The City Palace of Jaipur is a fine interplay of traditional
Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The stupendous palace complex occupies
one seventh of the walled city of Jaipur. The palace was originally built by
Maharaja Jai Singh II of the Kachhwaha clan of Rajputs, and the later
additions were made by his successors. The complex has well defined
courtyards, flourishing gardens and buildings. It houses several palatial
structures like the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Badal Mahal, Shri Govind
Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
The Palace Premises
In the first courtyard is the Mubarak Mahal, built by Maharaja Madho
Singh II in the late 19th century. It is home to the textile section of the
Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. An awesome gateway with a grand door in
brass opens to a stately courtyard, where lies the Diwan-I-Khas or 'Hall of
Private Audience'. It is an open hall with a double row of columns with
scalloped arches. Here is a display of the two largest silver vessels in the
world figured in the Guinness Book of World Records. The Diwan-E-Aam or the
'Hall of Public Audience' lies across the paved square.
The grand seven storied Chandra Mahal lies to the north-west. This present
day residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur; Bhavani Singh, provides stunning
views of the gardens and the city. The palace is adorned with exquisite
traditional style paintings, floral decorations, mirror walls and ceilings.
The different floors of this splendid structure serve a variety of purposes.
While the ground and the first floor form the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II
Museum, the fourth floor serve as the tastefully decorated Shobha Nivas or
Hall of Beauty. The fifth floor is the Chhavi Nivas or Hall of Images, the
sixth floor with its mirrored ceiling and stucco floor has rows of double
columns through which one can have a magnificent view of the rugged hills.
The uppermost story is called the Mukut Mahal or the Crown Building.
Opposite to this splendid building lies the Badal Mahal. The Govind Devji
Temple is between the Chandra Mahal and the Badal Mahal. The awesome Hawa
Mahal is another integral part of the City Palace.
Tourist Timings: 9:30hrs- 16:30hrs
