Getting Lost in The City Palace
Rajasthan has its fill of palaces and forts from maharajas that governed the states in this part of India. The city palace of Jaipur is a stunning palace complex situated at the heart of the city. It includes majestic structures such as the Mubarak Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Diwan-I-Kas, and other noteworthy palaces and structures constructed by the maharajas of Jaipur.
As with the forts I've visited in Jaipur, the entrance to the palace is just as grand as I thought it would be. The construction of the city complex closely associated with its rulers that began with Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II who reigned from 1699-1744.
There was some sort of preparation for a celebration that was going on when I visited the city palace.
Diwan-I-Khas
The Diwan-I-Khas is an elaborately beautiful audience hall of the maharajas. The marble flooring and intricate designs on the walls add a majestic aura to the chamber.
I took my time wandering and getting lost inside the city palace to admire the architecture and design. I'm no expert in architecture and design, I'm easily impressed (haha!).
Mubarak Mahal
Mubarak Mahal also means 'Auspicious Palace'. This beautiful structure was inspired by European, Rajput, and Islamic architectural designs. It was built by Maharaja Madho Singh II as a reception center in the 19th century. The inside contained a mini-museum of textiles such as block prints, saris, and royal costumes just to name a few.
Chandra Mahal
You can't miss the majestic facade of the Chandra Mahal when you visit the city palace. Each floor of this seven-storied building has its own name such as Ranga-Mandir, Chabi-Niwas, and Mukut Mahal just to name a few.If it was your first time to see the forts and palaces in Rajasthan, this palace would be something special, but once you've seen a lot of them around Jaipur, they begin to look the same. Pretty much the same kind of feeling you get when you see a lot of temples while exploring Southeast Asia.
*There is an entrance fee of INR 400 (foreigner fee) to enter the City Palace.
Jantar Mantar: It's One Huge Clock
I knew the Indians were good in science and mathematics, That's why it came as no surprise that they came up with something like Jantar Mantar in ancient India. Basically, Jantar Mantar is one huge clock and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Do you want to know the time? Grow several feet and stare down at Jantar Mantar before shrinking to your normal height again!
Jantar Mantar is a group of astronomical instruments used by the Indians that lived in Rajasthan centuries ago. This particular structure was designed after a similar one in Delhi. Jantar Mantar was built by Sawai Jai Singh.
This observatory is made up of 14 geometric devices that measure time, predicting an eclipse, and tracking the location of the stars among other things. It was quite cool to be walking around and exploring a huge clock on the ground. Jantar Mantar remains as an integral monument to the history of astronomy and Vedic thought in India.
I would recommend a trip to Jantar Mantar if you are interested in astronomy and ancient, innovative architecture.
*I paid INR 400 for the composite ticket that included Jantar Mantar.
