City Palace Udaipur | Entry Fees | Timing | History | Things to do | Places to visit in Udaipur
City Palace Udaipur
The city of Udaipur has been the capital of the Mewar region of Rajasthan and the Sisodia rulers. Surrounded by the Aravalli ranges is one of the most magnificent and one of the most beautiful cities of Rajasthan. The Aravali range spread around Udaipur has protected the city from external invasions for centuries.
The Aravalli ranges also make this city naturally rich and beautiful. Udaipur is a very famous tourist destination all over the world and due to the artificial and natural lakes and ponds around this city, the city is also known as the city of lakes. But Udaipur is not famous only because of the lakes and natural environment located here.
The city is also famous because of the sacrifices made by the rulers of the Sisodia Rajput dynasty and the Bhil, Meena, Patel and Rajput castes who lived here for centuries to protect Mewar. The maximum time of all the rulers of the city of Udaipur, founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II, is spent in the war to protect Mewar from Mughal invaders.
The name of Maharana Pratap is the most prominent of all the rulers of Udaipur. The construction of most of the palaces and buildings of Udaipur took many years, but never once was the construction done by any ruler. During the Mughal period, the Udaipur kings were busy in the war most of the time, as the construction work in Udaipur could never go on, construction work continued as the rulers came to Udaipur.
The City Palace of Udaipur, whose construction was laid by Maharana Uday Singh II himself, but the construction of the City Palace also took about 400 years to complete. But today the City Palace is one of the largest palaces in India and Rajasthan and is also one of the most visited palaces by tourists. So let us provide you with complete information about City Palace, the most important tourist place of Udaipur.
History of City Palace Udaipur
The City Palace located in Udaipur is one of the largest palaces in Rajasthan, this palace is much larger than it has taken any longer to construct. The size of the City Palace can be estimated from the length of this palace is 244 meters and the width is around 30 meters. In 1559, Maharana Udai Singh II laid down the construction of the City Palace.
City Palace was known as “Rai Aangan” during Maharana Uday Singh. To understand the construction of City Palace and the history of Udaipur, we have to know the history of Nagda, a small town 30 km from Udaipur. Before the establishment of Mewar by Bappa Rawal, around the sixth century, Nagda was ruled by the Guhil dynasty.
After some time Bappa Rawal also declared Nagda as the first capital of Mewar. After a long gap of about 800 years, Maharana Udai Singh II, disturbed by the constant Mughal invasions, established Udaipur in the region, surrounded by the Aravalli ranges on the banks of the Ayad river near Nagda and naturally protected.
According to some historians, before the construction of the City Palace, Maharana Udai Singh built Motimahal on a high peak near this place in 1553. A few years after the construction of Moti Mahal, he started the construction of the City Palace in 1559. After Maharana Udai Singh, his son Maharana Pratap came to power in Mewar.
Most of the time of Maharana Pratap’s life was spent in making Mewar independent at the hands of the Mughals. Before his death, Maharana Pratap had taken back most of the land of Mewar. All the kings of Sisodia dynasty who came to Udaipur after Maharana Udai Singh II continued their construction work in the City Palace in their own way.
Due to the ongoing construction works from time to time, today there are around 11 small and big palaces in the City Palace. The generations of kings of Sisodia dynasty continued to come and go and the construction work of the City Palace continued. Thus it took 400 years to complete the construction of City Palace with the help of 22 generations of the total Sisodia Rajput dynasty.
Architecture of City Palace Udaipur
Udaipur’s City Palace, built in Hindu and Rajput architecture, is one of the most beautiful palaces in India. Due to the construction of the City Palace taking a very long time of about 400 years, the architecture of this palace is seen from different times. Marble and granite have been used primarily in the construction of the City Palace.
In the rooms built inside the palace, glass pieces have been used very beautifully. Apart from this, very beautiful murals have been carved on the walls to make the interior of the palace beautiful. Silver has also been used to make many places in the palace beautiful. At that time, many balconies have also been built outside the palace to see the events being organized in the City Palace.
