Gayatri Devi: A tale of true Indian royal beauty (view pics)

She was born as the Princess of Cooch Behar on 23rd May 1919 to parents, father Prince Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, West Bengal, and mother Maratha Princess Indira Raje of Baroda at London. All her life she was fondly addressed as 'Ayesha' by her closed ones.Prince Jitendra was second in line to throne after his elder brother, and Princess Indira was the only daughter of her parents. Indira was an epitome of beauty.Gayatri Devi was very young when her uncle died and the royal 'Gaddi' was bestowed on her father, making her the heiress of Cooch Behar.Gayatri Devi had always been very simple, polite and cute li'l girl of her parents. She was sent off to Glendower Preparatory School at London for studies. She was further sent to University of Lausanne at Switzerland, where she stayed for a while with her mother and other siblings.Gayatri was now becoming an elegant lady, she first met her future husband Sir Sawai Man Singh II when she was just 12. Sawai Man Singh II had come to Calcutta to play Polo and had stayed with Gayatri Devi's family for a while.During the same period Gayatri Devi displayed her love for horses and took up professional Equestrienne sports.Sawai Man Singh II was already married twice when Gayatri Devi fell in love with him. Gayatri Devi soon married Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and was later bestowed with titled Maharani Gayatri Devi.The couple were good friends with British royalty, on their visit to India, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip were invited for an hunting expedition by the Indian royal couple Maharaja Sawai Man singh II and wife Maharani Gayatri Devi.Gayatri Devi was an example of striking beauty and was also seen as an elegant horse rider & star wife of a polo player. Gayatri Devi breathed her last on 29th July 2009.View more pics...Being a Maharani didn't deter Gayatri Devi to push out through the traditionally limited activities of Princess's of those times. She remained a philanthropist all her life and dedicated all her efforts to abolish ‘purdah' system on women, aware women about their empowerment and education. The charismatic beauty of Jaipur Royal, Gayatri Devi was seen as striking women of international glamour and proficient political courage.She won her place in the list of World's Top Ten Beautiful women in Vogue. She complained of some gastric problems in the later years of her life, Gayatri Devi was taken to London for treatments, but she later wished to be treated back at home. Her children flew her back to Jaipur where she was further treated.