Align your expectations with reality, and you'll find a way to fulfill them.
Align your expectations with reality, and you'll find a way to fulfill them.
Akshayraj Singh Shaktawat is an important member of Team Jagat Collection which owns two renowned heritage hotels— the Jagat Niwas Palace in Udaipur and the Dev Niwas in Bundi.
As a key figure in Team Jagat Collection, Akshayraj Singh oversees the operations and management of both the properties, ensuring exceptional guest experiences. Beyond hospitality, he is the founder of Jagat Nikhar, a Luxury Lifestyle Boutique, and also curates Jagat Luxury Boats, offering exclusive boat experiences. Additionally, he is a prominent content creator, collaborating with leading brands across India.
Hotel Owner Akshayraj Shaktawat shares that the Jagat Niwas Palace Hotel in Udaipur was the first property under the Jagat Collection banner, established around 35 years ago by his father, Thakur Devraj Singh Shaktawat. Since joining the family business five years ago, Akshayraj has been actively involved in its growth, renovations, and conceptual innovations, ensuring the heritage hotel continues to evolve while preserving its rich legacy.
Talking about the hospitality sector, Akshayraj Singh Shaktawat says he believes that India's rich heritage of welcoming the guests wholeheartedly is one of its defining qualities, and he has deeply integrated this ethos into his hotel business over the past five years. His commitment to creating a warm, welcoming experience for guests is at the core of his work, ensuring that every visitor feels at home during their stay at his hotels.
Hospitality Entrepreneur Akshayraj Singh is passionate about education and intellectual growth. He strongly advocates introduction of Philosophy and Psychology in school curriculums, as he believes these subjects provide an ethical edge to decision-making. He emphasizes that Philosophy, often called the “mother of sciences,” encourages critical thinking by prompting individuals to ask deeper questions, fostering a mindset of curiosity and reflection.
Reflecting on his early years, Hotelier Shaktawat recalls a cherished upbringing in Udaipur, where he was surrounded by a warm and supportive family. His educational journey took him to Mayo College, Ajmer for schooling, followed by graduation from Hindu College, New Delhi. He believes that the blend of Udaipur’s rich cultural heritage and Mayo’s disciplined academic environment played a crucial role in shaping his personality, values, and professional outlook.
Being a part of Mayo College played a pivotal role in shaping Akshayraj Singh’s career. Taking on leadership roles and responsibilities helped him hone his organizational and management skills, laying a strong foundation for his future. His time in Delhi was equally transformative, as it pushed him beyond the comforts of a protected environment, allowing him to embrace independence, adaptability and new perspectives—all of which significantly influenced his personal and professional growth.
When it comes to role models, Akshayraj Singh shares that he does not have one particular figure that he looks up to. Instead, he has been deeply influenced by his parents, who have instilled in him strong moral and ethical values. Their outlook on life, their principles, and the way they navigate challenges have been the most inspiring aspects for him.
Apart from his parents, Akshayraj Singh believes in learning from everyone he encounters. He observes and absorbs the best qualities from different individuals and tries to incorporate those virtues into his own life. Whether it’s leadership, resilience, kindness, or innovation, he continuously strives to evolve by adopting the most admirable traits he finds in people around him.
When asked about his hardships, Akshayraj Singh Shaktawat acknowledges that he was fortunate to be born into a stable family and did not face significant hardships in terms of financial struggles. However, his greatest challenge was navigating his own path in life—determining how he would move forward while staying true to his passions. While he deeply valued the hospitality sector, which was his family's traditional business, he didn’t want to confine himself to just one field.
With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Jagat Niwas Palace owner Akshayraj ventured into new domains by launching Jagat Nikhar, a lifestyle boutique, and expanding into the luxury experience industry with Jagat Boats. His passion for creativity also led him to explore content creation, where he collaborates with leading brands in the fashion, travel, and lifestyle sectors. Akshayraj Singh considers this diversification his biggest achievement, as it allowed him to successfully merge his creative instincts with his professional ambitions, building a multifaceted career that goes beyond the boundaries of traditional business.
In terms of achievements, Akshayraj Singh considers diversification of his family business one of his biggest achievements, as it allowed him to break away from the conventional path of being just a hotelier’s son. While he embraced his family's hospitality business, he also carved his own niche by launching Jagat Nikhar and Jagat Boats. Additionally, his success as a content creator in the fashion, travel, and lifestyle space has been a significant milestone.
Beyond professional success, he sees personal fulfillment as an achievement. He takes pride in where he stands today and is excited about the journey ahead, continuously striving for growth and innovation in his endeavors.
When asked about the impact of COVID-19, Akshayraj Singh Shaktawat shares that the lockdown significantly affected their business, but they were well-prepared to adapt. Since hygiene and cleanliness had always been a top priority at Jagat Niwas Udaipur and Dev Niwas Bundi, they seamlessly adjusted to the new safety protocols when things reopened.
One major shift he observed was the change in clientele—before the pandemic, their hotels primarily catered to international tourists, but during and after COVID, there was a surge in domestic tourism. Fortunately, they received strong support from domestic travelers, which helped them sustain the business.
Beyond business, Akshayraj also believes that COVID changed people's perspectives. It encouraged a sense of calm and mindfulness, leading many to seek new experiences and activities in the hospitality industry. This shift, he feels, has influenced the way people now explore and appreciate travel.
Akshayraj Singh says he doesn't recall experiencing any major failures in life, as he views even setbacks as valuable learning experiences that contribute to his personal growth. He believes that each challenge offers an opportunity for improvement and that every moment has shaped him into who he is today. In fact, even if given the chance to travel back in time, he would not change anything, as he is content with how his life has unfolded.
In his free time, Shaktawat finds great joy in traveling and documenting his journeys. He is particularly passionate about exploring new cities and experiencing different cultures. His travels not only recharge him but also allow him to document his experiences through photography and writing, sharing them with his followers on social media. Through this hobby, he gains valuable perspectives that further enrich his outlook on life, and he finds it energizing to engage with different people and places.
Akshayraj Singh's life mantra is simple yet powerful: "If you want to do something, go for it. You will figure out a way to achieve it." He believes in aligning your expectations with reality and then moving forward with determination and perseverance. For him, the key to success lies in taking action and adapting along the way.
His message to everyone is rooted in kindness and understanding. "Choose kindness," he advises. "Don’t judge a person hastily. Listen to them, for you may not know the struggles they are going through."
Content Creator Akshayraj Singh Shaktawat believes that we all have the power to make a positive impact on the world by bringing calm, peace, and kindness into our daily interactions. He constantly strives to become a better version of himself, driven by a desire to help create a more compassionate and harmonious world.