Royal Pavilion / shopping / shops / marble panels /
floral designs / fountains / / plaza / baths / Important
buildings / other structures / souvenirs / antiques / paintings in City
Palace, Jaipur
In the first courtyard is the Mubarak Mahal,
constructed by Maharaja Madho Singh II in the late 19th century. The
Mubarak Mahal, or the Auspicious Palace, holds the textile segment of
the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. There is a brilliant gateway
with a grand door in brass opening to an imperial courtyard. Inside the
palace Diwan-I-Khas or 'Hall of Private Audience'- an open hall
by way of a double row of columns with scalloped arches. On show are the
two largest silver vessels in the world which figure in the Guinness
Book of World Records. These were in use to carry water from the holy
Ganges for private use, by Madho Singh II on his voyage to England.
Crossways the paved square, with its elaborate decorations in deep red
and gold, Afghan and Persian carpets, minute paintings, astronomical
manuscripts in Persian and Sanskrit lies the Diwan-E-Aam or the
Hall of Public Audience. At the further corner is the gateway Ridhi
Sidhi Pol, with four small doorways ornamented with motifs which depict
the four seasons.
To the northwest is the elegant seven storeyed Chandra Mahal, or the Moon Palace, dwelling to the present Maharaja of Jaipur;
Bhavani Singh, which provides an excellent vision of the gardens and
the city. Paintings, floral decorations, mirror walls and ceilings in
the traditional style ornament the palace. Every storey has a
characteristic name and is a place of sheer exquisiteness and luxury.
The ground and first floor of the Chandra Mahal, figure the Maharaja
Sawai Man Singh II Museum. The museum has an wide-ranging compilation of
art, carpets, enamelware and 15th century weapons. The paintings
comprise miniatures of Rajasthani, Persian and Mughal schools. A segment
of museum as well contains dresses and costumes of the previous
Maharajas and Maharanis of Jaipur.
Sukh Nivas or
Hall of rest contains the drawing and dining room of the Maharaja,
provided with Mughal miniatures, European silver, glass dining tables
and peep holes ornamented with gold leafs, for ventilation. On the
fourth floor of the 'Chandra Mahal' is the Shobha Nivas or Hall
of Beauty with mirror crusted walls having superb blue tiled dadoes and
sparkling gold leaf and mica ornamentation. When the room was lit after
dask the Maharajas could take pleasure in a incredible spectacle of the
room bursting into a thousand glittering images. The Shobha Nivas and
the Sukh Nivas is still under occupation of the present Maharaja. The
fifth floor is the Chhavi Nivas or Hall of Images, the maharajas’
retreat in the rainy season, with a elegant floor of eggshell stucco
and blue and white painted walls. The sixth floor with its ceiling with
mirrors and stucco floor has rows of double columns all the way through
which one can have a splendid sight of the rugged hills. The topmost
storey is known as the 'Mukut Mahal' or the Crown Building.
Opposite the Chandra Mahal is situated the Badal Mahal.
The Govind Devji Temple positioned in the middle of the Chandra Mahal
and the Badal Mahal. A charming system of fountains is located in the
middle of the paved path amid the Chandra Mahal and the Badal Mahal. An
additional essential part of the palace complex is the Hawa Mahal of extraordinary architecture that stands away from the main complex.
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City Palace
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How to reach Jaipur, Rahastan
