City Palace of Jaipur

admin August 20, 2011 0

Experience
Importance
Facilities

Traveler’s Facts

Highlight: Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple, Museum
Should I Visit: Yes, its a must visit tourist place
Location: Next to the renowned Hawa Mahal
Built by: Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh
Built in: 1729 – 1732
How to reach: You can easily reach by taking local Buses, Rickshaws and Taxis

About the Palace

City Palace forms one of the most famous tourist attractions and a major landmark in Jaipur. The beautiful palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during his reign. Among the various forts and palaces of Jaipur, City Palace stands apart, with its outstanding art and architecture. City Palace complex covers a huge area, which is divided into a series of gardens, courtyards and buildings. Initially, Raja Jai Singh built the outer wall occupying a huge area. The additional grand buildings were constructed later by the succeeding rulers.

City Palace of Jaipur

Famous For

The City Palace of Jaipur is famous for providing a window into the splendid history and culture of the Rajputs with an impressive collection of miniature paintings, manuscripts, Mughal carpets, royal costumes, weaponry, and musical instruments.

Chandra Mahal of the City Palace

Things to See

Chandra Mahal

Chandra Mahal, or the “Moon Palace” is a 7-storey building. Each of the 7 floors of this palace has a specific name based on its function and is extravagantly decorated. Unfortunately, this building is closed to the public, as it is the home to the present Maharaja of Jaipur. However, one can still visit the ground floor where some exhibits are on display and there is an exquisite crafted peacock in the courtyard.

Mubarak Mahal

Mubarak Mahal, or the “Auspicious Palace”, has a magnificent gateway with a grand door in brass opening. Built in the nineteenth century, Mubarak Mahal was used as a reception centre for the visiting personage. The first floor of this sandstone building is now the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and houses an impressive collection of royal costumes and textiles. Included on display here is a wide array of royal costumes, some very exquisite and precious Benaras silk sarees, pashmina hawls, Sanganeri prints and folk embroidery. Also on display is the voluminous clothes worn by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I (ruled 1750-68)

Mubarak Mahal

Diwan-I-Khas

Diwan-I-Khas or ‘Hall of Private Audience’ is an open marble paved pavilion / hall with a double row of columns with scalloped arches. The two giant urns on display here are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest silver objects in the world. They were used to carry water from the Ganges for personal use of Maharaja Madho Singh II on his journey to England in 1901. Being a devout Hindu, he did not wish to risk polluted English waters. The ceiling in the Diwan-I-Khas also has large chandeliers, which are unfortunately mostly protected by dust covers and displayed only of festive occasions.

Diwan-I-Aam

Diwan-I-Aam, which literally means the “Hall of Public Audience”, has now been converted into an art museum. It houses miniature paintings, carpets, manuscripts, a silver throne, and ivory elephant saddles (“houdha”). The exhibits include some handwritten manuscripts of Hindu scriptures – intriguing because the miniature copies of Bhagwat Gita were made in this manner so that they could be concealed from Emperor Aurangzeb’s onslaught on Hindu scriptures at that time. You will also find delicate miniature paintings in Rajasthani, Mughal and Persian schools on various themes including the Ramayana. The well-preserved painted ceilings also grab ones attention. Also on display are elephant saddles called “haudha”.

Armoury

The Armoury puts on display an impressive collection of the Mughal and Rajput weaponry including protective chain armours, pistols, jeweled and ivory handled swords, daggers, swords, cannons, guns, and poison tipped blades among others.