History of City Palace
The history of the palace is intertwined with the history of the great city of Jaipur itself. The City palace used to be the throne of the Maharaja of Jaipur, head of the Kachwaha Rajput Clan. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh was the force behind the initiation of the Palace's construction when he began shifted the capital from Amber to Jaipur in the year 1727. He then began building the outer wall sometime during the years 1729 to 1732, such that it ran over to several acres through the city.
The Raja's death was followed by several wars between the Rajput kings, and Maharaja Ram Singh joined forces with the British during the Revolt of 1857 and proceeded to transform the city into in a medley of pink structures so as to welcome the Prince of Wales. The adopted son of Maharaja Madho Singh II, Raja Man Singh II was the last king to rule from the Chandra Mahal Palace. Post the merging of Jaipur with the Indian Union in 1949, the City Palace continued to be the residence of the royal family.
Architecture of City Palace
The architectural style of the City Palace was a fusion of the Shilpa Shastra of Indian Architecture along with Rajput, Mughal and European styles. The main architects for the construction of the palace were Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. Classical Indian principles such as the Vastushastra were promptly followed by the architects during the construction of the palace. It was built using red and pink sandstone and has three gates, namely 'Tripolia Gate', 'Udai Pol', 'Virendra Pol'. The entrances themselves are decorated intricately with the finest handiwork and are a suitable preamble to what lies inside. The palace complex is designed in the form of a grid and has a number of structures within its bounds such as 'Chandra Mahal', 'Govind Dev Ji Temple', 'Mubarak Mahal', and 'Diwan-I-Khas'. Murals, mosaics, honeycomb window panes and meticulous stonework make the Palace a perfect blend of design, art, colour and culture.
Structures inside City Palace
A number of important edifices find a place in the City Palace and are illustrated below:-
Mubarak Mahal: An amalgam of Mubarak Mahal, Islamic, Rajput and European architectural styles, the City Palace was built by Maharaja Madho Singh II in the late 19th century. It mainly acted as a reception centre and has now been converted into a museum. Some of the artefacts and articles stored here include royal formal costumes, Sanganeri block prints, embroidered shawls, Kashmiri pashminas and silk saris and ornamental clothes worn by Sawai Madho Singh I.
Chandra Mahal:The Chandra Mahal is a remarkable edifice located towards the west end of the City Palace. A charming Peacock Gate welcomes you into the palace. The Mahal itself is decorated with beautiful paintings, floral embellishments and decorative mirror work. The building has seven floors with each of the floors having a unique name such as Sukh-Niwas, Ranga-Mandir, Pitam-Niwas, Chabi-Niwas, Shri-Niwas and Mukut Mahal. Most of this palace serves as the residence of the descendants of the regal family, however, the ground floor of the building serves as a museum. Some of the articles exhibited here are carpets, manuscripts and other items that belonged to the royal family. Various sections of the City Palace are unique in their own way. The "Sukh Nivas" is painted blue in colour and is decorated with white lining. Mughal motifs, silver and glass dining tables and other ornamentations are present in the dining room here. The "Rang Mandir" has mirrors of all sizes in its walls, pillars and ceiling. "Shobha Nivas" is decorated with mirror walls and blue tiles which are further embellished with mica and gold leaf. "Chhavi Nivas" is the monsoon retreat of the Maharaja.
Pritam Niwas Chowk: It is towards the inner parts of the City Palace and has four small gates which lead to the Chandra Mahal. The gates themselves are decorated with illustrations that represent the four seasons and Hindu deities Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva-Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Devi.
Diwan - i - Aam:Diwan-i-Aam was the Hall of Public Audience and is located between the armoury and the art gallery. Laid down with scintillating marble, there are two sterling silver vessels of the capacity of 4000 litres on display here. These vessels were used by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II to carry the water of the holy Ganges to drink on his trip to England. A number of shimmering crystal chandeliers are also present here, which is unveiled only during special occasions.
Diwan - i - Khas: Diwan-E-Khas was the 'Hall of Private Audience', and is a vibrant example of the architecture of that time. The ceiling is painted in shades of red and gold which have a flawless appearance even to this day. This edifice is a major attraction within the palace itself. converted into an art gallery, the Diwan- i- Khas exhibits miniature paintings, ancient texts, embroidered rugs, Kashmir shawls and carpets. Handwritten original manuscripts of Hindu scriptures and the Royal throne called as 'Takht-e-Rawal' also find a place here.
Maharani Palace:Originally, this served as the residence of the queens, but has now been converted into a museum. Weapons used by the royalty during the war are on display here, with some of them as old as the 15th century. The ceiling is again decorated beautifully with the dust of precious and semi precious stones.
Bhaggi Khana:This is the museum which has an exquisite collection of old carriages, palanquins and European cabs. One notable collectable here is the baggi which was gifted to the royals by Prince of Wales in 1876 and is called the Victoria baggi.
Govind Dev Ji Temple: This is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna located in the palace premises.
Best time to visit City Palace
The morning and evening hours and cooler and less crowded. WInter months of October - March are the best months to visit this destination.
How to Reach City Palace
You can easily reach the City Palace from any part of Jaipur, as various modes of transportation such as auto rickshaw, taxi or public bus are quite frequently available to this destination. You can also book cabs from any point in the city.
Top Tourist Places in Jaipur
City Palace
Amber Fort, Jaipur
Nahargarh Fort
Albert Hall Museum
Jantar Mantar
Govind Ji Temple
All Tourist Places in Jaipur
Where to Stay
Hotel City Palace, Hotel Royal Sheraton, Rawla Mrignayani Palace, Samode Haveli and The Raj Palace are good accommodation options near the palace.
Best Restaurants Nearby
The Palace Cafe / Restaurant, Midtown Multicuisine Restaurant, LMB Hotel, Kailash Veg Restaurant and Heritage Buffet good options for a quick meal.
Tips
Photography is allowed within the palace premises. Photography Fee: INR 50, Videography Fee: INR 150
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