lakes!As a content creator, I have tried to not restrict myself just to travel. Whenever I travel, fashion and lifestyle have been at par with the travel aspect. So throughout the lockdown, I experimented with photography, and styling (food and fashion, both). With the introduction of reels, a lot of scope was added to videos and hence I started doing travel-related reels.
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