Dramatic downfall of Rajasthan's Villa Palladio

Villa Palladio, the ultra-luxurious nine-room resort outside Jaipur, Rajasthan, has been sealed by the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) for illegally encroaching on government land. This stunning turn of events comes just three years after its grand opening in September 2022, which drew accolades from global travel publications and attracted the rich and famous.

Built in 1960 by Kanota nobleman Abhay Singh, Villa Palladio embodied Rajasthani heritage with its open pavilions, scalloped arches, turrets and fort-like walls. Italian entrepreneur Barbara Miolini and Dutch designer Marie Anne Oudejans transformed it into a boutique hotel, blending Italian and Rajasthani flair.

What went wrong?

The JDA's enforcement wing found Villa Palladio guilty of encroaching on three bighas of government land — two bighas belonging to JDA and one bigha near the Kanota Dam filling area. Illegal structures, including a stone path, horse stables, entrance gate, and kiosks, were demolished.

Despite earlier notices and a court case, the resort failed to remove the encroachments, leading to its sealing on September 15, 2025.