The City Palace of Jaipur is located in the heart of the old city of Jaipur in Rajasthan, India. It is spread over a large area, split into a series of courtyards, gardens, and buildings. The outer wall was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, but other additions are much more recent, some dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. The palace is a wonderful blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural style. The City Place of Jaipur is a major tourist attraction in Rajasthan.

The city palace was built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh and the royal family still uses a section of the palace. The exquisite 19th century Mubarak Mahal or The Palace of Reception which used to serve as the reception area of royal guests was built by Madho Singh and is now converted into museum which show cases a bewildering array of royal costumes of the charismatic prince Sawai Madho Singh. Apart from the royal costumes, on display at the museum are some intriguing 15th century royal armory that have been very well preserved.

There is also the Dewan-I-Aam which has now been converted into an art gallery and has unusual ancient Hindu manuscripts, exquisite work of art belonging to Persion, Mughal and Rajasthani school of art. The Dewan-I-Khas is conspicuous by its two large exquisite silver vessels, which were exclusively made for Maharaja Madho Singh. These vessels served the purpose of storing the holy Ganga water during the erstwhile ruler's much talked about trip to England.

The magnificent Chandra Mahal which is all of seven storied is now the residence of the present Maharaja of Jaipur. Needless to say, the palace with its exquisite paintings, flower - patterned décor, parapets that dazzle with mirrors and intricately carved ceilings makes this palace an enchanting abode. Each of the seven stories serves a distinctive purpose and are appropriately named. For instance, the Sukh Niwas or the hall of pleasure serves as the drawing cum dining room of the Maharaja while the Shova Niwas or the hall of beauty is conspicuous by its mirror coated parapets which dazzle with a million rays when lit up.

How to Approach :

Sky Way : Jaipur is connected to Delhi (260Km), Mumbai, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Aurangabad, Calcutta and Varanasi by domestic flights.

Trackway : The train service to Jaipur is available from all the major parts of the country.

Expressway : Jaipur can be accessed from all the major places in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Mumbai by bus.

The Most Popular Sights to See :

Chandra Mahal
The centre of the palace, is the Chandra Mahal, or the Moon Palace, which provides a fine view of the gardens and the city.

Chandra Mahal JaipurMaharaja Sawai Man Singh Museum
The ground and first floor of the Chandra Mahal, form the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Museum. The museum has an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamelware and old weapons. The paintings include miniatures of Rajasthani, Persian and Mughal schools. The Mubarak Mahal, or the Auspicious Palace, contains the textile section of the museum.

Diwan-i-Am & Diwan-i-Khas
The palace also houses the Diwan-i-Am, or the hall of public audience, and Diwan-i-Khas, or the hall of private audience. In the Diwan-i-Am, ornate pillars support the high ceilings. The walls, intricately painted with touches of deep red and gold, provide perfect mounts for immense medieval Afghan and Persian carpets. Miniatures from the Mughal and Jaipur schools, and Jai Singh's translations in Arabic and Sanskrit of the astronomical treatises of ancient scientists, are displayed in glass cases.