Even today, these balconies give a very panoramic view of Udaipur city. There is also a lot of maze in the corridors of the palace in terms of security and to avoid attacks from enemies. Due to very long construction work, there are a total of 11 small and big palaces in the City Palace.
Currently, parts of City Palace are open to tourists and some parts have been converted into hotels. Maharana Arvind Singh Ji Mewar and his family still live in the City Palace.
Places to visit in Udaipur - City Palace Udaipur
01. City Palace Udaiur Entry
Currently, all tourists enter the premises of the City Palace from Badi Pol. After entering from Badi Pol, Tripolia Gate is the first entrance to the City Palace in front of the tourists. Seven Chhatris are built above the Tripolia Gate. The first place that comes forward when walking ahead of Tripolia Gate, the place where the kings were weighed and their gold and silver were distributed among the general people of Mewar.
In front of Tripolia Gate, a war between elephants was carried out. The place where the kings saw the battle of elephants was called Agad. After walking some distance, the Toran Pol comes, very beautiful arches of marble are built around the pole.
02. Amar Vilas City Palace Udaipur
The Amar Vilas located in the City Palace was built by Maharana Amar Singh in 1699. Amar Vilas is a very beautiful garden built in the City Palace. To make this garden beautiful, in addition to trees and plants, marble statues and fountains were installed. Amar Vilas, situated in the middle of the square buildings, was used by the king and his family to spend their leisure time.
03. Badi Mahal City Palace Udaipur
Maharana Amar Singh built Amar Vilas as well as the Badi Mahal in 1699. Badi Mahal is a very beautiful palace made of 104 marble carved pillars. The manner in which marble stone tiles have been installed by the local artisans on the walls and ceilings of the big palace is able to attract the attention of tourists.
Ever since the construction of Badi Mahal, it was used to celebrate big festivals like annual festivals like Holi, Diwali, Dussehra. Apart from this, festivals related to the royal family were also organized in Badi Mahal. Badi Mahal is built at the height of the City Palace.
Despite being situated at an elevation in the City Palace, the Badi Mahal has very shady plants and for this reason, the Badi Mahal is also currently known as the Garden Palace. The most spectacular and beautiful views of Lake Pichola are visible from the Badi Mahal itself.
04. Fateh Prakash Palace, City Palace Udaipur
Fateh Prakash Palace is the newest building built in the City Palace. Fateh Prakash Palace was built in the early 20th century by Maharana Fatehprakash. The Fateh Prakash Palace is currently converted into a five-star hotel and the royal family still has ownership rights over the hotel. And this hotel is operated by Taj Group of Hotels.
Many grand events and big weddings are organized in this hotel. Fateh Prakash Hotel offers very beautiful views of the Lake Pichola, watching the sunset from Fatehprakash Hotel in the evening provides a different experience.
Many priceless items such as maximum sofas, chairs, carpets, crystals, weapons, artefacts and paintings inside the Fatehprakash Hotel were purchased during the reign of Maharana Sajjan Singh in 1877.
05. Darbar Hall City Palace Udaipur
The Durbar Hall was also built in the early 20th century along with the Fateh Prakash Palace. In 1909, Viceroy Lord Minto of erstwhile India laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Durbar Hall. Initially, the Durbar Hall was called Minto Hall.
In the Durbar Hall, very impressive huge paintings of almost all the kings of Mewar are made, besides these the weapons connected with Maharana Pratap and Chetak are also displayed. The Durbar Hall was used for special meetings and royal events held at that time.
The chandelier in this hall is considered to be one of the largest chandeliers of India in any palace. The Crystal Gallery located in the Durbar Hall is one of the largest crystal galleries in the world. The hall offers a panoramic view of the Sajjangarh Palace in addition to the Jagamandir Palace, Lake Palace, situated in the Pichola Lake. Presently, music dusk, wedding ceremony, dinner and world-class conferences are held in the Durbar Hall.
06. Bhim Vilas City Palace Udaipur
Bhim Vilas located in the City Palace can be called a very beautiful art gallery. In Bhim Vilas very beautiful murals of Lord Krishna and Radha are carved on the walls. Bhim Vilas painters have made some doors in such a way that without going near the tourist cannot even distinguish between genuine and fake doors.
