This Hand-Drawn 2D Airbnb in Jaipur Celebrates India’s Heritage
Products and services mentioned on our websites are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, Summit Media may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
It’s undeniable that the popularity of 2D-designed cafes has taken over the world. Apart from the original cafe in Seoul, there are now similar hangouts in Tokyo, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Dublin, and even Manila.
But in India, they’re taking it one step further. In the popular tourist destination of Jaipur, which is part of the Golden Triangle of India’s heritage sites, they have a 2D-inspired, hand-drawn decorated AirBnB.
Owned by Superhost Kapil and located in the cozy C-Scheme neighborhood, the "Meghna 1BHK Flat With Balcony" Airbnb transports you to hand-drawn versions of Jaipur’s most popular tourist destinations.
"When guests come in, their initial reaction is…'Wow!'," Kapil said.
Entrance with a painting of Jal Mahal or the Floating Palace
ALSO READ
Escape to Luxury at This Beachfront Villa in Lian, Batangas
Indulge in Luxurious Me-Time at Anya Resort Tagaytay
From top-to-bottom and edge-to-edge, the one-bedroom Airbnb has been painted by local artists who took around 400 days to finish this liveable masterpiece. It finally opened its doors in October 2023 and currently has five-star reviews. Staying a night will set you back 6,500 Indian rupees (roughly P4,500).
While it is created in the same vein as the other 2D cafes, Kapil wanted to add depth to some of the paintings to make guests feel like they are actually walking into the King’s courtyard, the royal bedroom, and so on.
For example, the living room is inspired by the courtyard of Jaipur’s City Palace, with hand-drawn lines tracing the shapes of its iconic columns and moldings.
The City Palace was designed according to the Vastu Shastra, a traditional Hindu system of architecture that integrates architecture with nature. The same theme is evident in the living room. One side of the wall has a cow, India’s sacred animal, surrounded by lotus flowers, which signifies enlightenment, beauty, fertility, and prosperity in Hinduism. An adjacent wall has a marble structure in the courtyard called the Diwan-e-Khas, and its symmetrical columns are adorned with floral details.
Living room with the courtyard of City Palace in the background
To add excitement and inspire activity in the living room, Kapil added terra cotta jars from the nearby artisanal Bagru village. He also provided traditional musical instruments that guests can play in this space.
Moving on to the kitchen, guests can enjoy a scene from a famous Indian poem on the wall that depicts a pair of star-crossed lovers.
In the bedroom, the headboard is painted with the Hawa Mahal, Jaipur’s popular landmark, symbolizing a crown. This is to make guests feel that when they’re sleeping, the crown rests on their heads. This royal treatment extends to the veranda with hammocks and throw pillows, where guests can unwind after a long day of sightseeing.
Bedroom with the Hawa Mahal painting as the headboard
No detail escaped Kapil. Even the arms of the chandeliers, brought from Delhi, are hand-painted. The facade of the wardrobe is decorated with traditional garbs of the king and queen, war medals, and precious jewels. The kitchen cupboard doors are marked with drawings of clay pots and other traditional materials. The ceilings alone took four artists and three months to finish.
Kitchen with hand-painted cupboards
The suite, despite its heritage-inspired design, also hides a modern twist. It is also a smart home, equipped with voice commands that close the curtains or turn on the air-conditioning, lights, etc. And, of course, they did not scrimp on the property’s amenities as well. They made sure they only used the best quality furniture, toiletries, and more.
Kapil’s idea for transforming his Airbnb into an homage to Jaipur’s heritage site stems from his passion for giving his guests an experience. His niece, who has a degree in interior design, helped his ideas come to life.
The bedroom closets designed with the king and queens wardrobe essentials
The bathroom with hand-painted tiles and mirrors
"When they take photos at the Red City or National Palace, people notice the background and the actual sites. The guests are not the stars of the photos. But in this Airbnb, they are the star," he said.
What he means by this is when you share photos of your trip with your friends, their gazes will focus on the structures in the background and not on you. On the other hand, in his AirBnB—while the handpainted historic sites are still part of the photo, you will stand out in the frame, he explained.
Kapil’s effort paid off, and his room caught Airbnb's attention when it was awarded "1st in Unique Experience." Global public relations consultancy firm Edelman also got in touch with them so that they can be featured as one of the Most Unique Stays in the world.
His guests come from worldwide, including the US, Europe, Asia, and the Philippines. "Both our local and international guests feel welcome when they stay here! It brings everyone together!" he said.
Kapil and his team have proven that while the adaptive reuse of old structures and turning them into Airbnbs is one way to pay homage to a city’s heritage, there is another hip and trendy way to do it.
Meghna 1BHK Flat With Balcony is in C Scheme, Jaipur District, Rajasthan, India. Rates start at 6,500 Indian rupees (roughly P4,500). Book through Airbnb.
Links are updated regularly and as much as possible but note that products can run out of stock, discounts can expire, and listed prices can change without prior notice.
For more discounts and deals, check out Esquire’s exclusive vouchers.
