5/5 Jai Raj Singh S. 1 year ago on Google
An
architectural
masterpiece.
Must
visit
for
history
buffs
and
people
who
appreciate
indigenous
architecture.
City
Palace,
Udaipur is
a
palace
complex
situated
in
the
city
of Udaipur in
the
Indian
state
of Rajasthan.
It
was
built
over
a
period
of
nearly
400
years,
with
contributions
from
several
rulers
of
the Mewar dynasty.
Its
construction
began
in
1553,
started
by Maharana Udai
Singh
II of
the Sisodia Rajput family
as
he
shifted
his
capital
from
the
erstwhile Chittor to
the
newfound
city
of
Udaipur.The
palace
is
located
on
the
east
bank
of Lake
Pichola and
has
several
palaces
built
within
its
complex.The
City
Palace
in
Udaipur
was
built
in
a
flamboyant
style
and
is
considered
the
largest
of
its
type
in
the
state
of
Rajasthan.
It
was
built
atop
a
hill,
in
a
fusion
of
the Rajasthani Rajput
architecture providing
a
panoramic
view
of
the
city
and
its
surroundings.
Overlooking
Lake
Pichola,
several
historic
monuments
like
the Lake
Palace, Jag
Mandir, Jagdish
Temple, Monsoon
Palace,
and
Neemach
Mata
temple,
are
all
in
the
vicinity
of
the
palace
complex.
Nestled
within
the Aravali
mountain
range,
these
landmarks
are
associated
in
popular
culture
with
the
filming
of
the
1983 James
Bond movie Octopussy.
Architecture
The
series
of
palaces
in
the
city
palace
complex,
behind
an
exquisite
facade
of
244
metres
(801 ft)
length
and
30.4
metres
(100 ft)
height,
were
built
on
a
ridge
on
the
east
of
lake
Pichola.
The
complex
is
located
in
Udaipur
city
at 24.576°N
73.68°E,
which
is
set
with
an
average
elevation
of
598
metres
(1,962 ft).They
were
built
over
a
long
period,
from
1559
onwards,
by
22
generations
of
Sisodia
Rajputs.
Several
Maharanas
starting
with
Udai
Singh
II,
have
contributed
to
this
edifice,
which
comprises
an
agglomeration
of
structures,
including
11
small
separate
palaces.
The
unique
aspect
of
this
conglomeration
is
that
the
architectural
design
is
distinctly
homogeneous.
The
palace
complex
has
been
built
entirely
in
granite
and
marble.
The
interiors
of
the
palace
complex
with
its
balconies,
towers
and
cupolas
exhibit
delicate
mirror-work,
marble-work,
murals,
wall
paintings,
silver-work,
inlay-work
and
leftover
of
colored
glass.
The
complex
provides
a
view
of
the
lake
and
the
Udaipur
city
from
its
upper
terraces.
The
palaces
within
the
complex
are
interlinked
through
a
number
of
chowks
or
quadrangles
with
zigzag
corridors,
planned
in
this
fashion
to
avoid
surprise
attacks
by
enemies.
Erected
in
the
complex,
after
entering
through
the
main
Tripolia
(triple)
gate,
are
the
Suraj
Gokhda
(public
address
facade),
the
Mor-chowk
(Peacock courtyard),
the
Dilkhush
Mahal
(heart's
delight),
the
Surya
Chopar,
the
Sheesh
Mahal
(Palace
of
glass
and
mirrors),
the
Moti
Mahal
(Palace
of
Pearls),
the
Krishna
Vilas
(named
after
Lord
Krishna),
Shambu
Niwas
(royal
residence
now),
the
Bhim
Vilas,
the
Amar
Vilas
(with
a
raised
garden)
that
faces
the
Badi
Mahal
(the
big
palace),
the
Fateprakash
Palace
and
the Shiv
Niwas
Palace;
the
last
two
have
been
converted
into
heritage
hotels.
The
complex
is
set
with
facilities
of
a
post
office,
bank,
travel
agency,
numerous
craft
shops
and
also
an
Indian
boutique
belonging
to
the World
Wildlife
Fund (WWF).
The
entire
complex
is
the
property
of
the
Mewar
royal
family
with
various
trusts
maintaining
the
structures.