JAL MAHAL

In the heart of the old city the City Palace occupies a large area divided into a series of courtyards, gardens and buildings. The outer wall was built by Jai Singh but other additions are much later, some right up to the start of this century. Today the palace is a blend of Rajasthani and Moghul architecture, the former Maharaja still lives in part of the palace. The seven-storey Chandra Mahal is the centrepiece and commands fine views of the gardens and the city. The complex contains an excellent museum, an armoury and several fine halls. The apartments are maintained in luxurious order and the museum of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II has an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamelware and old weapons. The paintings include miniatures in the Rajasthani, Moghul and Persian schools. The armory dating back to the 15th century and 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. Some other interesting sections in the palace are the Diwan-i-Am or hall of Public Audiences with its intricate decorations and manuscripts in Persian and Sanskrit, The Diwan-i-Khas or Hall of Private Audiences with a marble paved gallery. There is also a clock tower and the newer Mubarak Mahal. Outside the buildings you may see a large silver vessel which a former Maharaja used to take drinking water with him to England. Being a devout Hindu he could not drink the English water!