City Palace, Udaipur

Architecture  

City Palace Udaipur is built using granite and marble with a blend of medieval European and Chinese architecture. The palace has various towers, domes, archs, courtyards, terraces, corridors, rooms, pavilions and also hanging garden making the Palace a feast to the eyes. 
There is a temple built to the Hermit who advised the king to make this place his new capital. On the first floor, over the roof of this temple is a 8 ft square pool carved out of a single marble in which 1000 silver coins were filled and later distributed among the poor. This pool was placed here so that no one would walk over the roof of the temple.  

Entrance Gates (pols) 

City Palace has several gates ‘Badi Pol’ is also called ‘Bara Pol’ which is the main gate to the Palace Complex. Next is the triple arched gate called ‘Tripolia’. Between these two gates are eight marble arches called ‘Toranas’ where the kings used to weigh themselves with gold and silver which was then distributed among the local people. The last gate is the ‘Hathi Pol’.   
Behind the entrance of Badi Pol, there is a huge wall which was built for the elephant fight. Two elephants would be tied head on and which ever elephant touches the wall first was considered to be weak. This was one of the source of entertainment. There are big boulders at the entrance where elephants were tied, which is now a car parking.

Places inside the palace  

• Suraj Gokhda – public address facade  
• Mor Chowk – peacock courtyard  
• Dilkhush Mahal
• Surya Chopar
• Sheesh Mahal – Palace of Glass and mirror
• Moti Mahal – Palace of pearls
• Krishna Vilas
• Shambhu Nivas – present Royal Residence
• Bheem Vilas
• Amar Vilas – Hanging Garden
• Fateh Prakash Palace – now Heritage Hotel
• Shiv Niwas Palace – now Heritage Hotel    

Badi Mahal 
Also known as ‘Garden Palace’, it is situated on a 27 metres high natural rock at the center Palace. There is a swimming pool here which was used during Holi festival celebration.  

Bheem Vilas
This gallery has a collection of miniature paintings depicting the real life stories of Radha Krishna.

Dilkhush Mahal 
‘Palace of joy’ was built in 1620, it is known for the murals and wall paintings.  

Fateh Prakash Palace 
It is a heritage luxury hotel now. It has a crystal gallery which consists of crystal chair, sofa, dressing table, beds, tables and chairs which were never used. There is also a jewel studded carpet here. Maharana Sajjan Singh had ordered these rare items in 1877 to a company of London, but before they arrived Sajjan Singh died. These crystals remained unopened for 110 years.   

Mor Chowk or peacock square
There are three peacocks representing the three seasons of summer, winter and monsoon. They are made of coloured glass mosaic. These were built during Maharana Sajjan Singh reign, 200 years after the palace was established. The peacocks have been crafted with 5000 pieces of glass which shine in green, gold and blue colours.

Sheesh Mahal
Sheesh Mahal – Palace of mirrors and glasses, was built in 1716 by Maharana Pratap for his wife Maharani Ajabde.   

Zenana Mahal
In 1974, a part of the city palace ‘Zenana Mahal’ (ladies chamber) was converted into a Museum.   

Lakshmi Vilas Chowk
It is an art gallery, a distinctive collection of Mewar paintings.

Krishna Vilas
It is also a gallery which has a rich collection of miniature paintings.

Amar Vilas
It is the uppermost court inside the Palace Complex, which is an elevated garden. It was built in Mughal style as a pleasure pavilion. Amar Vilas is the highest point of the city palace and has wonderful Hanging Gardens with fountains, towers and terraces.

The palace complex also has post office, bank, travel agency, craft shops and Indian boutique (WWF).