City Palace

City Palace Review

This complex of pavilions, courtyards, chambers, and palace was begun by Jai Singh II in 1727, with additions done by later maharajas. Once you're in the outer courtyard, the marble-and-sandstone building directly in front of you is the Mubarak Mahal (Guest Pavilion), built by Maharaja Madho Singh in the late 19th century. Now a museum, it's an ideal place to admire at close range some of the royals' finest brocades, silks, and hand-blocked garments and robes, many made in nearby Sanganer and some dating from as far back as the 17th century. The collection also includes musical instruments. The armory in the northwest corner of the courtyard has one of India's best collections of arms and weapons, including an 11-pound sword belonging to Akbar's Rajput general. Some of the paints on the beautiful, 18th century ceiling are said to be made of crushed semiprecious stones.

In the inner courtyard, through the gateway guarded by two stone elephants, is the art gallery housed in the cavernous Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience). Built in the late 18th century, the building has rows of gray marble columns, the second-largest chandelier in India, and a magnificent, vintage-1930s painted ceiling. The art includes scores of miniatures from the Moghul and various Rajput schools, rare manuscripts, and 17th-century carpets from the Amer Palace. From the inner courtyard, enter the Zenana courtyard on the left to see the seven-story Chandra Mahal (Moon Palace). Built by Jai Singh II, this attractive cream-hue building is still the official residence of the present maharaja, "Bubbles"—Lieutenant Colonel Sawai Bhawani Singh—who lives on the upper floors. The ground floor has sumptuous chandeliers, murals, and a painting of an old maharaja. Photography is not allowed in the gallery area, and there's a Rs. 500 fine for using a video camera without a special ticket, which should be purchased with your admission ticket. Note that some official-looking people near the entrance may claim that you must get a guide here. This isn't true: ignore them.