Jaipur Attractions

Venue: City Palace    When: Daily

The City Palace is an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthan and Mughal architecture, occupying one-seventh of the walled city of Jaipur.

Originally built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of the Kachhwaha clan of Rajputs, additions have been made by many of his successors. The complex is divided into a series of courtyards, sprawling gardens and buildings.

In the first courtyard is the Mubarak Mahal (Auspicious Palace), built by Maharaja Madho Singh II in the late 19th century. It contains the textile section of the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. The Diwan-I-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) is an open hall with a double row of columns with scalloped arches. On display are the two largest silver vessels in the world, which were used for carrying water from the holy Ganges for personal use by Madho Singh II on his journey to England.

Across the paved square, with its intricate decorations in deep red and gold, Afghan and Persian carpets, miniature paintings and astronomical manuscripts in Persian and Sanskrit is the Diwan-E-Aam (Hall of Public Audience). At the other corner is the gateway Ridhi Sidhi Pol, with four small doorways decorated with motifs depicting the four seasons.

The seven-storeyed Chandra Mahal (Moon Palace) is home to the present Maharaja of Jaipur. Its ground and first floor form the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, with its extensive collection of art, carpets, enamelware and 15th-century weapons. The paintings include miniatures from the Rajasthani, Persian and Mughal schools. A section of museum also contains dresses and costumes of the former Maharajas and Maharanis of Jaipur. Another integral part of the palace complex is the Hawa Mahal, which stands away from the main complex, and every other floor has its distinctive reason to visit.