Indian royalty was known for its palaces, jewels and lavish lifestyles. But some of the most unusual stories about former maharajas and maharanis involve the things they bought, commissioned and used in everyday life. A maharani ordered shoes from a famous Italian designer, a maharaja had enormous silver vessels made to carry Ganga jal to England, and another royal reportedly wanted Rolls-Royce cars used to collect garbage.These stories offer a glimpse into the extravagant tastes of India’s former royal families. Here are six unusual examples, including the stories of the Nizam of Hyderabad, the Maharaja of Mysore and the Maharaja of Kapurthala.
Maharani Indira Devi of Cooch Behar and her 100 pairs of shoes
Maharani Indira Devi of Cooch Behar had a taste for fashion that extended to her footwear. She reportedly ordered more than 100 pairs of shoes from Italian shoemaker Salvatore Ferragamo. Some of the shoes were decorated with precious stones, including rubies, emeralds and diamonds. Ferragamo also wrote about the royal customer in his autobiography, describing unusual designs made with pearls and diamonds. One pair was made from green velvet with pearls running up the heels. Another featured black velvet, a diamond buckle and diamonds along the heel.The connection between the Maharani and Ferragamo is also recorded by Google Arts & Culture, which notes that she supplied pearls and diamonds for a pair of shoes. Her footwear choices became part of her reputation for refined, European-influenced fashion.
Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II and his enormous silver vessels
The vessels are among the most famous objects associated with Jaipur’s royal collection.
When Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II of Jaipur travelled to England, he reportedly wanted to take Ganga jal with him. To carry the holy water, two enormous sterling silver vessels were commissioned. The vessels are among the most famous objects associated with Jaipur’s royal collection. They were reportedly made by melting 14,000 silver coins. Their sheer size has made them a notable example of royal craftsmanship and wealth. The vessels are also recorded in the Guinness World Records history of the objects as some of the largest silver vessels of their kind. The story is striking because the silver was used to carry water for the Maharaja’s journey.
Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar and the Rolls-Royce garbage trucks
However, the showroom incident, the number of cars and the garbage-truck conversion are not firmly established by a primary historical source.
One of the most widely repeated stories about Indian royalty involves Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar and a fleet of Rolls-Royce cars. According to the popular account, the Maharaja visited a Rolls-Royce showroom in London. The sales staff allegedly treated him dismissively because he was not dressed in royal attire. The story says that he later returned wearing his royal clothes and ordered several Rolls-Royce cars. After the cars arrived in India, he reportedly instructed that they be used as garbage trucks. The tale has been repeated as an example of how royal wealth could be used to make a point. However, the showroom incident, the number of cars and the garbage-truck conversion are not firmly established by a primary historical source.
Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala and his 60 Louis Vuitton trunks
The Maharaja had more than 60 bespoke Louis Vuitton trunks made for his travels.
Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala was known for his love of French culture and luxury. His affection for Louis Vuitton extended beyond one or two travel bags. The Maharaja had more than 60 bespoke Louis Vuitton trunks made for his travels. The trunks were designed to carry different parts of his royal wardrobe and personal belongings. His luggage included separate trunks for clothes, shoes, turbans, swords and other ceremonial items. Each piece was customzed for its purpose.He had a collection of more than 60 Vuitton trunks, describing his connection with the French luxury house. The Maharaja’s fondness for France was reflected in other parts of his life as well. His Jagatjit Palace in Kapurthala is often associated with French architectural influence. The unusual part of this royal purchase was not just the brand. It was the scale of the collection. For most travellers, one suitcase is enough for a journey. The Maharaja’s wardrobe travelled in dozens of specially made trunks.
Mir Osman Ali Khan and the Jacob Diamond paperweight
The diamond weighs approximately 184.5 carats and is one of the largest polished diamonds in the world.
Among the most famous stories of royal wealth is the one involving Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Jacob Diamond. The diamond weighs approximately 184.5 carats and is one of the largest polished diamonds in the world. It is also known as the Imperial Diamond or Victoria Diamond. According to accounts of the Nizam’s possessions, the Jacob Diamond was used as a paperweight. The story has become one of the best-known examples of how valuable objects were sometimes treated as ordinary household items in royal households.The diamond was originally associated with the Nizam’s family. Historical accounts say that it was found in the shoe of his father, Mahboob Ali Khan, at Chowmahalla Palace. In 1995, the Government of India acquired the diamond from the Nizam’s Trust. It is now held by the Reserve Bank of India in Mumbai.
