City Palace, sprawling and beautiful, is the embodiment of Rajput heritage and culture in Jaipur. Visit this beautiful palace if you enjoy forts, learning about their history, and learning about the lives of royal families. Apart from the City Palace, Jaipur’s Pink City is dotted with forts and historical gems that are now open to tourists. Continue reading to learn more about the history, architecture, attractions to see, and some lesser-known facts about City Palace.
Location: Gangori Bazaar, Tulsi Marg, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Entrance Fee :Rs 200 for Indians
Rs 700 for foreign tourists
Children and students with valid ID receive a 50% discount. There are additional fees for exclusive areas of the palace.
Entrance :Virendra Pol and Udai Pol
Year of Inception :1727
It was commissioned by: Jai Singh II, Sawai
Location :Gangori Bazaar, Tulsi Marg, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Timings :from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Architectural Design :Mughal and Rajput Architecture
Used Material :Sandstone in red and pink
Time Requirement 2-3 Hours
When is the best time to visit? From October through February
History
For generations, the popular Rajput Kachhwaha clan ruled over Jaipur and Amer. Sawai Jai Singh, who sought to relocate his headquarters from Amer in the 17th century, founded the city and City Palace. Even now, City Palace preserves the beauty and rich culture of Jaipur, as well as the dynasties that have passed through it. One of the key reasons for establishing Jaipur and City Palace was the scarcity of water and resources, as well as the difficulties in administering Amer’s growing population.
Around the period of India’s independence, Man Singh II ruled over City Palace and Jaipur. To welcome King Edward VII (then Prince of Wales), the entire city was painted pink, and some portions of the city still are. The entire city and City Palace demonstrate Mughal and British fealty to the Jaipur crown.
Jaipur City Palace: Today
City Palace is now one of the few places in the world where one part is reserved for the royal family’s residence and the other is open to the public as a museum and courtyard. Many weaponry from many historical times can be found here. Explore the lovely courtyards, where privileged guests were formerly hosted. The palace also has several ancient collections of royal family personal things.
Architecture
What distinguishes City Palace’s architecture? It’s built of red and pink sandstone and features vast, open courtyards. Its building exemplifies the perfect marriage of Rajput and Mughal architectural traditions. Many locations were converted into museums several decades ago to showcase the region’s rich history and kings’ lifestyles. Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and Samuel Jacob, the architects of the entire city of Jaipur, designed this magnificent palace. Apart from Udai Pol and Virendra Pol, which have ticket counters, the remaining gates are utilised by the royal family, who still live here.
Things to Do
Mahal, Chandra:
This huge edifice has seven levels and a magnificent peacock pattern on its entryway. From the Mahal’s balconies, one can see the entire city of Jaipur. Each floor serves a distinct function. The ground floor, where the museum is located, is the most popular.
Pritam Niwas Chowk (Pritam Niwas Chowk):
There are four gates here, each representing a distinct season. The first gate represents autumn, the second summer, the third spring, and the fourth winter.
Diwan-i-Am:
As the name implies, this location was utilised for public meetings. It is spacious, open, and ornamented with embroidered rugs and walls.
Diwan-i-Khas:
In comparison to Diwan-i-Am, this is more smaller and more private. It has unusual silver vessels, which you will discover later. It was only for the monarch and the royal family’s privileged visitors.
The Maharani Palace
This was once the royal family’s dwelling, but it now houses numerous weaponry as part of the City Palace Museum.
Khana, Baggi:
It is a unique location that shows several types of cabs and vehicles from the period Queen Victoria ruled England.
How to Get There
The City Palace is easily accessible from both Jaipur Airport and the railway station. It is around 12 kilometres from the airport and nearly 5 kilometres from the railway station. It is located near Jantar Mantar in the old market area. From everywhere in the city, you may simply locate a cab or rickshaw to take you there.
To go to Jaipur, you can take any means of transportation, including automobile, plane, or rail. It is well connected to practically all major Indian towns and is particularly close to Delhi (280 km).
Attractions in the Neighbourhood
Jantar Mantar(100 m)
Bazaar of Tripolia (400 m)
Hawa Mahal(1 km)
Johari Bazaar(1 km)
Bapu Bazaar (2 km)
Albert Hall Museum(3 km)
Birla Mandir (4 km)
Jal Mahal (6 km)
Amer Fort (8 km)
Anokhi Museum (9 km)
Jaigarh Fort (10 km)
Nahargarh Fort (14 km)
So, if you’re a history geek wishing to appreciate a palace that’s a mash-up of history, art, antiques, and royal culture, put City Palace on your list of sites to visit in Jaipur. Also, keep in mind that October to February is the greatest period to visit Rajasthan, so plan ahead of time to get the best offers and bargains on transportation and accommodation in Jaipur.
