Jaipur:
The last titular Maharaja of Jaipur, Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh, died at a private hospital in Gurgaon after prolonged illness. He was 80.
The Jaipur royal died late on Saturday night due to multi-organ failure and his body was brought here on Sunday morning, family sources said.
Singh, the head of the Kachwaha clan of Rajputs, was admitted to hospital on March 29.
The Rajasthan government announced a two-day state mourning. Singh's funeral will take place with full state honours at 'Gaitore Ki Chatriya' today, the sources said.
People offered flowers and wreaths as they filed past the body of Singh in a military uniform at the Chandra Mahal here. Rajasthan Governor Shivraj Patil, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and PCC President C P Joshi were among those who paid floral tributes.
Born to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and his first wife Marudhar Kanwar of Jodhpur, Sawai Bhawani Sing married Princess Padmini Devi in 1966.
The royal couple have a daughter Princess Diya Kumari.
Singh had adopted Padmanabh - the son of Diya and son-in-law Narendra Singh - who will now ascend the throne, the sources said.
Singh also served in the Indian Army and received numerous honours including a promotion to the Presidential Bodyguard.
He was awarded India's second-highest gallantry award, the Mahavir Chakra, for leading troops inside Pakistani territory in Sindh region and attacking and destroying many Pakistani posts during the Indo-Pak war of 1971. He was also bestowed the rank of Brigadier 'for life' in 1974.
Singh, also a polo player, ascended the throne of Jaipur in 1970 following the death of his father and remained the official Maharaja of Jaipur until the abolition of royal entitlements by the government.
He also contested the Lok Sabha elections in 1989 from Jaipur on a Congress ticket but was defeated by rival party BJP's Girdhari Lal Bhargav.
Bhawani Singh was the 40th Maharaja of Jaipur and the 11th ruler as per the tradition of Amber.
Rajasthan Assembly Speaker D S Shekhawat and state ministers also paid tributes to Singh.
The tricolour will fly on half-mast during the mourning period in the state while government offices will remain closed in Jaipur district, an official said.