|
RAJASTHAN
STATE PALACES
Info HistoryCultureCuisineFestivalsShoppingIndustry
CitiesAdventure
SportsFortsPalacesMuseumsSanctuaries
Rajasthan state is a
Palace State and each and every city of this magnificient state
has numerous palaces some of which have been converted into Heritage
Hotels.
The splendour and architecture of these grand palaces leaves one
spellbound and is a very enchanting experience.
The City Palace (Jaipur)
In the heart of
the old city is former royal residence built in a blend of the Rajasthani
and Mughal styles. The carved arches are supported by grey-white
marble columns ornate with floral motifs in gold and colored stones.
Two carved elephants in marble guard the entrance. The retainers
whose families have served generations of rulers serve as guides.
The palace houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani
costumes and armory of Mughals and Rajputs including swords of different
shapes and sizes with chased handles, some of them inlaid with enamel
and embellished with jewels and encased in magnificent scabbards.
The palace also has an art gallery with an excellent collection
of miniature paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical
works in Arabic,Persian,Latin and Sanskrit, acquired by Sawai Jai
Singh II to study astronomy in detail.
Hawa Mahal (Jaipur)
Built in 1799 A.D.
the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds is a major Rajput landmark. This
five storey building along the main street of the old city is in
pink splendor with semioctagonal and delicately honey combed sandstone
windows. The monument was originally conceived with the aim of enabling
ladies of the royal household to watch the everyday life and royal
processions of the city.
Umaid Bhawan Palace (Jodhpur)
This palace is the
only 20th century palace,and it was build under the famine relief
project that gave employment to famine struck population. It took
16 whole year to get this palace completed. This palace is made
out of a particular type of sandstone which does not weather away.
It is still the residence of the former rulers , but a part of palace
has been converted into a hotel and some remaining part serves as
a museum.
Haveli of Devtaji (Kota)
This beautiful Haveli
of Devta Shridharji,which is located in the middle of the busy market
is noted for its splendid frescoes and rooms decorated with lovely
wall paintings.
Jag Nivas Palace (Udaipur)
It is a palace on
an island in the Pinchola lake. Its construction was started by
Maharana Karan Singh, it gets it name from Maharana Jagat Singh
who made several additions to the palace structure in 1757. Formerly
the royal summer palace, today it is the ultimate in luxury hotels,
with shady courtyards, fountains, lotus ponds and even a small mango-tree-shaded
swimming pool. Hotel launches cross to the island from the city
palace jetty. The principal building has three storeys and a round
tower of yellow sandstones. Towards the southern end of the lake
is Jag Mandir. Emperor Shah Jahan sought refuge here while planning
a revolt against his father. It is said that Shah Jahan got ideas
for the Taj Mahal after he stayed here.
The City Palace
The Maharana's palace
built by successive rulers runs parellel to Lake Pichola. It is
the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. The palace is a collection
of buildings constructed by different Maharaja's during their reign,but
inspite of that the whole complex has retained uniformity in design.
The palace has octagonal towers surrounded by cupolas and inside
the apartment there are mosaics of peacocks inlaid with tiles and
mirrorwork and exquisite paintings. This part of the palace has
been converted into a museum.The place where one sees these peacock
mosaics is called the 'Mor Chowk'. Of the various Mahals, the Chini
Mahal is covered with blue and white Chinese and Dutch ornamented
tiles, while the Manak Mahal is full of glass and porcelain figures.
The manak or Ruby Mahal has glass and porcelain figures while Krishna
Vilas has a remarkable collection of miniatures. The Bari Mahal
houses a fine central garden. In the Zanana Mahal,one can see nice
paintings. The Moti Mahal has beautiful mirrorwork.
City Palace or Vinay
Vilas Mahal (Alwar)
This 18th century
palace beautifully blends the Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture.
Altough the ground floors have been converted into government offices
and district courts, the upper apartment is maintained as a museum.
Vijay Mandir Palace(10
km from Alwar)
This splendid palace
is just 10 kms from Alwar.It was built by Maharaja Jai Singh in
1918 A.D.It has a picturesque lake overlooking the palace which
makes it a nice place to be. There is a nice Sita Ram Temple in
the palace which attracts number of devotees,especially during Ramnavmi.
