Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Udaipur city palace and Lake Pichola in Twilight. - 2/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
City Palace, Udaipur, was built over a period of nearly 400 years, with contributions from several rulers of the Mewar dynasty. Its construction began in 1553, started by Maharana Udai Singh II of the Sisodia Rajput family as he shifted his capital from the erstwhile Chittor to the new found city of Udaipur. - 3/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The palace is located on the east bank of Lake Pichola and has several palaces built within its complex. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
It was built in a flamboyant style and is considered the largest of its type in the state of Rajasthan. - 5/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
It was built atop a hill, in a fusion of the Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles, providing a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. - 6/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Overlooking Lake Pichola, several historic monuments like the Lake Palace, Jag Mandir, Jagdish Temple, Monsoon Palace, and Neemach Mata temple, are all in the vicinity of the palace complex. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Nestled within the Aravali mountain range, these landmarks are associated in popular culture with the filming of the 1983 James Bond movie, 'Octopussy'. - 8/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The City Palace was built concurrently with the establishment of the Udaipur city by Maharana Udai Singh II and his successor Maharanas over a period of the next 400 years. The Maharanas lived and administered their kingdom from this palace, thereby making the palace complex an important historic landmark. - 9/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The series of palaces in the city palace complex, behind an exquisite facade of 244 metres (801 ft) length and 30.4 metres (100 ft) height, were built on a ridge on the east of lake Pichola. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
They were built over a long period, from 1559 onwards, by 22 generations of Sisodia Rajputs. Several Maharanas starting with Udai Singh II, have contributed to this edifice, which comprises an agglomeration of structures, including 11 small separate palaces. - 11/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The unique aspect of this conglomeration is that the architectural design is distinctly homogeneous. The palace complex has been built entirely in granite and marble. - 12/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The interiors of the palace complex with its balconies, towers and cupolas exhibit delicate mirror work, marble work, murals, wall paintings, silver work, inlay work and leftover of coloured glass. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The complex provides a view of the lake and the Udaipur city from its upper terraces. - 14/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The palaces within the complex are interlinked through a number of chowks or quadrangles with zigzag corridors, planned in this fashion to avoid surprise attacks by enemies. - 15/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Erected in the complex, after entering through the main Tripolia (triple) gate, are the Suraj Gokhda (public address facade), the Mor-chowk (Peacock courtyard), the Dilkhush Mahal (heart’s delight), the Surya Chopar, the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of glass and mirrors), the Moti Mahal (Palace of Pearls), the Krishna Vilas (named after Lord Krishna), Shambu Niwas (royal residence now), the Bhim Vilas, the Amar Vilas (with a raised garden) that faces the Badi Mahal (the big palace), the Fateh Prakash Palace and the Shiv Niwas Palace; the last two have been converted into heritage hotels. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The complex is set with facilities of a post office, bank, travel agency, numerous craft shops and also an Indian boutique belonging to the World Wildlife Fund. The entire complex is the property of the Mewar royal family with various trusts maintaining the structures. - 17/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Gateways, colloquially called Pols, are set to the east of Udaipur city. A number of such gateways provide access to the palace complex. - 18/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The main entry from the city is through the 'Badi Pol' (Great Gate), which leads to the first courtyard. Badi Pol (built in 1600) leads to the ‘Tripolia Pol', a triple-arched gate built in 1725, which provides the northern entry. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Between these two gates, eight marble arches or Toranas are erected. It is said that the Maharanas used to be weighed here with gold and silver, which was then distributed among the local people. - 20/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The main block of the city palace is approached through a modest door from the Ganesha Deodhi terrace. The door is flanked by whitewashed walls vibrantly painted with martial animals in the traditional Rajput style. There is a big boulders in the entry where elephants were tied. This elephant parking have now became car parking. - 21/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Amar Vilas is the uppermost court inside the complex, which is an elevated garden. It provides entry to the Badi Mahal. It was built in Mughal style as a pleasure pavilion. It has cusped arcades enclosing a square marble tub. Amar Vilas is the highest point of the City Palace and has wonderful hanging gardens with fountains, towers, and terraces. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Badi Mahal (Great Palace) also known as Garden Palace is the central palace situated on a 27 metres (89 ft) high natural rock formation bis-a-bis the rest of the palace. The rooms on the ground floor appear to be at the level of the fourth floor in view of the height difference to its surrounding buildings. - 23/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
