City Palace of Jaipur (Rajasthan)

Commemorating the signature of the royal residence is the scintillating beauty of Jaipur city located in the heart of the pink city. Built by the founder of the city, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727 AD, it covers almost one-seventh of the city. The grandness and innate beauty of the Palace gives a royal treat to the eyes as soon as one ingresses into the palace and represents a concoction of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles of architecture.

The behemoth structure is a repository of all that you wanted to have a glance to know the lifestyles of the royals of the walled city. The two entrance gates, one from the Jaleb Chawk and other from the Tripola gate, take us to the wide-spanning areas of gardens palaces and courtyards.

The first courtyard that we see as soon as we enter the Tripola Gate is the Mubarak Mahal or 'the auspicious palace' as the name suggests. It acted as a reception center for the visitors during the reign of the royals. Built by Maharaj Madho Singh II in the late 19th century,embraces an information center or library and an office in the ground floor. On the second floor one can find the textile museum showcasing excuisite Indian textile ranging from the Royalwear to the Pashmina and the Benarasi silk.

The Diwan-e-Aam or the house of the commons, brandished with crystal chandeliers and colorfully painted ceilings epitomizes the Mughal style of architecture. It is entered through another gate near the Mubarak Mahal. This part of the complex manifests an extensive Art Gallery exhibiting miniature copies of Hindu scripts like the Bhagwad Gita, Ramayana and ancient fictions together with Rajasthani, Mughal and Persian miniature paintings, palanquins and elephant saddles or howdas. The famed Muslim author Abul Fazl' version of the Mahabharata known as Razmnamah is also carefully preserved here.

To the north-west of the city palace complex is the seven-storied Chandra Mahal where the current royal Maharaja of Jaipur and his family still resides. It also houses the Sawai Man Singh II Museum which was earlier called the 'Maharaja of Jaipur Museum', at the ground and the first floor with rare enamelware, wall frescos, carpets, mirror-work and weaponry including guns and gun-powder, belt swords, scissor action daggers, pistols and canons, poison-tipped blades that were used by the Royal Maharajas or kings.

The third floor of the Chandra Mahal comprises of the resiting and dining area of the palace which is aptly called 'Sukh Mahal'. On the fourth floor is the Shobha Niwas which actualizes the hall of beauty of the palace with its ornate mirrorwork and the gold-leaf decorations. The fifth floor is named the Chavi Niwas which means the 'hall of images'. It has white and blue colored walls and a reflecting-polished floor. It acted as the idiol retreat for the Maharajas.

The topmost floor or the crown of the palace is aptly known as the Mukut Palace which gives a panoramic view of the lush royal gardens, wide sprung courtyards and the rugged hills from its mirrored-ceilings.

Opposite to the Chandra Mahal is the Bada Mahal, Govind ji temple and the Jai Niwas garden consisting of a series of fountains keeping the area cool and look palacial. This style of having a garden and fountains overlooking the main building. Is also a signature style of mughal architecture.

One can even enjoy shopping in the bustling bazaars from where one can take back the fragrance of the Rajasthani culture in the form of silver jewelery, handicraft works, precious and semi-precious stones, ethnic ware, foot wares and loads of other interesting stuff.

The City Palace is opened everyday except public holidays from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. Deluxe buses, city buses, RTDC buses and private coaches are available on the whole city trip and point to point distance charges as per choice are available.


Incase you are planning a recent trip, we would request you to use Hellotravel.com for the same purpose. Please visit - http://www.hellotravel.com