But one needs to take prior permission from the secretary to visit
the palace.
Lalgarh Palace (Bikaner)
About three km north
of the city centre, this red sandstone palace was built by Maharaja
Ganga Singh (1881-1942) in memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh
and displays a magnificent blend of Oriental and European style.
It’s a grand building with overhanging balconies and delicate latticework.
Its terraced lawns and the Bougainvillea bushes add beauty to the
palace. Peacocks stroll around the palace which has been partly
converted into a hotel. The palace museum, Shri Sadul Museum covers
the entire first floor of the palace. It has an assortment of exhibits,
including personal possessions of former Bikaner rulers, old photos
depicting royal hunts, and an extraordinary collection of the former
maharaja’s personal possessions - golf tees, camera, clothes, books,
earplugs and even his electric toothbrush. The library of the palace
is supposed to have the largest collection of original Sanskrit
manuscripts on parchments, copper and gold or silver plaques. The
palace museum also displays well preserved hunting trophies and
old photographs. The museum is open daily except Wednesdays from
10 am to 5 pm; entry is Rs.5. Photography is not allowed.
Havelis (Jaisalmer)
The beautiful mansions
or havelis,all intricately latticed which are all over Jaisalmer,
are open to visitors from 10.30 a.m to 5.00 p.m
Nathmal-ki-Haveli
This is a 19th century
haveli. The left and right wings of the mansion which were carved
by two brothers are very similiar but not identical.
Patwon -ki-Haveli
The most elaborate
and magnificent of all the Jaisalmer havelis. It has exquisitely
carved pillars and extensive corridors and chambers. One of the
apartments of this five storey high haveli is painted with beautiful
murals.
Salim Singh-ki-Haveli
This 300 year old
haveli has beautifully carved arched roof with superb carved brackets
in the form of peacocks. This is a beautiful haveli to see.
The Taragarh Palace (Bundi)
The Taragarh palace
is reached from the north-western end of the bazaar, through a huge
wooden gateway. Only two parts of the palace, the Chitra Mahal and
Ummed Mahal, are open to the public. Some of the famous Bundi murals
can be seen on the upper level. Photography is prohibited.
Chhattar Mahal or Palace
or Towers (Bundi)
Visiting this palace
is worth it, for the Hazari Pol or Gate of the thousand, the Naubat
Khana, the Hathi Pol with its old water clock and the Diwan-e-Aam.
Sukh Mahal (Bundi)
This is a magnificient
summer palace on the Sukh Mahal Lake surrounded by lush beautiful
gardens.It is believed that an underground tunnel runs from the
Sukh Mahal to the old palace.
Padmini’s Palace (Chittorgarh)
Continuing south,
you come to Padmini’s palace, built beside a large pool with a pavilion
in its centre. Legends relates that, as Padmini sat in this pavilion,
Ala-ud-din was permitted to see her reflection in a mirror in the
palace. This glimpse was the spark that convinced him to destroy
Chittor in order to possess her. The Bronze gates in this pavilion
were carried of by Akbar and can now be seen in the fort at Agra.
Continuing round the circular road, you pass the deer park, the
Bhimlat Tank, the Suraj Pol Gate and the temple of Neelkanth Mahadev,
before reaching the Tower of Fame.
Fateh Prakash Palace (Chittorgarh)
Just beyond the
Rana Kumbha palace, this palace is much more modern (Maharana Fateh
Singh died in 1930). It houses a small and poorly lit museum, and
the rest of the building is closed. The museum is open daily except
Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm.
Rana Kumbha Palace (Chittorgarh)
Entering the fort
and turning right, you come almost immediately to the ruins of this
palace. It contains elephant and horse stables and a Siva temple.
One of the jauhars is said to have taken palace in a vaulted cellar.
Right across the palace is the archaeological office and museum,
and the treasury building or Nau Lakha Bhandar. The Singa Chowrl
Temple is nearby.
The Palace (Bharatpur)
This royal edifice
is a fusion of the Mughal and Rajpat architectural styles with magnificent
apartments and intricately designed floor tiles having interesting
patterns. One can marvel at the ancient exhibits displayed in the
museum in the centeral part of the palace.
|
