City Palace Jaipur | INDIA
Jaipur is the first planned city of medieval India. The original planners divided the city in nine blocks out of that two were used by royal residences and courts. City Palace was built between 1727 and 1732 as residence of king Jai Singh II, founder of the Jaipur city.
The king has keen interest in science and architecture therefore, he building of its outer walls and main palace buildings. The original structure has been expended and improved by the later rulers as needed. The architecture of City Palace is fusion of Mughal and European style although confirming Vastu-shastra, ancient Hindu system of architecture.
Best Time To City Palace In Jaipur
The palace is now open to visitors everyday between 9:30 am to 5 pm. The visitors should plan to come during winter months to visit most places in Rajasthan and Jaipur is not exception. It gets very hot during summer so best time to visit would be early mornings.
Entrance Fee To City Palace & Museum
A part of the palace is used by erstwhile rulers and their family as their private residence so that part is off limit to the visitors. However, general visitors can see most of the palace for a fee of Rs 200 (Indians) and Rs 700 (Foreigners). There are special tickets for entry to exclusive Chandra Mahal. There is also a light and sound show organized in the evening for that extra ticket needs to be purchased.
Tourist Attractions Of City Palace
City Palace is part of walled city of Jaipur. The palace has grown over the course of history and now occupies 1/6 of the entire Pink City. The City Palace of Jaipur can be accessed through many entrance doors known as Pol.
Most of the visitors and tourists enter through Virendra Pol or Udai Pol near Jalebi Chowk. The entrance from Tripolia Pol is private and exclusively reserved for the residents of royal palace.
At the entrance visitors get to see a beautiful collection of old carriages, palanquins and Victoria (European cabs adapted as Bagghi).
The Story Of Giant Silver Urn (Gangajali)
Diwan-e-Khas is the star attraction that is open to all visitors. It has checkered marble floor and houses armory and art collections. The highlight of the place is a giant silver vase weighing 340 kilograms (750 lb). This 1.6 meter high, Guinness world record holder, vase was made by melting 14000 silver coins. This was commissioned for Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II for his trip to England in 1901 to store water for the voyage. The pious king refused to drink English water as it was against his religion.
The inner courtyard is called Pritam Niwas. It has four small doors representing four seasons. Here one can view a beautiful door with peacock motifs aptly known as Peacock Gate.
Diwan-i-Am or Hall of Public Audience
At the entrance there are two large elephants each made from a single piece of marble. Sabha Mahal houses an art gallery of miniature paintings, textiles and rugs used by royals and a small collection of rare old books notably a hand written Gita, a Hindu book of holy scriptures. Another notable object is Royal throne (called as Takht-e-Rawal)
Maharani Palace
As the name suggests, it was initially residence of women of royal household. It has been converted to as museum that holds many objects of history notably the sword presented by queen of England to Maharaja Ram Singh. A walking stick that fires a bullet and a small canon sheds light on security precautions taken by kings in those time.
A Note About Private Tour Of Palace
Common visitors ticket gains to access to the ground floor where you can only go to the courtyard, and visit some small museum. For the private tour you get to go visit 5 private room where you can take photos, but not the museum.
I spoke to several tourists who took private tour. In our opinion, it is highly overrated.
Attractions In Walking Distance Of City Palace
- Hawa Mahal
- Jantar Mantar
- Isarlat
- Walled Pink City
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