Imagine a big city right in the middle of the Jaipur! City palace is the place where one can see forts, gardens, palaces, courtyards, etc. This place depicts the striking blend of Mughal and Rajasthan architecture. It’s a vast complex built by Sawai Jai Singh II and occupies at least 1/7th portion of the Pink City.
City Palace holds some of the renowned places like the Diwan-I-Khas, weaponry display at the Maharani Palace and the Baggi Khana, a museum of the Maharaja’s rides. Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal incorporate amazing layouts which one shouldn’t miss. The palace also houses a museum featuring a select collection of Rajasthani dresses, a fascinating armory of Mughal and Rajput weapons, swords of all shapes and sizes. This palace gives one a rich insight into the bygone era; there are various walls which are richly decorated with mirrors, murals and lattices.
History Of City Palace
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II is known to have commissioned work for building the outer wall of the city’s complex. He shifted from Amer to Jaipur due to water problems and an increase in population in 1727. He had entrusted the city’s architectural design to the chief architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. The architect went on to design the City Palace in accordance with the Vaastushastra texts.
Architectural Layout
The City Palace reflects Rajput, Mughal and European architectural styles although the palace was designed to Vaastushastra treatise. Some of the famous gates are the ‘Udai Pol’, ‘Jaleb Chowk’, ‘Tripolia Gate’ and ‘Virendra Pol’, which also happen to be the various entrances to the palace. These are all richly decorated. The Palace has been designed according to a ‘grid style’ and houses various structures such as, ‘Chandra Mahal’, ‘Mubarak Mahal’, ‘Diwan-I-Khas’ and the ‘Govind Dev Ji Temple. The walls and gates are ornately designed to Mughal style, with various murals, lattice and mirrors adorning them from sides.
Nearby Tourist Attractions
- Hawa Mahal
- Jal Mahal
- Government Central Museum
- Jantar Mantar
- Vidhyadhar’s Garden
The City Palace is a landmark in Jaipur and is also a very popular tourist hotspot. Apart from the regal architecture, the palace offers a stunning view of the Pink City and also an insight into the rich heritage of a bygone era. The City Palace is a must-see while sightseeing in Jaipur.
