Palace 

City Palace Jaipur Photo © Paramantapa Dasgupta (PD)

is a stunning complex of buildings, gardens, temples, pavilions, and courtyards which sprawls over a few acres of land. It was constructed within 1729 – 1732 by the Rajput King, Sawai JaiSingh II, the ruler of

. The outer walls of the building were planned and constructed by Jai Singh II while successive rulers made substantial addition to the building.

The present site of the palace, initially used to house a royal hunting villa surrounded by rugged hills about 5 miles south of the previous capital at

. In 1727, a rapid increase in population and a severe shortage of water prompted Sawai Jai Singh II to shift the capital to Jaipur. Following his death in 1744, most of the Rajput kings were busy fighting between themselves. However, they maintained a friendly relationship with the British Government and during the military uprising of 1857, Maharaja Ram Singh stood by the British Raj

. It was he who painted the city pink in 1878 in order to welcome the Prince of Wales who visited the city. Maharaja Man Singh II, the last King of Jaipur, used to rule from this palace and a major portion of the building is still used as the residence of the royal family.

Peacock Gate, City Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India - City Palace Jaipur. Photo by jean-philippe castonguay

architectural marvels of the city, the palace is also a unique combination of Rajput and Mughal architecture. There are three very ornamental entrances to the Palace – the

which is reserved only for the royal family. Visitors can enter through the

which is a superb blend of Rajput, Mughal, and European architecture. Built by King Madho Singh II in the 19th century, it was used as a reception hall for guests. Now it has been turned into a museum displaying the royal costumes.

The most striking building within the palace compound is the

which is a building of seven stories. Only the ground floor of the palace is accessible for the general public, since the descendants of the royal family onced used the palace as their residence. The museum on the ground floor displays a number of royal artifacts and other historical curiosities. The building sprawls over a vast stretch of land with nicely laid-out gardens and a beautiful lake in the front. The

comprises of the inner courtyard with four gates which are beautifully carved, representing the four seasons of the year and images of Hindu Gods. The hall for the private audience known as the

City Palace. Jaipur. Forest of columns.. Photo by Ricardo Fernandez

One can see two huge silver jars with a capacity of 4,000 liters which weighs nearly 340 kg. Made by melting 14,000 silver coins, it is the largest silver vessel of the world, according to the

. The vessel was created for Sawai Madho Singh II, a devout Hindu who carried the water of

is an attractive chamber and the ceilings are painted richly in gold and red which shines vibrantly, even to this day. Now used to display works of art, the chamber houses some of the most exquisite Persian, Mughal, and Rajput miniature paintings. The art gallery also displays rare handwritten manuscripts of Hindu Scriptures.

One can also see the golden throne where the King used to sit while attending his audience. The entrance to this hall has two huge elephants carved out of a single block of marble. The residence for the Queens or the

is also converted into a museum, which displays the weapons used by the royal family. Its ceiling contains a number of beautiful frescoes which are well preserved.

is yet another museum which houses an amazing collection of old carriages, cabs, and palanquins

temple, built in the 18th century and dedicated to Lord Vishnu

, is set in a beautiful garden. The ceiling of the temple is plated with gold and the prayer can be observed by the devotees 7 times a day.

The palace is open for all visitors every day of the week from 10AM – 5 PM.

The palace courtyard - City Palace Jaipur. Photo by Jesse Richmond

, the visitor is sure to notice the imposing structure of the beautiful city palace. One of the most popular tourist destinations of India, Jaipur is well connected by flights and trains to all other major Indian cities.

Travelers flying from abroad must make a stopover at Delhi.

Visitors might also be interested in visiting the stunning building of Hawa Mahal, situated very close to the City Palace. The astronomical observatory called the

, also located in the old city is another tourist attraction.

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