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A structured tangle of vast courtyards, manicured gardens and beautifully built mahals, the City Palace of Jaipur is one of the most revered attractions among the places to visit in Jaipur. An impressive fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture, the palace is still home to the last ruling royal family, which lives in a private section of the palace. The opulent sections of the City Palace such as Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Diwan-I-Khas, Diwan-I-Aam, Maharani Palace, still narrate the tales of the Jaipur’s glorious past and are ideal sights for history buffs and photographers. Keep a day aside in your Jaipur itinerary to walk the corridors of the City Palace and live a day in the life of royals! Read on.
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As you walk-in the City Palace through its magnificent, imposing gates, you’ll be mesmerized by the sweeping courtyards, expansive grounds and several pavilions of the palace complex. Of the three gates of the palace, two are open to public (Virendra Pol and Udai Pol near Jaleb Chowk) and the third, Tripolia Gate, is earmarked for the royal family.
The welcome palace, formally known as the Mubarak Mahal is a splendid structure, and a blend of the Islamic, Rajput and European architectural styles, built in the late 19th century by Maharaja Madho Singh II. History and art aficionados are in for a delight as the museum housed in the Mubarak Mahal showcases a fine repository of variety of textiles such as the royal costumes, sanganeri block prints, embroidered shawls, Kashmiri pashminas and silk saris.
Tip: Opt a day with clear skies to capture stunning snapshots of the historical marvel.
The house of public audience (or Diwan-I-Aam), now an art gallery in the City Palace of Jaipur is an exhibition of exquisite miniature paintings (of Rajasthani, Mughal and Persian art), ancient texts, embroidered rugs, Kashmir shawls and carpets and the entire Bhagwad Gita. Stunning archways and pillars embellished with intricate carvings form a large part of the Diwan-I-Aam, which is a sight to behold, especially when the sun rays shine upon the ornate edifice.
The Diwan-I-Khas, decorated with plush chandeliers and delicate wall art, is a private audience hall which was used for intimate gatherings in the life of the royals. An interesting fact: the hall features two huge sterling silver vessels (5.2 feet high and each with a capacity of 4000 liters, weighing 340 kilograms) made of 14000 melted silver coins without soldering. These are officially recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest sterling silver vessels, and are often popular photo-ops.
Tip: Test the acoustics of these two palatial halls and listen to your voice resounding back.
A walk through the armoury can fill you up with more chills than ever! Swords used in wars, suits that have withstood attackers and scissor-action daggers that could disembowel the victim—the tour of the Maharani’s Palace takes you through some of the best collections of centuries-old weapons of the world.
Arguably the most resplendent sight in the City Palace, the Chandra Mahal (or Chandra Niwas), stands tall in the inner courtyard of the City Palace, towards the west end of the complex. Nestled neatly amidst verdant gardens and a serene lake, the palace tops the places to visit in Jaipur list. Sprawling over seven levels, the palace is the residence of the descendants of the former rulers of Jaipur. The ground floor of the Chandra Mahal houses a museum that stores carpets, manuscripts and other items that belonged to the royal family.
Best time to visit: Cool breeze and moderate sunlight make the months of October to March a suitable time to visit Jaipur. The Jaipur Literature Fest occurs during the month of January and attracts hordes of crowds from all around the world. Those who enjoy rains can also visit Jaipur during monsoons (July to September). If sightseeing is on your list, avoid the hot months of April to June.
Timings: Open on all days except national and a few gazetted holidays, the palace can be visited between 10 AM to 5 PM.
How to reach City Palace, Jaipur:
The city of Jaipur is well connected to all other cities and towns of India through Jaipur International Airport, Jaipur Junction Railway Station; and the City Palace of Jaipur is easily accessible from any part of the city by auto-rickshaw, taxis or buses.
Entry fee: Rs. 10 for Indian travellers, Rs. 50 for international tourists
Camera fee:
For Indian travellers: Rs. 50 for still photography, Rs. 100 for videography
For International travellers: Rs. 70 for still photography, Rs. 150 for videography
Location: Jalebi Chowk, Near Jantar Mantar, Tripolia Bazar, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002
Mayank Kumar Follow
Prefers Bukowski and Gulzar over Shakespeare and Tagore. And nights over daytime. Possesses wit that offends more than it impresses. Anti-social and friendly in the same breath. Miniature souvenir and stationery hoarder. Desperately trying to bring being nice in vogue.
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Raj Taxi Service | on 12 October 2018
Very Nice blog!! Really these places are perfect to visit. Want to see all the forts and get to know more about Rajasthan. Thank you for sharing this beautiful blog and images.