There is a swimming pool here, which was then used for Holi festival (festival of colours) celebration. In an adjoining hall, miniature paintings of 18th and 19th centuries are displayed. In addition, wall paintings of Jag Mandir (as it appeared in the 18th century), Vishnu of Jagdish temple, the very courtyard and an elephant fight scene are depicted. - 24/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Bhim Vilas has a gallery of a collection of miniature paintings that depict the real life stories of Radha-Krishna. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Chini Chitrashala (Chinese art place) depicts Chinese and Dutch ornamental tiles. - 26/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Chhoti Chitrashali or 'Residence of Little Pictures', built in the early 19th century, has pictures of peacocks. - 27/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Dilkhusha Mahal or ‘Palace of Joy’ was built in 1620. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Durbar Hall was built in 1909 within the Fateh Praksh Palace as a venue for official functions such as State banquets and meetings. The gallery of the hall was used by the Royal ladies to observe the Durbar proceedings. - 29/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
This hall has a luxuriant interior with large chandeliers. Weapons of the maharanas and some of their portraits are depicted here. The foundation stone for this hall was laid by Lord Minto, the Viceroy of India, in 1909, during the rule of Maharana Fateh Singh and was then called Minto Hall. - 30/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Fateh Prakash Palace, which is now a luxury hotel, has a crystal gallery that consists of crystal chairs, dressing tables, sofas, tables, chairs and beds, crockery, table fountains which were never used. There is also a jewel studded carpet here. Maharana Sajjan Singh had ordered these rare items in 1877 from F& C Osler & Co of London but he died before they arrived here. It is said that the packages containing these crystals remained unopened for 110 years Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Krishna Vilas is another chamber, which has a rich collection of miniature paintings that portray royal processions, festivals and games of the Maharanas. - 32/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Laxmi Vilas Chowk is an art gallery with a distinctive collection of Mewar paintings. - 33/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The Manak Mahal approached from the Manak Chowk is an enclosure for formal audience for the Mewar rulers. It has a raised alcove inlaid completely in mirror glass. Sun-face emblems, in gleaming brass, religious insignia of the Sisodia dynasty are a recurring display at several locations in the City Palace with one being depicted on the façade of the Manak Chowk. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Udaipur
The largest of such an emblem is also seen on the wall of the Surya Chopar, a reception centre at the lower level. Surya or Sun emblem of the Mewar dynasty depicts a Bhil, the Sun, Chittor Fort and a Rajput with an inscription in Sanskrit of a quotation from the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu holy scripture), which means "God Helps those who do their duty". It was customary for the Maharanas to offer obeisance to the Sun facing east, every morning before taking breakfast. - 35/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Mor Chowk or Peacock square is integral to the inner courts of the palace. The elaborate design of this chamber consists of three peacocks (representing the three seasons of summer, winter, and monsoon) modeled in high relief and faced with coloured glass mosaic, built into successive niches in the wall area or jharoka. These were built during Maharana Sajjan Singh’s reign, 200 years after the palace was established. - 36/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The peacocks have been crafted with 5000 pieces of glass, which shine in green, gold, and blue colours. The apartments in front of the Chowk are depicted with scenes of Hindu god Lord Krishna’s legends. At the upper level, there is a projecting balcony, which is flanked by inserts of coloured glass. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
In an adjoining chamber, called the Kanch-ki-Burj, mosaics of mirrors adorn the walls. The Badi Charur Chowk within this chowk is a smaller court for private use. Its screen wall has painted and inlaid compositions depicting European men and Indian women. - 38/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Proceeding further from the Mor-Chowk, in the Zenana Mahal or women’s quarters exquisitely designed alcoves, balconies, coloured windows, tiled walls, and floors are seen. - 39/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Rang Bhawan is the palace that used to hold the royal treasure. There are temples of Lord Krishna, Meera Bai and Shiva located here. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Sheess Mahal or Palace of Mirrors and glasses was built in 1716 by Maharana Pratap for his wife Maharani Ajabde. - 41/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
In 1974, a part of the city palace and the 'Zenana Mahal' (Ladies Chamber) were converted into a museum. The museum is open for public. - 42/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The palace was picturised as a hotel in the 1983 James Bond film 'Octopussy'. Yahoo News is better in the app
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Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The palace was used for filming part of the film 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela' 2013 directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. On 15 August 2018, India Post issued a commemorative stamp depicting the Palace. - 44/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
The palace area of Manak Chowk serves as the venue of the annual Maharana Mewar Foundation Awards, honouring students, national and international personalities. - 45/45
Peek into palaces of India: City palace, Udaipur
Panoramic view of Famous City palace of Udaipur built by King of Mewar dynasty 400 years ago.
With the travel and tourism sector having been hit badly, the only hope travel enthusiasts have of discovering new places and learning about the history and culture of another country is to discover them virtually.
In our first edition of ‘A peek into palaces’, we took you on a journey into the famed Mysore Palace in Karnataka. In the second edition here’s a closer look at yet another stunning palace which is a favourite tourist attraction.
The City Palace in Udaipur was built in a flamboyant style and is considered the largest of its type in the state of Rajasthan. It was built atop a hill, in a fusion of the Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles, providing a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings.
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Image source: Getty
History of palace reference: Wikipedia