Ethnically born in a Koch Rajbongshi Hindu family, her father, Prince Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, West Bengal, was the younger brother of the Yuvraja ( Crown Prince ) and her mother was Maratha Princess Indira Raje of Baroda, the only daughter of Maratha King, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III . Maharani Gayatri Devi was a particularly avid equestrienne.
