PALACE OF UDAIPUR

CITY PALACE

City Palace also known as Sawai Jai Singh's Chandra Mahal (Moon Palace) is the magnificent palace started by Maharana Udai Singh II and completed at different time periods is the largest palace complex of Rajasthan. Built in granite and marble it majestically towers over the Pichola Lake. The main gates to the palace are 'Hathi Pol', 'Bara Pol' and Tripolia gate'. The entrance through the Tripolia itself is enchanting with eight carved marble arches of 'Toranas' under which the rulers in the past were weighed against gold and silver. There are many enclosures inside with good views of the city or the lake. The museum houses an extensive collection of rare manuscripts, Mughal and rajasthani miniatures, mughal carpets, costumes and textiles, arms and weapons and royal paraphernalia.

LAKE PICHOLA

The Lake Palace is a white beautiful palace, situated in the mid of the Lake Pichola. The palace was built by Maharaja Jagat Singh as his summer home. The palace is now a five star hotel. The scene of Lake Palace amidst Lake Pichola is mesmerising. Lake Pichola with exceptional scenic beauty is surrounded by hills, embankments, bathing ghats, shrines and palaces. The lake was enlarged by Maharana Udai Singh II after he founded the city. He built a masonry dam, known as the 'Badi Pal', and the vast lake is nearly 5km in length and three km wide. The magnificence of the lake is enhanced by beautiful Lake Palaces, Jag Niwas and the Jag Mandir. Motor launch cruises can be arranged as also entry to the Jag Niwas (lake) Palace.

LAKE PALACES

JAGMANDIR

The first island palace of Lake Pichola, Jagmandir was constructed by Maharana Karan Singhji in 1622 AD and was intended to be a pleasure palace for imperial parties and functions. The beautiful white-marble and granite building stand in the middle of the Pichola Lake. The palace is 800 feet from the banks and stands on an area of 4acres. The palace one of the best examples of Mughal-Rajput architecture has ancient paintings, stain glass windows, antique furniture and an impressive array of fountains, bath reservoirs etc. Boats are available from the jetty and at the base of City palace museum. Visit: Daily from 1400 to 1800. 1/2 hour cruises on the lake are also available.

JAG MANDIR PALACE

The Jag Mandir Palace is situated on an island at the southern end of the lake. This is a three storied building, built of yellow sandstone and marble slabs. The dome of this palace looks like a crown. The interior is decorated with colored stones. There is a spacious circular apartment built elegantly in white and black marble, murals and paintings. The palace was build by three Maharanas - Amar Singh, Karan Singh and Jagat Singh and named after Maharana Jagat Singh. There is a small mosque in memory of saint-Madar inside the palace. You can have a relax walk on the spacious courtyards, spotless white marble dome, high roofed rooms, arched pavilions and a lashing green garden which is densely populated with trees and flowering creepers. In this gigantic palace there is also a temple called Jagdish temple and it is said that the name of jag mandir was derived from it.