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City Palace, Jaipur
Located
in the heart of the walled city, The City Palace Complex gives you an idea about
the far sightedness of the founder of Jaipur Sawai Jai Singh.
He left behind a legacy of some of the most imposing and magnificent architecture,
art and craft structure in the city.
Jai Singh built the outer walls but its many buildings were built later and
some of them date in the twentieth century too.
The palace is blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture and the royal family
still lives in a part of the palace.
On entering the complex and before the palace proper lies the Mubarak Mahal,
the palace of welcome or reception. Sawai Madho Singh built the palace in the
nineteenth century.
It was used as a reception centre for the visiting personage. The building now
forms the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and on display here are a wide
array of royal costumes, some very exquisite and precious Pashmina (Kashmiri)
Shawls, Benaras silk saris, Sanganeri prints and folk embroidery.
An unusual display is that of voluminous clothes worn by Maharaja Sawai Madho
Singh I (ruled 1750-68).
The Maharani's Palace, the palace of the Queen paradoxically puts a display
of the Rajput weaponry.
The inestimable collections of weapons date back to even 15th century and are
in a remarkable state of preservation.
Remarkable amongst them is scissor-action dagger. This deadly weapon when thrust
in body the handles were release to spread the blades.
The dagger was then withdrawn tearing limb from limb of the body of the hapless
victim into certain fatality. Other exhibits include protective chain armours,
pistols, jewelled and ivory handled swords, a belt sword, small and assorted
cannons, guns, poison tipped blades and gun powder pouches. The frescos on the
ceiling are amazing and well preserved.
Between the armoury museum and the art gallery is the Diwan-I-Khas meaning hall
of private or selective audience.
This is a marble paved pavilion and puts on display the world largest sterling
silver object two gigantic silver vessels.
These vessels were made for Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II, who took in along
with him filled with water from River Ganga for drinking.
As a devout Hindu the Maharaja did not wish to risk polluted English waters.
The ceiling also has large chandeliers, which are mostly protected by dust covers
and opened only of festive occasions. The Guinness Book of Records accounts
it has the biggest silver objects in the world.
The art gallery is located in the Diwan-I-Aam, which literally mean the Hall
of public audience. The exhibits here included some very precious and ancient
handwritten original manuscripts of of Hindu scriptures. Particularly intriguing
in miniature copies of Bhagwat Gita made in this manner so that it can be concealed
out of sight of Emperor Aurangzeb onslaught on Hindu scriptures.
Some very delicate miniature paintings in Rajasthani, Mughal and Persian schools
on various themes including the Ramayana are some very engrossing displays.
Visitors must also take a good at preserved painted ceilings. Also on display
are elephant saddles called haudha.
The Chandra Palace is still occupied by the royal family but visitors can visit
the ground floor where some exhibits are on display. However the visit here
is worthwhile for the exquisite Peacock in the courtyard outside.
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