City Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan

 City Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan

The City Palace in Jaipur is Rajasthan's showpiece. It is one of the gigantic structures of Sawai Jai Singh and was once the place from where the Maharaja ruled. The royal residence Chandra Mahal is part of the charm of the Pink City Jaipur. The first thing you will see on entering the palace grounds is the Mubarak Mahal Palace. The palace is an important landmark of the capital and successfully stands out from other forts and palaces with its impressive art and architecture. Today, part of the palace serves as the residence of the royal family. The ground floor and outer courtyards are dedicated to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh's museum II, which is open to the public. 

It is a place where Mughal carpets, paintings, rare manuscripts like the Bhagwat Gita, Rajasthani miniatures along with Sanganeri prints, Benaras silk sarees, Pashmina shawls and the exquisite peacock kept in the outer court of the palace can be seen. The palace is located in the north-east of the centre of Jaipur and has several courtyards and buildings. Although the palace was built according to the plans of Vaastushstra, its architectural design is similar to that of the Rajputs, Mughals and Europeans. 

The famous entrance gates of the palace include the 'Udai Pol', 'Jaleb Chowk', 'Tripolia Gate' and 'Virendra Pol'. All these gates as well as the forts are richly decorated with luminous frescoes, mirrors and lattices. The City Palace is a very popular tourist hotspot that gives you a rich insight into the heyday of the Rajputs. It houses an art gallery and the Diwan-e-aam, the hall for public audiences. Inside the palace complex is the Maharani's Palace, the Queen's Palace. Unusual items such as Rajput weapons dating back to the 15th century are on display here. Century. Other exhibits include pistols, jewelled swords, small cannons, a belt sword, chain armour, gunpowder pouches, etc. The most striking piece, however, is the shear dagger.