Walking through the gates of Mayo College in Ajmer feels like stepping back in time nearly a century and a half. Once a school built exclusively for princes and royals, this prestigious boarding institution is now educating a new generation of India’s elite — children of business leaders, diplomats, politicians, and senior military officials.
Mayo College was founded in 1875 by the British under the Earl of Mayo, modeled after England’s elite boarding schools. Its first student was the son of the Maharajah of Alwar, who arrived with great ceremony, accompanied by a palanquin and hundreds of attendants.
While only a handful of today’s students come from royal families, the school continues to preserve its traditions and heritage. According to its principal, the focus is on honoring the past while equipping students for modern challenges and global opportunities.
Tuition at Mayo is among the highest in India — around US$11,500 per year — in sharp contrast to the nation’s average income. Yet, families see this as an investment in quality education, offering world-class facilities, strong academics, structured discipline, and rich extracurricular opportunities.
The 76-hectare campus is filled with lush gardens, historic buildings, and tree-lined avenues, offering a serene learning environment. Students follow a strict daily routine: early mornings, full schedules of academics and co-curricular activities, and lights out by 9:30 pm. To support student well-being, the school has introduced counseling services, expanded female staff, and initiatives to make hostel life more inclusive.
Academics are English-medium and diverse, spanning science, literature, art, music, and international studies. Afternoons are devoted to sports, with facilities for polo, swimming, golf, tennis, and shooting. Interestingly, football has now overtaken cricket as the most popular sport on campus.
Many Mayo students aspire to study abroad in countries such as the UK, USA, Australia, or France, while others plan to take up leadership roles in India. For both groups, Mayo College continues to serve as a launchpad — blending heritage with modern education to prepare future leaders.
