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Rajasthan Tours

City Palace - Jaipur

The city palace occupies the centre of the pink city jaipur, covers one seventh of its area and is enclosed by a high wall. The huge palace complex of city palace occupies about one seventh of the walled city of Jaipur. City palace is a perfect magnificent blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture.

Entering through the main gate of city palace, large courtyard with a building in the centre is situated. This was the Guest Pavilion and has a very attractive white marble frontage. On the first floor textile and costume museum is there inside city palace.  In this collection fine example of fabrics and costumes from all over India as well as musical instruments and toys from Royal Nursery are there. In the northwest corner of the courtyard Arms and Armour Museum is located which contains an impressive array of weaponry – pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, riffles and daggers.

Initially City Palace was founded Maharaja Jai Singh II of the Kachhwaha clan of Rajputs. Several renovations were made to the palace complex by many of his successors afterwards. The Royal family still resides in a part of the palace and the remaining part of the palace serves as a museum. The former Maharaja still resides in a part of the palace, but the rest of the part of the palace serves as a museum.

The City Palace complex is divided into a series of gardens, courtyards and extensive buildings. Some of the prominent palaces inside the complex are Chandra Mahal, Badal Mahal, Shri Govind Devji Temple and Mubarak Mahal.

Hall of Private Audience - There is an amazing gateway with a grand door in brass opening to a royal courtyard. Hall of Private Audience is in the centre of the courtyard. It is an open hall. This hall exhibits 2 largest silver vessels which are in the Guiness Book of World Records.

Art Gallery and Museum – Entrance in the right hand corner of the inner courtyard. This was the hall of the public audience. Today it houses a picture gallery with a fine collection of Persian and Indian miniatures, some of the carpets the Maharajas had made for them and an equally fine collection of manuscripts.  

The Chandra Mahal – Chandra Mahal is the residence of Bhavani Singh who was the Maharaja of Jaipur. From this Mahal one can have an amazing views of the city and the gardens. Chandra Mahal is fully ornamented with paintings, mirror walls, ceilings and floral decorations.  It is a place of absolute beauty and luxury. Chandra Mahal, the main royal residence, is topped by Mukut Mahal, an elegant pavilion with a curvilinear roof. In the North East corner of the courtyard is the Krishna door. This is so named because its surface is embossed with scenes of the God’s life. The door is sealed in a traditional way with a rope sealed with wax over the lock.
a) Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum - The ground and first floor of the Chandra Mahal form this Museum.
b) "Sukh Nivas" or the "Hall of Rest" - Sukh Niwas is painted in Wedgewood blue fully decorated with white lining. Sukh Niwas has the drawing and dining room of the Maharaja which is fully ornamented with mughal miniatures, silver and glass dining tables.
c) "Shobha Nivas" – It is on the 4^th floor of the Chandra Mahal. It is also known as "Hall of Beauty". The walls of the Shobha Nivas are fully decorated with mirror walls with blue tiles ornamented with mica and gold leaf. It is still under the control of the present Maharaja.   
d) "Chhavi Nivas" or Hall of Images – It is on the 5^th floor. In the rainy season this place was the retreat of the Maharaja. It has an elegant floor of blue and white painted walls.

'Badal Mahal'
It is just opposite the Chandra Mahal. Between the Badal Mahal and the Chandra Mahal lies the Govind Devji Temple. A wonderful system of fountains is placed in the middle of the covered path between Chandra Mahal and Badal Mahal. Another important part of the palace complex is the Hawa Mahal.

Mubarak Mahak
Mubarak Mahal was founded in the late 19th century by Maharaja Madho Singh II. It was initially a guest house. It forms a part of the eastern wall of the palace complex and seen to advantage only from the street outside the palace is the Hawa Mahal. Mubarak Mahal lies in the first courtyard lies of the palace which is the palace of welcome or reception. It was used as a reception centre earlier. Now, Mubarak Mahal contains the textile section of the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum.

Diwan-E-Aam or the Hall of Public Audience
This Hall is ornamented with red and gold, Persian and Afghan carpets, textiles, precious manuscripts, palanquins, and miniature paintings.

Ridhi Sidhi Pol
Ridhi Sidhi Pol is decorated with four small doorways which are ornamented with motifs which represents the four seasons.

Maharani Palace
Maharani Palace which is known as the palace of the Queen, it exhibits a huge display of fifteenth amazing weaponry. Other exhibits inside include pistols, guns, pouches of gun powder, swords, small cannons, armours, ivory, jewellery etc.

Entrance Fees
The entrance fees of City Palace, Jaipur is Rs. 300 for Foreign Tourists and Rs. 75 for Indian Tourists.