City Palace, Jaipur

Located in the capital of Rajasthan, the City Palace of Jaipur was not only a part of the former glory of India, but still serves as home to the former Maharaja.Strategically located in the heart of the Pink City of Jaipur, the architecture is an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthan and Mughal art. Sprawling over the one-seventh of the walled city, it is divided into a series of courtyards, gardens and buildings.
It is home to several palatial structures like the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, and the City Palace Museum.

Mubarak Mahal, built by Maharaja Madho Singh, is one of the more important palaces inside the City Palace Complex. It has a beautifully carved marble gate with heavy brass doors on either side of this gate. Beyond this gate, lies the 'Diwan-E-Khas'- a meeting place where the maharajas used to entertain a select few. And there, across the paved square, with its intricate decorations and manuscripts in Persian and Sanskrit lies the 'Diwan-E-Aam' - the meeting place with the general public.

The palace also contains a museum that showcases some of the best art and weaponry of my people, the warrior Rajputs. The armory dates back to the 15th century and contains many of the ingenious and tricky weapons, which the warrior Rajputs was famous for. A section of museum also contains dresses and costumes of the former Maharajas and Maharanis of Jaipur. Each floor has a distinctive name and is a place of sheer beauty and luxury. Paintings, floral decorations, mirror walls and ceilings in the traditional style adorn the palace. The uppermost storey is, appropriately, called the Mukut Mahal - or the Crown Building.
Outside the buildings, you may see a large silver vessel. This was used by former Maharajas to take drinking water with him to England. Being a devout Hindu, he could not drink the English water!