Udaipur - the City of Lakes: Lake Pichola and the Sunset view of City Palce!

In the photograph, clicked exclusively for this blog, what you se here is the beautiful City Palace at the Sunset. The Arawalli mountain range in the background and the sky turning orange on the top of the mountain making the picture look like a painting. You can see the majestic City Palace in the foreground, the setting Sun has bathed the Royal Palace in shining orange color. There are very few parallels to this picturesque  view anywhere around the world. 

Udaipur, Rajasthan: Palatial Hotels of Udiapur!

Some of the Hotels, not very expensive though, are built in the same pattern as palaces. I stayed at one such Hotel, the photograph posted below, just as an example. Should you wish to visit Udaipur, it will not cost you a lot of money. You can manage to stay at Udaipur and visit many places of tourist interest, around it, at a very affordable cost. There are, of course, highly luxurious Hotels such as Hotel Lake Palace. One can plan a trip to Rajasthan according to one's budget and still enjoy the best of facility and wonderful touring experience!

   

City Palace, Udaipur: The main Building!

The City Palace, Udaipur comprises Eleven Palaces, beautifully  built by the Sisodia Rajput Dynasty of Mewar. The construction style of the palaces is a blend of Medieval, European and Chinese Architecture. If you look at the photograph posted below you can see Domes, Towers and Arches which were used, to give the buildings a majestic look. The City Palace has such a wonderful assortment of courtyards, terraces, corridors, rooms, pavilions and hanging gardens that you would be left bewitched with the beauty of the surroundings! The building materials used include marble, granite and sandstone etc.

Udaipu r-City Palace: The largest Palcae complex of Rajasthan!

Built by: Maharana Udai Singh ji started building the palace in the year 1559 and the construction went on till the 18th century. It is a majestic palace. The palace is located right at the center of the city on the banks of Pichola lake. The city is a tourist hot-spot is a calm and quiet place. 

The entry point of the palace is from the Hathi Pol (Elephant gate). There is a Entry Ticket for going inside the palace. The palace has a beautiful museum too.... you will enjoy the visit since there are many artifacts and weapons dating 500 years back. 

City Palace, Jaipur: The decorated balcony!

The design and decoration of the balcony above the doors of the 'four-season doors' is consistent with the design of the doors, just under it.  The painting and architecture are unique Rajasthani style! These balconies were mainly used by the queens to witness the cultural shows that were organised within the premises. The queens, in the old era, remained behind the veil and were allowed to witness all public functions only from the balconies!

City Palace, Jaipur: A closer look at the decoration!

Let us take a closer look at the decoration of the four-season gates. This picture gives you a better view of the decoration, a hallmark of royal palaces. The doors are made of quality wood covered with brass sheets and are known as ornate Brass-Doors set in marble!

City Palace, Jaipur: Four seasons four decorated doors!

The open space shown in the photograph, is a part of the city palace premises, where the royals used to gather to interact with their people. There are four doors, exactly same in size but have decoration according to the four seasons.  The beautiful decoration in this picture is 'dancing peacock' design on the top portion of the door!

City Palace, Jaipur: The main Entrance to the Paalce!

In this photograph shows the main entrance to the palace, you can see many canons placed, a practice followed since centuries by Rajputana Kingdom. The 'No Entry' sign post indicates that only the royals, their guests and staff are allowed  to go in.  The other portion of the property is open to the public and there is an Entry-Ticket, to take care of the maintenance cost of the premises.  

City Palace Jaipur: The Main building of the palace!

The photograph showing the main building, you can see the Flag of the Maharaja of Jaipur hoisted atop the building! Whenever the Maharaja is in town the flag is hoisted to signal his presence in the town. This is an age-old tradition which is followed even to this date! 

 

City Palace, Jaipur: Majestic Gate - City Palace!

