A Night of 350,000 Mirrors

Due to ancient tradition, a queen was not allowed to sleep outside or venture outside of her private apartment. However, the Maharaja Jai Singh’s queen wished to see the stars as she slumbered (a relatable request). With this in mind, the Maharaja asked his architects to build a palace that could somehow fulfill this seemingly impossible request. The result? A gorgeously intricate structure brilliantly covered with mirrors, with one candle creating an illusion of thousands of stars lighting the room.

Constructed between the 16th and 17th Centuries, the Sheesh Mahal’s completion is usually dated around 1727. Located within the massive Amer Fort, or Amber Fort of Jaipur, the Mughal-styled palace is considered to be the most treasured space of the UNESCO site. Nicknamed the “Palace of Mirrors,” the structure evokes the majesty of Versailles and yet feels even more detailed with its “aīna kārī” mirrored mosaic patterns and plasterwork. If the palace wasn’t magical enough, local legend states that the mirrored glass even came all the way from Belgium, which would be quite the trek even in modern times (and a lot of opportunities to get bad luck).

Built to mirror this mirror-filled wonder, Jamavar at the Leela Palace evokes this historical period, right as Jaipur was founded. Even further, the restaurant was fashioned by the same family of artisans who created the Sheesh Mahal. Led by an all-female service team, locally sourced dishes from Gucchi Mutter Masala to Gosht ki Galouti are as pleasing to the palate as the interior decor is to the eye. Most importantly (at the very least to a queen), the space allows any visitor to dine amongst the stars.