Where is the City Palace?
The City Palace is located in the city of Udaipur in the northwestern
Indian state of Rajasthan. The huge palace, towering over the lake, is the
largest palace complex in the state.
How will you gain access?
Udaipur Airport is located at a distance of 24 km from the city. The Indian
Airlines operates daily flights connecting Udaipur to cities like New Delhi,
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Aurangabad, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The railway station is
about 4 km from the city centre. There are train services linking Udaipur to
Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Indore and Delhi. Video coaches, State buses,
deluxe buses and air-conditioned buses are available on the routes of
Udaipu-Jaipur, Udaipur-Delhi and Udaipur-Ahmedabad.
What are the timings and the entry charges?
The City Palace remains open from 09-30 to 16-30 hours. To enter the City
Palace Museum, one has to pay an entry charge of Rs 25 or Rs 15 for
children. If one enters the museum from the Lake Palace side, the entry fee
amounts to be Rs 75.
What
does the past say?
The construction of the City Palace was begun by Maharana Udai Singh II of
the Sisodia Rajput clan. The palace is a beautiful conglomeration of
buildings added by the subsequent Maharanas. No wonder, the palace manages
to retain an excellent uniformity of design. 'Raj Anangan' (Royal Courtyard)
is the oldest part of the palace. The courtyard was built by Maharana Udai
Singh in the 16th century.
What goes behind the architecture?
A collection of numerous remarkable buildings, the City Palace represents a
fabulous blend of Medieval European and Chinese style of architecture. From
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the upper terraces, one can have splendid views of the lake and the
city. The palace can be approached from the northern end through the
Baripole and the Tripolia Gate. There are eight carved marble arches between
the two gates. It was customary with the Maharanas to be weighed under the
gate, with their weight in gold or silver being distributed to the populace.
The exterior of the palace has a rugged look but inside, there are a number
of luxurious apartments surmounted by balconies, hanging gardens, towers and
cupolas. The main part of the palace has now been converted into a museum
namely the City Palace Museum. The museum exhibits a rich collection of
artefacts. The Mor Chowk bears beautiful mosaics of peacocks, the favourite
Rajasthani bird. The Manak Mahal or the Ruby Palace has excellent glass and
mirror work. The Krishna Vilas has an interesting collection of miniatures.
The Chini Mahal is known for its Chinese and Dutch ornamental tiles. The
Surya Chopar has a huge ornamental sun which the symbol of the Mewar
dynasty, tracing its origin to the sun. The Zenana Mahal, the Dilkhush Mahal
and the Laxmi Vilas Chowk are the other popular attractions of the palace.
What are the nearby attractions?
» Jagdish Temple
The Jagdish Temple is located only 150 m north of the entrance to the City
Palace. The fine temple was built by Mharana Jagat Singh in the year 1651.
It enshrines a black-stone image of Lord Vishnu.
» Fateh Sagar
The Fateh Sagar Lake, located north of Lake Pichola, is a popular hangout
for the local youth. As the night falls, a good number of love-struck youth
can be seen all over the place. In the middle of the lake is the Nehru Park,
a popular garden island with a boat-shaped cafe.
» Lake Palace
The
Lake Palace was built by Maharana Jagat Singh II in 1754. The enchanting
palace is located on the Lake Pichola. The setting of the palace is in such
a way that it appears to be emerging out of the lake, making it a
magnificent sight for the visitors.
» Pratap Samarak
Overlooking the Fateh Sagara Lake, is a statue of the Rajput her Mharana
Pratap Singh. On the way to the top, one comes across wonderful gardens. The
park also includes a Japanese Rock garden.
