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Palaces of Rajasthan
Lake Palace , Udaipur
The
Lake Palace is located on the Jag Niwas Island and covers the whole of 1.5 hectare
of the island in the middle of the Pichola Lake. Built by Maharana Jagat Singh
in 1743 it was meant as a royal summer palace and now converted in to a five
star palace hotel.
It is a magical palace and its image in the middle of the lake is like a
leaf straight out of a fairy tale book with an excellent taste of intricate
craftsmanship and the ethnic themes using the textiles and handicrafts all
over highlight the beauty that is simply beyond compare the lake around makes
a pleasant murmur with its rippling waves and lapping that adds to the mesmerising
moments.
The Lake Palace is one of the most beautiful palaces in the world, arising
out of the Turquoise Waters of the Pichola like an elegant fantasy in white
marble. The Lake palace was built in the 17th century on a natural foundation
of 4 acers of rock. It was initially called Jaginwas after its founder Maharana
Jagjit Singh.
The Maharana, ruler of Jaipur from 1628 to 1654, was very friendly with Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan and encouraged his craftsmen to copy some of the glories
of his incomparable buildings at Agra. The successive rulers used this cool
haven as their summer resort, holding their regal durbars in its courtyards.
These courtyards lined with columns, pillared terraces, fountains and gardens
all add to its impressive image.
The City Palace, Jaipur
Located in the heart of the walled city, The City Palace Complex gives you
an idea about the far sightedness of the founder of Jaipur Sawai Jai Singh.
He left behind a legacy of some of the most imposing and magnificent architecture,
art and craft structure in the city. Jai Singh built the outer walls but its
many buildings were built later and some of them date in the twentieth century
too.
The palace is blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture and the royal family
still lives in a part of the palace. On entering the complex and before the
palace proper lies the Mubarak Mahal, the palace of welcome or reception.
Sawai Madho Singh built the palace in the nineteenth century.
City Palace or Vinay Vilas Mahal, Alwar
The
City Palace was built in 1793 A.D. by Raja Bakhtawar Singh. It represents a
intermingling of Rajput and Mughal stvles. It has graceful marble pavilions
set on lotus flower bases in the central courtyard
Once this palace was part of the Maharajas ornate lifestyle and housed, among
other things, a drinking cup cut out of a single emerald in its treasury and
a mammoth, double storied four-elephant carriage in its stables. Today however
the palaces has been converted into the district's collectorate, and its hall
and chambers have a been turned into government offices.
This huge fort with its ramparts stretching 5 km from east to west, stands
304 meters above the city and 595 meters above the sea level, constructed
before the rise of the Mughal empire .Babar had spent a night at this fort
and took away the hidden treasures to gift to his son, Humayun. Akbar's son,
Jahangir had also stayed here for some time during his exile. The place where
he stayed is called Salim Mahal.
The Taragarh Palace, Bundi
It was built in 1345 and is great ramble around at leisure. This is rather
a ramshackle fort, with its overgrown vegetation.
The view over the town and surrounding countryside from the top are magical,
especially at sun set.
Inside the ramparts are huge reservoirs carved out of solid rock, and the
Bhim Burj, the largest of the battle- fields, on which there is mounted a
famous cannon.
Taragarh is reached by steep road leading up the hillside to its enormous
gateway.
Take a path up behind the chitra Shala, go east along the inside of the ramparts
then left up the steep stone ramp just before the Dudha Mahal, a small disused
building 200m from the palace.
Padmini’s Palace, Chittorgarh
It is built beside the lotus pool with a historical pavilion that changed
the history of Chittor. Ala-ud-din saw the reflection of Queen Padmini from
here and so mesmerized was he, that the quest of possessing her led to a furious
battle which saw the last of Maharana Ratan Singh (husband of Maharani Padmini)
and the epitome of beauty-Cleopatra of Rajasthan, became an eternal legend
in the history of chittor and also of the Mewar state. The feel still lingers
on. A thing of beauty is a joy for ever- and now they don't say this for nothing.
Chittorgarh is the epitome of Rajput pride, romance and spirit. It reverberates
with history of heroism and sacrifice, which is evident as it echoes with
the tales sung by the Bards of Rajasthan.
The main reason for visiting Chittorgarh is its massive hilltop fort, which
is a depiction of Rajput culture and values. The fort stands on a 240-hectares
site on an 180m high hill that rises rapidly from the plains below.
Thrice a stronger enemy sacked Chittorgarh. The first sack occurred in 1303
when a Pathan King Ala-ud-din Khilji overwhelmed by the beauty of Queen Padmini
besieged the fort in order to capture the regal beauty.
Fateh Prakash Palace, Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh
Fort is a massive structure with a 1 kilometre zigzag accent to it. The road
leads through seven gates to the main gate Rampol (meaning Gate of Ram). On
the climb between the second and third gate you see two Chattris cenotaphs built
to honour Jaimull and Kulla heroes of 1568 siege by Emperor Akbar.
The main gate of the fort itself is Surajpol (meaning Sun Gate). Within the
fort a circular runs around the ruins of the fort. According to often told
legend the construction of the fort was started by Bhim a Pandav hero of mythological
epic Mahabharata.
The fort has many magnificent monuments. Akbar carried away all the distinctive
pieces of architecture and sculpture and placed them in his capital. These are
still manifested in the fort of Agra. Even though the fort is ruin but it is
an overwhelming reminder of past history and its walls resonate with unbelievable
legend of extra ordinary men and women and their equally astounding deeds .
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