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City Palace in Udaipur is considered to be the largest royal complex in Rajasthan. The magnificent palace was built in the year 1559 by Maharana Uday Singh and served as the main seat of power, where the Maharanas lived and administered the kingdom from. Subsequently, the palace was made even more splendid by his successors, who added a number of structures to it. The Palace now has an assortment of Mahals, courtyards, pavilions, corridors, terraces, rooms and hanging gardens. There is a museum here as well that showcases some of the finest elements of Rajput arts and culture - from colourful paintings to the typical architecture found in Rajasthani palaces.
Nestled in the bosom of the Aravallis, the granite and marble edifice of the City Palace stands in contrast to its quaint natural surroundings. The intricate architecture of the regal palace is a subtle mix of medieval, European as well as Chinese influences and is embellished with numerous domes, arches and towers. The City Palace itself lies on a bed of lush green garden and is quite an imposing sight to behold. The regal beauty of this attraction has quite a few fans in the film industry as well, and several movies such as 'Guide' and 'Octopussy' have been shot here. A gentle amalgam of architectural genius and rich heritage, the City Palace of Udaipur is a wonderful trip down the pages of history.
History of City Palace Udaipur
The History of City Palace is related to the kingdom of Mewar that has gone through several capital changes during the reign of its many rulers. The capital was first established in Nagda in 568 AD by Guhil, the first Maharana of Mewar. It was later moved to Chittor in the 8th century under the rule of Sisodias.
During 1537, the Mewar kingdom came under the rule of Maharana Udai Singh II. Due to war with the Mughals there was a risk of losing the Chittor fort. Hence, Maharana Udai Singh II chose a new capital for his kingdom near Lake Pichola that shielded the territory from its enemies, well surrounded by forests, lakes and the imposing Aravalli hills.
The construction of City Palace started under the reign of Maharana Udai Singh II and was enhanced subsequently by his successors over a period of 400 years. This palace is of great historical importance as it served as the administrative complex of the Maharanas.
The first royal structure that was built in the City palace complex was 'Rai Angan', the royal courtyard. After the death of Maharana Udai Singh II, his son Maharana Pratap took over Udaipur. During the Battle of Haldighati, Maharana Pratap lost the war to the Mughal emperor Akbar and Udaipur came under the rule of the Mughals.
After Akbar’s death, Mewar was handed over to Maharana Pratap's son and successor Amar Singh I by the Mughal ruler Jahangir. Udaipur once again fell into the attacks of Marathas in the year 1761. To protect Mewar from further attacks, Maharana Bhim Singh signed a treaty with the British in 1818 asking for their protection. After India’s independence, Mewar became a part of democratic India and kings of Mewar retained the ownership of the palaces in Udaipur.
Architecture of City Palace Udaipur
The main facade of the City Palace is quite a striking sight, with a height of about 244 metres and 30.4 metres width. A unique feature of this palace is that it is homogeneous in the design and construction of its many structures, owing to the fact that many additions were made to it over the course of time. Built out of granite and marble, the interiors of the palace are richly decorated with intricate mirror work, marble-work, murals, wall paintings, silver-work, inlay-work and coloured glass. Elegant balconies, tall towers and cupolas add another shade to its structure of the complex. An inviting view of the city can be seen from the terrace of the palace.
Inside, the City Palace is a labyrinth of long corridors which are designed so as to avoid surprise attacks by enemies. The entrance to the complex has an elephant gate, known as Hati Pol. There is a beautiful Jagdish temple at the entrance of the magnificent palace. It is followed by a Bari Pol or the big gate which leads the way to the courtyard which in turn leads to the Tripoli or the triple gate. The city palace houses various luxurious apartments overlooking the entire view of the city. The Raj Angan, which means royal courtyard, is the oldest part of the complex and was built by Maharana Uday Singh. The Mahals have now been transformed into museums. The City Palace has 11 wonderful palaces and most of these are turned into galleries now. Amar Vilas in the highest point of the palace where you can see hanging gardens with fountains, towers and terraces.
Palaces in Rajasthan Known for their beautiful structures, detailed edifices and age-old architecture, the Forts And Palaces in Rajasthan are the very evidence of this land’s rich culture and heritage. Scattered all around the state, these forts and palaces are unique in their history, with every single one more grand than the other. Some of these palaces, like the Umaid Bhawan Palace, amongst others, have also been converted into luxury and heritage resorts and hotels in present times. The famous forts of rajasthan still retain their old glory and exquisite architecture, and transport you back to the bygone eras. One such example is Jaipur’s Amber Fort, which exudes the remnants of the times of the Rajasthani Maharajas. There is also the Chittorgarh Fort, the largest in the country, beautiful and grand, and famous for its glorious past. The palaces in rajasthan, such as Udaipur’s City Palace, which dates back to the 1500s, tell the stories of the kings of the past. Or the Neemrana Palace, which is so grand and royal that it has now been converted into a heritage resort. A visit to these spectacular structures of Rajasthan will definitely be a remarkable experience of a lifetime!
