City Palace is situated right in the middle of Old Jaipur which covers one-seventh of that area. The construction of the palace dates back to 1732, but it still looks fresh and crisp as it always would have been.
The entire palace is divided into distinct parts which includes courtyards, gardens, palaces and more.
A portion of the palace has also been turned into a museum where you can witness all the antiques and belongings of the royal family.
This beautiful palace represents the rich culture Jaipur still holds on to. You will find a perfect blend of the Rajputana with Mughal and European style of architecture. The vast property represents the grandeur and heritage of the royal families of the bygone era.
The walls are beautifully sculpted and decorated with mirrors and hand paintings. You will also witness how detailed the carvings are done on the roofs of the palace
The entire palace becomes a window which gives you the privilege to peek into the stories of the past and the true sense of the authentic culture adopted by Jaipur.
You can buy some souvenirs from the market just outside the palace to take a part of the richness of the local culture along with you and cherish the journey from present to 1732 and so on.
History of City Palace -
Jaipur is considered to be the first-ever city from medieval times, which was planned well. The City Palace is the one-seventh part of the entire old Jaipur.
The idea of constructing this beautiful palace erupted in the mind of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. He called the Bengali architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob to design the Jaipur city.
They infused Mughal and European style of architecture with the traditional Rajputi architecture. The construction began in the year 1729 and lasted till 1732.
The entire palace has small palaces, well-maintained gardens, beautifully carved courtyards, open terraces and more.
Further Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar were added in the premises along with the outer walls of the palace. The complete structure represented the rich culture and heritage of the ancient state.
Though this palace was completed, the process of making it more beautiful lasted until the early 20th century. It is still preserved carefully along with all the belongings inside the palace put on display.
Architecture of City Palace -
The City Palace is a marvellous blend of Rajputi, Mughal and European style of architecture. The design of the property follows the ‘Vastu Shastra’ which is said to be facilitating the art of living and the atmosphere inside the house.
The entire palace is structured in ‘Grid Style’ having four gates to enter and exit, namely ‘Tripolia Gate’, ‘Udai Pol’, ‘Virendra Pol’, and ‘Jaleb Chowk’.
It also consists of various palaces, gardens, courtyards, temples, terraces, balconies and patios which are beautified by latticework, jali work, carved marbles and inlaid ornamentations. The walls reflect the authentic Mughal style which features distinct murals, mirrors and latticework.
A unique feature found in Pritam Niwas Chowk is that it has four gates, which depicts all the four seasons.
First one is Mor Gate which portrays Autumn Season, then it is Leheriya Gate which represents spring season followed by Rose gate drawing winters and Lotus gate painting a picture of the summer season.
All this makes the entire palace a remarkable structure left behind by history.
Tourist Attractions in City Palace -
1. Diwan-i-Aam:
This place was used by the ruling kings to listen to the problems of the general public. The hall is divided into various segments including durbars, banquets and an area covered with Jalis which was used by the royal ladies to witness the proceedings while being covered.
Now it has been turned into a museum which has a collection of various howdahs, carriages, carpets and portraits of the royal family.
2. Diwan-i-Khas:
It is the gateway to the City palace, which has an open courtyard for a private audience. The gate is made from brass and wood following the Rajasthani and Mughal style of architecture.
This is the part which houses the two sterling silver vessels which hold the record for being the largest in the world. They were used to keep the holy water of river Ganga.
3. Mubarak Mahal:
As the name suggests, this palace was used to welcome the guests of the royal family. All the guests were taken into this part of the palace and greeter with traditional Rajputana style.
It has enormous rooms and a reception hall which is beautified with frescos and mural paintings.
4. Pritam Niwas Chowk:
This palace means the ‘Courtyard of the Beloved’. The centre of attraction is the fact that it has four small gates. All the gates represent different seasons like autumn, spring, winter and summer.
5. Chandra Mahal:
It is the present residence of the royal family of Jaipur. It is a seven-storeyed monument which is famous for its floral decoration, mural paintings, carved ceilings and mirrored walls. The first two floors are known as the Sukh Niwas Hall followed by Rang Mandir and then Shobha Niwas.
Shobha Niwas means the ‘House of Beauty’ whereas the topmost section is known as Chhavi Niwas, which means the ‘House of Mirrors’.