Living Life Queen Size: Inside the Lavish World of India’s Most Glamorous Maharanis, From 100 Ferragamo Shoes to a Gold Tongue Cleaner

Before the monarchy was abolished in 1971, India’s maharajas and maharanis were renowned for their indulgence in extraordinary luxury. Their lives were far removed from those of ordinary citizens. They

were globetrotters who, under the influence of the West, developed a refined taste for the finer things in life, what we would call “shaukeen.” The maharanis, too, were celebrated for their opulent lifestyles and their philosophy of living life on a grand scale. Here’s a look at the Indian queens whose love of grandeur and refinement defined an era, and whose stories of luxury continue to fascinate to this day.

Maharani Indira Raje of Cooch Behar

Maharani Indira Devi (19 February 1892 – 6 September 1968) of Cooch Behar lived life queen size. Born into one of the richest princely states, to Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda and his second wife Chimnabai II, her life was one of privilege and luxury. Married to Maharaja Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, Indira Devi was widowed at the age of 30.She became the queen regent, a role she played with grace, keeping her passion for fine things alive. She is credited with introducing chiffon sarees to India, a fabric she discovered while touring the French city of Lyon. Her chiffon sarees were imported from Lyon, and she was known to wear the nine-yard version instead of the traditional six.In Royal Patronage, Power, and Aesthetics in Princely India, historian Angma Dey Jhala notes that Maharani Indira Devi loved shoes, particularly those from the Italian luxury fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo. So much so that she ordered 100 pairs from the maison, and one of her custom designs was encrusted with diamonds and precious stones. She was known for leading a colourful life and hosted lavish parties across Europe. According to historian Manu S. Pillai, “she lost large sums of money gambling in continental casinos, but only after she dazzled everyone with a turtle, its back studded with gems, placed by her side for good luck.”

Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda

The statement “well-behaved women seldom make history” held true for Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda (12 May 1917 – 15 February 1989). A woman far ahead of her time, she defied societal norms and fell in love with Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad of Baroda while she was still married to another man.The Maharaja was the eighth richest man in the world, and she was determined to marry him. She even converted to Islam to end her marriage according to Indian law, before adopting Hinduism to wed the Maharaja. More than a century later, her love for jewellery and sarees is still written about. She would jet-set around the world with at least a hundred sarees and owned hundreds of pieces of jewellery, many of which were created by Van Cleef & Arpels.“During the 1950s, tête-à-têtes between the Maharani of Baroda and Jacques Arpels resulted in many special orders. The Hindu necklace, commissioned by Sita Devi in 1950, was one such creation. Made up of stones taken exclusively from the Baroda royal treasure, it features 13 Colombian teardrop emeralds totalling more than 150 carats,” states the website of Van Cleef & Arpels. She even customised a gold tongue cleaner from the maison, and her cigarette holder was encrusted with rubies.Along with her husband, the Maharaja, she would go on extravagant shopping sprees and spend millions. On one such trip to the United States after the Second World War, the couple reportedly spent 10 million dollars on shopping. She loved to show off her prized possessions, and at the Ascot Gold Cup of 1969, she invited guests to touch a 30-carat sapphire on her hand for good luck. She often wore emeralds the size of walnuts, and would attend glamorous parties in Paris and Monte Carlo. Cartier redesigned several of the Mughal emeralds she inherited, turning them into contemporary masterpieces. The most famous was a breathtaking emerald and diamond bib necklace that became her trademark. The stones were so clear and bright that Cartier created a custom setting to highlight their brilliance.

Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur

Maharani Gayatri Devi (23 May 1919 – 29 July 2009) remains one of the most iconic names in Indian royalty. The daughter of Maharani Indira Devi and Maharaja Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, she made chiffon sarees a signature of elegance among the ladies of India’s royal families. Like her mother, Gayatri Devi’s chiffon sarees were ordered from Lyon, France, where the world’s finest silk was produced. Each piece was woven to her specifications and dyed in delicate shades of ivory, peach, and grey. Chiffon sarees became her signature outfit, paired with exquisite Cartier jewellery or pearls. One of her most coveted pieces was the Cartier Emerald and Platinum Suite. It was an Art Deco masterpiece created in the 1930s. She loved her Basra pearls, and necklace crafted with it became a part of her identity. Gayatri Devi was the face for chiffon sarees paired with pearl necklace.She mostly went on shopping sprees to Paris and Florence, purchasing custom blouses, handbags, and perfumes. Her wardrobe was maintained by professional attendants, and her garments were packed in specially made trunks for travel. The Maharani also enjoyed motoring and was among the first Indian women to drive herself. The first Mercedes-Benz W126, a 500 SEL, in India was imported by Gayatri Devi. Her husband indulged her passion for cars, and once, while holidaying in Europe, she was captivated by a sports car. The next morning she was surprised with a Jaguar XK 120, a gift from her devoted husband.Her residences, including Lily Pool in Jaipur, were furnished with European furniture, Persian carpets, and fine porcelain.