City Palace, Udaipur
Udaipur is dominated by the magnificent City Palace that commands a great view overlooking the Laka Pichola. The Palace is surmounted by filigreed balconies and windows, ornate arches, octagonal towers and cupolas. The balconies of the Palace provide panoramic view of Jagniwas (now the world famous Lake Palace Hotel), on one side and the beautiful city of Udaipur on the other. It has a number of pavilions, terrace gardens, with inner apartments decorated with beautiful inlay work and wall paintings. This majestic white royal building towers on a hill and is surrounded by crenellated walls. The entire palace is now a grand museum. Ferguson has described the Old Palace as the largest in Rajputana. Some of the main spots of the City Palace are:
TRIPOLIA GATE
One can enter the
City Palace through
Badi Pol, built in 1600, and the exquisitely carved triple-arched
Tripolia Gate, which was built in 1725 by
Maharana Sangram Singh II. It is traditionally a symbol of sovereignty. Between Tripolia Gate and Badi Pol are eight carved arches where once the Maharana were weighed on their birthdays against gold or silver, the equivalent value of which was distributed to the poor.
GANESH DYODHI
Beyond Tripolia is the Ganesh Deori that has a beautiful marble statue of Lord Ganesha surrounded by mirror and glass inlay work displaying two Rajput ladies. One has to pass through this door to go to the upper part of the palace (Royal Courtyard).
RAJ ANGAN
The Ganesh Deori leads to the Raj Angan built in 1571 by Maharana Udai Singh. A big courtyard enclosed on all four sides by apartments, it contains several portraits of rulers presenting a historical view of the earlier reigns of Mewar.
SHRINE OF DHUNI MATA
On the western side of Rajangan there is a Shrine of Dhuni Mata, a protective goddess of the Ruler of Mewar. It is the oldest part of the palace built by Maharana Udai Singh in the memory of a holy sage who advised him to build Udaipur as the capital of Mewar.
AMAR MAHAL (BADI MAHAL)
Amar Mahal, also called BadiMahal, was built by Maharana Amar Singh II. This is the highest part of the entire City Palace complex. The Palace is covered with lush green trees and beautiful flowers. Amar Mahal was used as an entertainment centre for the royal family. The Palace provides a picturesque view of the entire Udaipur city.
DILKUSH MAHAL
Dilkush Mahal, also known as the Palace of Joy, was built by Maharana Karan Singh. The walls of the Mahal are nicely decorated with various paintings and mirror-work engravings.
KRISHNA MAHAL OR KRISHNA VILLAS
Krishna Villas is dedicated to Krishna Kumari, Maharana Bhim Singh’s sixteen-year old daughter, who chose suicide over marriage to a rival prince. It contains some of the best miniature paintings of Mewar. It is believed that during the reign of Maharaja Bhim Singh, the state was powerless and faced invasions from all sides. Both the Prince of Jaipur as well as the Prince of Jodhpur desired to marry Princess Krishna Kumari, the only daughter of the Maharana. If Maharana obliged one, the state would have to face an attack from the other. This put the Maharana in a critical situation. When Krishna Kumari learnt about her father’s dilemma she decided to stand by the Rajput code of chivalry and drank a full cup o poison without any hesitation and died in her room. The king was dejected from life and dedicated the room as her memorial.
MOTI MAHAL
Moti Mahal, the Palace of pearls, was built by Maharana Karan Singh. It was embellished with thousands of mirrors during the reign of Maharana Jawan Singh (1828-38).
BADI CHITRASHALI
Built by Maharana Sangram Singh II, it is known for the florid paintings of the time.
KANCH KI BURJ
The beautiful room was built by Maharana Karan Singh, but the glass inlay work was carried out by Maharana Shambhu Singh (Who also built the Shambhu Niwas Palace, which is now the private residence of Shriji Arvind Singh of Mewar). All the walls and domes of the ceiling are decorated with golden and red mirror work.
ZANANA MAHAL (PALACE OF THE QUEENS)
South of the City Palace Museum is the Palace of the Queens. These apartments of the royal ladies were constructed in the 17th century. The upper windows of Zanana Mahal are covered with latticed screens, which served to shield the royal women as they watched the activity in the street below. Formerly the objects displayed inside the palace were elephant haudas, horse driven carts, cannons, machine guns, a fan run by kerosene oil, a water clock and paintings of hunting scenes. Zanana Mahal was also used for many religious functions. The treasure of Maharana was also kept here.
BHIM VILAS
Built by Maharana Bhim Singh, the walls of Bhim Vilas are painted in blue and embellished with white ornaments. Bhim Vilas has a famous sun window called Suraj Gokhada, constructed by Maharana Bhim Singh in the late 18th century.
PRITAM NIWAS
Built by Maharana Jagat Singh II (1734-51 A.D.), the king who brought Udaipur on the map of the world by constructing the world renowned Jag Niwas (now Lake Palace Hotel). Pritam Niwas served as a private apartment for Maharana Bhupal Singh throughout his life. A life-size cut-out painting of Maharana Bhupal Singh is still there in the palace.
SURYA CHOPAD (SURAJ GOKHADA)
The Surya Chopad, built by Maharana Karan Singh, consists of an image of the sun facing towards the entrance. This chamber has a balcony towards the east, known as the Surya Gokhada (sun balcony), which can be seen from the big courtyard. It is believed that during the rainy season when clouds would often hide the sun, the devotees of the sun refused to take either food or water without seeing it. So, at their request the Maharana, who was considered to be the descendent of the sun, would sit in this balcony and show himself to them so that they could have their meals.
MOR CHOWK
The Mor Chowk is also called Peacock Courtyard, with intricately crafted peacocks on its wall in fine mosaic relief. Built by Maharana Karan Singh, The Mor Chowk consists of three dazzling high reliefs of peacocks, which demonstrate the three Indians seasons-summer winter and monsoon. Maharana Sajjan Singh made various additions to this courtyard in the nineteenth century.
MANAK MAHAL
Also known as the Ruby Palace, Manak Mahal was built by Maharana Karan Singh and beautiful glass and mirror work was later added by Maharana Sajjan Singh. It is a curious compartment displaying a large collection of Chinese porcelain and Bohemain glassware.
