City Palace Jaipur

City Palace Jaipur Complex was conceived and built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. A beautiful fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture, the palace is still home to the last ruling royal family which lives in a private section of the palace. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II is credited with building most of the structures, but it was expanded upon by later rulers as well. The City Palace Complex includes the Mubarak Mahal (the palace of reception) and the Maharani’s Palace (the palace of the queen). Mubarak Mahal now houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and displays a vast and unique collection of royal costumes, delicate Pashmina (Kashmiri) shawls, Benaras silk saris, and other dresses with Sanganeri prints and folk embroidery. The clothes of Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I are also on display. The Maharani's Palace, surprisingly, has an interesting display of very well-preserved Rajput weaponry, some dating back to the 15th century. Other than the arms, the palace is adorned with beautiful paintings on the ceiling that are well-maintained.

Entrance Gates: One of the most striking features of the complex is its richly decorated gateways. There are in total three entry gates to the complex, namely Virendra Pol, Udai Pol and the Tripolia Gate.

Mubarak Mahal: Built with a fusion of the Islamic, Rajput and European architectural styles, the two-floored Mubarak Mahal was made to serve the purpose of a reception centre. Also known as the palace of welcome, it was designed and built by Maharaja Madho Singh II in the late 19th century.

Chandra Mahal: The seven-storeyed Chandra Mahal, also known as the Chandra Niwas, is located in the west end of the complex amidst beautiful gardens and a lake. Each floor of the structure has been given a name such as the Pitam-Niwas, Ranga-Mandir, Sukh-Niwas, Shri-Niwas, Mukut Mahal and Chabi-Niwas. The walls of the building have been ornamented with exclusive paintings, splendid works of mirror and floral adornments. However, the visitors can visit only the ground floor where manuscripts, carpets and some other goods from the royal treasure have been stored.

Pitam Niwas Chowk: While paving your way to the Chandra Mahal, you will walk through an inner courtyard, Pitam Niwas Chowk. The chowk has four entry points, also called as Ridhi Sidhi Pol; each has its own beauty and significance. The four gateways symbolise the four seasons and are dedicated to Hindu deities.

Diwan-I-Khas: A private audience pavilion of the Maharajas was called as Diwan-I-Khas. The chamber is also known as Sarvato Bhadra, meaning open from all four sides but not corners. It is a marble floored hall, located between the armoury and the art gallery. In the hall, there are two 1.6 metres high vessels of pure silver having a volume of 4000 litres and weighing 340 kilograms.

Diwan-E-Aam: A hall made for holding public meetings and gatherings, the 'Diwan-E-Aam' or the Sabha Niwas is one of the important structures of the complex. The ceiling of the building has been painted in vibrant colours. However, the chamber has now been turned into an art gallery, displaying exquisite miniature paintings of Persian, Mughal and Rajasthani art. Under the richly decorated ceiling, it also stores ancient texts, embellished rugs and carpets. Also, the visitors must take a look at the Golden throne, famous as Takth-e-Rawal which was used as the seat of the Maharaja.

Maharani Palace: As the name suggests, this place was occupied by the royal queen. Presently, it's serving the purpose of a museum, housing arms and weapons of the royal clan. The ceiling of this compartment has been adorned using semiprecious stones and gems.

Bhaggi Khana: In the palace complex, the Bhaggi Khana is one place where you can get a glimpse of different kinds of old carriages, palanquins and European cabs which were used by the royal family. Among the numerous coaches and carriages here, there is a European bhaggi which the Maharaja received as a gift from the Prince of Wales in the year 1876. It is famous as the Victoria bhaggi.

Govind Dev Ji temple: The palace complex also incorporates a temple called Govind Dev Ji temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Constructed in the early 18th century, the temple is surrounded by a lovely garden environment. The prayers are offered to the Lord in this temple seven times in a day. The temple was constructed at this place so that the Maharaja can have a clear view of the temple while sitting in the Chandra Mahal.

Best Time to Visit
If you want to stay away from the heat, the best month to choose for a trip to Jaipur is in between October and March. The weather becomes much pleasant, which will help you to experience every nook of the city properly.

How to Reach
To experience the beauty of City Palace, you need to reach Jaipur first. When it comes to reach Jaipur, it becomes very easy. The city is well-connected by various medium of transportation. You need to be sure about the type that would be convenient for you. It will hardly take an hour or two if you board a flight from any city to Jaipur, and if you are coming from Delhi or Agra, it will take 5-8 hours by bus or train.