The photograph posted shows the majestic gate of the City Palace, Jaipur, which happens to be the tourist hot spot of Jaipur as well as India. The palace has a fabulous museum which has invaluable collection of Artifacts, Arms Ammunition, Royal wardrobe and art gallery. Photography inside the museum is strictly prohibited otherwise I could have posted so many beautiful photographs. I have seen the whole museum at a fast-forward speed, just enough to get acquainted with the Royal treasure-trove....

 

Puppet Dance: Puppet dace of Rajasthan

You must have heard of puppet dance of Rajasthan. In Hindi it is called "Kath-Putli ka naach". The photograph of the gypsies who go around the cities and towns of Rajasthan and can be spotted at tourist hot spots, is posted below. What you see here is a father and son duo ready with their "Kath-Putlis" playing music to attract audience. They have decorated the mini-stage with colorful pictures of the Hindu deities. If you happen to plan a trip to Rajasthan you will need at least three weeks to cover the entire colorful state! It will be an experience of a lifetime!! The most suitable period of the year to visit Rajasthan is November to March!!!!

 

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur: The monument site.

The monument is housed in an open space enclosed by boundary walls and maintained by Archaeological Survey of India. The instruments installed at Jantar-Mantar were built by Maharaja Jai Singh II (1699-1943AD), the king of Jaipur. He was keenly interested in Astronomy and it was due to his extraordinary interest that Jantar Mantar came into being. The photograph posted below, exclusively for you, is an overview of the premises of the monument!

Jantar-Mantar Jaipur: An observatory of Old Era!

Janatar Mantar is an intriguing monument, unique in concept and built in an era when there were no machines to carryout accurate measurements or marking. There are fourteen unique astronomy-related-geometric devices (yantras) in the premises called Jantar Mantar. There are Sun-Dials Moon-Dials etc. etc. which will bewitch you, not easy to understand though. You better engage a guide if you are a serious tourist. Photograph showing the Entrance of Jantar-Mantar, Jaipur.

City Palace, Jaipur: Tourist Hot-Spot of Jaipur!

The photograph, brought exclusively to you, was clicked in the moth of June, 2013. What you see here is the picture of the majestic City Palace at Jaipur. The current Maharaja of Jaipur who is just 14 year old, stays here. This is just a glimpse of the City Palace. 

 

Jaigarh fort, Jaipur: Sunset at Amber Fort

This photograph was clicked in the month of June, 2013, as the Sun was setting behind the fort. The foreground shows the courtyard of Amber palace which has turned dusky. The most  interesting part of the picture is the 'outline' of the walls --- in the backdrop of the dull-shiny skyline.

Amber Palace, Jaipur: Close up of the Gate

In the previous post you saw the larger view of the gate. This is a closer view brought exclusively to you via this blog. Here you can see the magical artistry in full bloom. The image of a deity  can be seen at the top of the opening. Each flower and leaf has been carved and there are precious stones embedded into the slots. It's a tel tale story of Indian artistry!

Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur: Main Entrance

There is a temple of Lord Krishna at the main entrance of the fort. It is believed that the idol of Lord Shree Krishna was made from the single block of black stone which was brought to Jaipur from Bengal. The block of stone was said to possess divine blessings and hence brought prosperity to the kingdom. You can see the ramp at the approach which facilitated the movement of  elephants and horses. In the era of Maharajas elephants and horses were a very useful modes of transportation. 

Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur:

This is a captivating view of Jaipur city from the top of Nahargarh Fort. On the left you can see part of one of the nine domes. The photograph looks as though it was clicked from an airplane or a helicopter. What you see in this photograph is just a small part of the city....... the view of the city is spellbinding. In fact once you reach the top of the terrace there plenty of breeze and the air is absolutely free from pollution...... you wouldn't want to come down....

Painting on the Ceiling: Rajasthan Style of painting

If you want to give a Royal Look to your ceiling ..... this one is for you. Photographed in October 2013, this is the ceiling painting of Amber Fort ----  at Jaipur, Rajasthan. The colors used are eco-friendly and so lasting it is difficult to believe that the painting is 250 years old....