The story of Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda began when she married to MR Appa Rao Bahadur, a wealthy Zamindar from Vuyyuru, with whom she had a son. Later in her life, she met Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad of Baroda at the Madras Horse Races, after which her life changed drastically. At the time of her marriage, the Maharaja was the 8th richest man in the world. Here is everything that you need to know about Maharani Sita Devi.
Who is Maharani Sita Devi?
Princess Karam, also known as Maharani Sita Devi of Kapurthala, was much admired for her unique fashion choices and elegance. In addition to her captivating beauty, she was an intelligent lady. The Maharani was famous for the way she perfectly draped her sarees won the admiration of top Italian fashion house Schiaparelli, who were inspired to incorporate facets of her style into their own work.
Sita Devi, the Maharani, was well-known for her luxurious lifestyle. She and the Maharaja were fond of spending on lavish shopping spree, including a couple of trips to the United States where they spent a staggering 83 crore rupees. Sita Devi was famed for her extravagant attire and frequently traveled with a thousand sarees, each perfectly paired with its footwear. Her array of jewelry also commanded substantial attention.
Exquisite jewelries of Sita Devi
Sita Devi was presented with an array of exquisite jewelry pieces from the Baroda treasury, some of which dated back to the Mughal era, according to Christie’s New York. Among her remarkable collection were a seven-strand pearl necklace and a deluxe three-row diamond necklace, studded with the famous ‘Star of the South’ and ‘English Dresden’ diamonds. While a number of her valuable pieces were put up for auction in Monaco, the seven-strand pearl necklace remained a treasure in the Baroda Royal Treasury.
Princess Karam was born as Sita Devi in 1915 to a Hindu Rajput Raja Uday Raj Singh of Kashipur, Uttarakhand. She was married to Prince Karmjit Singh, son of King of Kapurthala at the tender age of 13. Later in her life, she was honoured to have helped raise funds for the Indian soldiers during the second world war.
