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City Palace towers over
the Pichola Lake. Maharana Uday Singh initiated in the
construction of the palace but succeeding Maharanas added
several palaces and structures to the complex retained a
surprising uniformity to the design. The entry to the Palace is
from the Hati Pol, the Elephant gate. The Bari Pol or the Big
gate brings you to the Tripolia, the Triple gate. It was once a
custom that the Maharana would weigh under this gate in gold and
silver, which was distributed to the populace. It is also now
the main ticket office. Balconies, cupolas and towers surmount
the palace to give a wonderful view of the lake. Suraj Gokhada
or the balcony of the sun is where the Maharana would grant
public audiences mainly to boost the morale of the people in
difficult times. The Mor Chawk is the peacock square and gains
its name from the vivid blue mosaic in glass of a peacock that
decorates its walls.
 The main part of the palace
is now preserved as a museum displaying a large and diverse
array of artefacts. Down steps from the entrance is the armoury
museum exhibiting a huge collection of protective gear, weapons
including the lethal two-pronged sword. The City Palace museum
is then entered through the Ganesh Deori meaning the door of
Lord Ganesh. This leads to the Rajya Angan, the royal
courtyard that is the very spot where Maharana Udai Singh
met the sage who told him to find a city here. The rooms of the
palace are superbly decorated with mirror tiles and paintings.
Manak Mahal or the Ruby Palace has a lovely collection of glass
and mirror work while Krishna Vilas display a rich collection of
miniature paintings. Moti Mahal or the pearl palace has
beautiful mirror work and the Chini Mahal has ornamental tiles
all over. The Surya Chopar or the sun square depicts a huge
ornamental sun symbolising the sun dynasty to which the Mewar
dynasty belongs. The Bari Mahal is a central garden with view of
the city. Some more beautiful paintings can be seen in the
Zenana Mahal or the ladies chamber, which leads to Lakshmi Chowk
a beautiful white pavilion.
Inside the separate palace enclosure, entered from the South of
Badi Chowk, are the Shiv Niwas and Fateh prakash Palace, which
are now run as hotels. The Sunset view terrace and gallery
restaurants, the crystal gallery and the boat wharves for trips
to Jagmandir and the Lake Palace. It costs Rs 25 for visitors to
enter this area, or you can buy a package ticket (adult/child Rs
435/175) that includes entry to the City Palace museum and
Crystal gallery, a boat ride to Jagdish mandir and two free
drinks. The ticket must be used within two days. There's another
entrance to this enclosure on the southern side of the palace,
more convenient if you're staying in the Lake Palace road area. |
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It's like being cocooned in
authentic royal luxury at the Fateh Prakash Palace,
 the grand
heritage palace of the HRH group. The warmth of royal
hospitality greets you as you walk along the corridors lined
with large paintings of the Mewar school that flourished in the
seventeenth through nineteenth century.
The lake facing suites in the turrets are suitably appointed
with four poster beds and period furniture, festooned with
maroon velvet curtains and delicate silk tassels. It's a legacy
kept alive since the early decades of the twentieth century when Maharana Fateh Singh (period of reign : 1884 - 1935) used to be
the royal occupant of this palace. Till date the formality of
royal occasions are maintained. |
Jahan [prince Khurram] derived
some of these ideas for the Taj Mahal from this palace when he
stayed there in 1623-24. The island has some striking carving
including a row of elephants that looks as though they are
guarding the island. The exquisitely carved chhatri in grey and
blue stone is another example.