City Palace Tour |
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In the heart of the old city, the City Palace occupies a large area divided into a series of courtyards, gardens and buildings. The outer wall was built by Jai Singh but other additions were made much later, some right up to the start of this century. Today, the palace is a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture, the former Maharaja still lives in part of the palace. The 7 storeyed Chandra Mahal is the centrepiece and commands fine views of the gardens and the city. The complex contains an excellent museum, an armoury and several fine halls. The apartments are maintained in luxurious order and the museum of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II has an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamelware and old weapons. The paintings include miniatures in the Rajasthani, Mughal and Persian schools. The armoury dating back to the 15 th century and many of the ingenious and tricky weapons which the warrior Rajputs were famous for. A section of museum also contains dresses and costumes of the former maharajas and maharanis of Jaipur. It is home to several palatial structures like the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, and the City Palace Museum. |
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Mubarak Mahal, built by Maharaja Madho Singh, is one of the more important palaces inside the City Palace Complex. It has a beautifully carved marble gate with heavy brass doors on either side of this gate. Beyond this gate, lies the 'Diwan-E-Khas'- a meeting place where the maharajas used to entertain a select few. And there, across the paved square, with its intricate decorations and manuscripts in Persian and Sanskrit lies the 'Diwan-E-Aam' - the meeting place with the general public.
The palace also contains a museum that showcases some of the best art and weaponry of my people, the warrior Rajputs. The armory dates back to the 15th century and contains many of the ingenious and tricky weapons, which the warrior Rajputs was famous for. A section of museum also contains dresses and costumes of the former Maharajas and Maharanis of Jaipur. Each floor has a distinctive name and is a place of sheer beauty and luxury. Paintings, floral decorations, mirror walls and ceilings in the traditional style adorn the palace. The uppermost storey is, appropriately, called the Mukut Mahal - or the Crown Building. Outside the buildings, you may see a large silver vessel. This was used by former Maharajas to take drinking water with him to England. Being a devout Hindu, he could not drink the English water.
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