The Rajasthan Rajputs were divided in kingdoms
- Kingdom of Marwar
- Kingdom of Mewar
- Kingdom of Jaisalmer
- Kingdom of Bikaner
- Kingdom of Ambar Jaipur
then small kingdoms like
Bundi, Ajmer etc
This particular City Palace belongs to kingdom of Mewar (Rana Pratap land). I think among all states of India, Rajasthan is unique with maximum heritages in form of forts, temples, havelis, lakes and royal cenotaphs. The people of Rajasthan still acknowledge, adore and remember their kings and titular kings as I noticed in visitors in forts and museums.
Location
Udaipur is a city in Rajasthan, India. It is about 380 KM from Jaipur. There is a domestic airport in Udaipur which is 20 KM from city. It is also well connected by road and rail from all cities of India. Ola operates but do not rely on Ola in Udaipur if you are short of time.
Our itinerary in Udaipur
Where to stay in Udaipur
We booked online for RTDC hotel Kajri. You can book online at link- RTDC hotel booking. This is an average hotel and principally I stay in government run hotels even if they are average. Restaurant is good, Breakfast is complimentary always – poori bhaji, aloo-paratha, phoha, bread pakoda etc. South dishes are not available here.
Mode of transport within city
The only best way is to hire autos. Ola is not credible yet in Udaipur. The places to visit are not far including Sajjangarh palace. Keep cash to pay as UPI is not yet in vogue in city.
Time taken to visit the palace
4 hours.
About City Palace, Udaipur
The city palace of Udaipur is in main city. Any auto can take you there.
Entry fee – On arriving there I was confused at ticket counter with long list of types of entry fee. It was a bit difficult to make out what to choose. I arrived at some conclusion to take 2 types of fee and do boating outside in the city from some Ghat as that is cheaper.
Entry fee to enter premises only – Rs.30
Entry fee for City Palace rooms and musem – Rs.300 (children Rs.100)
You can purchase Boating ticket from inside the palace as well. Rs. 500 per person and for children Rs.200. It is less than half price in the city. But I suggest to do boating in city at about quarter of this charge.
And after my experience my selection was right as seeing the roaming inside premises and City palace rooms and museum is quite enough to know the life of kings of Mewar and their history.
On entering I see that we have to walk about 750 meters to enter the first gate Ganesh Pol. For very old guys and differently abled persons there are many electric vehicles available.
Walking across the Ganesh Pol we get grand view of Lake Pichola, Lake View hotel owned by Taj group. We further go ahead and come across Fateh Prakash Pol. Just beside is Fateh Prakash Palace which is now converted to hotel with board no entry for tourists. Few meters away is Fateh Prakash Pol.
As we cross Fateh Prakash Pol on right side we see big secured premises. Guards told that this is where the current titular king lives. Touching Fateh Prakash Pol is Fateh Prakash Dehari which now holds Crystal Gallery, Darbar hall, Darbaar Hall Sabhagaar. For entering into this entry fee is high Rs.500. While on left side is Manek Chowk built is 1620 which was used for public meetings, ceremonials processions and festival. Tripolia gate is also part of manek Chowk right end.
There are two mahals into which there is entry to tourists – One is Mardana mahal Suraj Pol and other is Zenana Mahal for which I have paid Rs.300. Just here is Government Museum.
There was a big crowd for entering into museum. The entry point is called Ganesh Chowk (Raja Karan Singh 1620-28). Befire entering Ganesh Chowk you can see Saleh Khana (Maharan Udai Singh II 1537- 1572)where arms of Mewar dyasty period are displayed. Raja Sajjan Singh converted it to Armoury in 1874.
On entering through this we come to Rai aangan. It was built by Raja Udai Singh II in 1676. On right of Rai aangan is Haldi ghati gallery where the glory of holy land of Haldi ghati is displayed. Haldi Ghato Kaksh is actually a chamber in memory of Maharana Pratap.c next we come across a line of about 10 palaces which I will describe as we go ahead.
On let side we see Kacheri mahal and a big trough made of single rock. After coronation of king it was filled with one lakh silver coins. One forrth of coins were squandered to public and rest was given as alms to poor,
Baadi Mahal also known as Amar Vilas mahal or Shiv Prasanna Vilas is the highest point of the city palace, and often compared to legendary ‘Hanging gardens’.
On 12th September, 1911 King George V during his visit to Invited all ruling prince to attend his Darbar. According to status the chair was placed. But Maharana Fateh Singh defied the directives and did not attend the Darbar. Edward VII had gifted two horses to Edward VII to Fateh Singh in 1909. The pictures of these horses are displayed behing Fateh Sing here.
Dilkhush Mahal (1710-34 AD) with red and yellow windows that filter the natural light, this mahal house houses the picture galary with some finest and rare paintings of Mewar School between 17th to 19th century.
The most important area of Madan Mardana Mahal is Rai Chowk (1559 AD). It is ceremonial courtyard where maharanas were anointed as rulers of mewar.
The spectualar Rai aangan also has impressive pavillions and chambers with paintings and murals and panoramic views of Lake Pichola and its island palaces. This was the room allotted to Sir James Tod who was emissary between British and Mewar. It has study room and old items like old fan.
Next we come to Madan Vilas
Next is Moti Mahal so called as the morning sun rays when pass through windows will give feeling of glittering pearls. Side by is Bheem Vilas which was the private meeting place of Maharanas.
These are decorative and rich courtyards of Bheem Vilas palace. The all carpets used in the gallery are woven by the prisoners.
More Chowk is the probably unparalleled in India, comprises of three daunting peacocks erected with blue glass and mirror pieces. Long before India declared it national bird, Mewar paid tribute to peacock this way.
While going acroos all the mahals we ultimately come to end of mardana mahal.
In Zenana mahal we see some old utensils, queens living style, their relation with maid servants, cultural and religious activities and their living room like Manak Mahal, Sharbati Vilas and Bhopal Niwas.
Zenana Mahal is also developed continuously like Mardana Mahal with time.The vearandas display here palki,and interesting articles of daily uses, dresses.
Epilogue
This is one of the best maintained palaces in India. The geographical advantage is that it is on bank o flake Pichola which enhances the beauty of palace and in todays time the commercial value to develop the property as hotels. The high entry fee is justified as it displays the very well maintained heritages, rooms, armory, furniture, meeting rooms, queens rooms and daily use articles to give a picture of life of maharanas from 16th to 19th century. This place is heart of history of Udaipur.
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