07. Chini Chitrashala City Palace Udaipur
Chini Chitrashala is also a beautiful art gallery. This chitrashala has been equipped in a very systematic way using Dutch and Chinese tiles.
08. Choti Chitrashala City Palace Udaipur
Apart from the beautiful peacock motifs made in the small gallery, it attracts the attention of the tourists, apart from this a large collection of paintings made in the 19th century and earlier.
09.Krishna Vilas City Palace Udaipur
In the Krishna Vilas, the collection of pictures associated with the royal family is available for tourists to see. In these pictures, a detailed description of the lifestyle of the royalty, lifestyle, sports and festivals celebrated by them is seen through the pictures.
10. Manak Mahal City Palace Udaipur
The Manak Mahal was used as a meeting room for the kings. The king also used this room for private consultations with ministers and to meet formal guests. Manak Mahal also has emblems and some inscriptions associated with the royal family on the walls. It is believed that the king used to pray to his deity before taking food in this room. Manak Mahal has a reception room. A statue of Lord Surya is also installed inside the palace.
11. Mor Chowk City Palace Udaipur
Three very beautiful peacocks have been made using 5000 glass pieces on the wall of Mor(Peacock) Chowk located in the inner part of the City Palace. Due to these three glass peacocks made in the palace, this part of the palace is known as Mor(Peacock) Chowk.
It is believed that these three peacocks made of glass represent the three major seasons – winter, summer and rain. There is also a balcony in the upper part of Mor(Peacock) Chowk. This balcony was once used as a small inner court.
12. Rang Bhawan City Palace Udaipur
Rang Bhawan was once used as the treasury of the royal family of Mewar. Presently temples of Lord Shiva, Lord Shri Krishna and Meera Bai are built inside Rang Bhawan.
13. Sheesh Mahal City Palace Udaipur
Maharana Pratap built the City Palace Sheesh Mahal in the early 17th century to please his Queen Ajabde Panwar. The Sheesh Mahal located in the City Palace is also known as Darpan Mahal.
14. City Palace Museum City Palace Udaipur
The City Palace Museum, located in the nearly 400-year-old City Palace, was established in 1969 by Maharana Bhagwat Singh. The museum is built in the two major buildings of the City Palace, the Zanana Mahal and the Mardana Mahal. In the City Palace Museum, many items related to the kings of Mewar and Sisodia Rajput dynasty have been kept for the exhibition for tourists.
Since its inception, Udaipur’s City Palace Museum has carved a distinct identity all over the world. Institutions associated with many museums of the world have awarded many prizes for the huge historical collection of the City Palace Museum and for the maintenance of its historical heritage by the museum.
Tourists visiting Udaipur must keep enough time for the museum located in the City Palace.
15. Zenana Mahal City Palace Udaipur
The Zenana Mahal, located in the inner part of the City Palace, was built in the 16th century. The Zenana Mahal was used by the women of the royal family and in addition marriages in the royal family were also held in this Zenana Mahal. Weddings of many famous celebrities of the world have been organized in Zenana Mahal. The Zenana Mahal has a capacity to host about 500 guests for any event to be held.
City Palace Entry Fees | City Palace Boat Ride
S.NO | Particulars | Indian Tourist | Foreigner Tourist | ||
01 | City Palace Entry Fees For Adults | 30/- | 300/- | ||
02 | City Palace Entry Fees For Child (Age 5-18) | 15/- | 100/- | ||
03 | Mewar Light & Sound Show Entry Fees ( Hindi) | 250/- | 300/- | ||
04 | Mewar Light & Sound Show Entry Fees ( English) | 550/- | 550/- | ||
05 | Mewar Light & Sound Show Entry Fees Child ( Hindi) | 300/- | 300/- | ||
06 | Mewar Light & Sound Show Entry Fees Child ( English) | 250/- | 250/- | ||
07 | Crystal Gallery Entry Fees For Adults | 550/- | 550/- | ||
08 | Crystal Gallery Entry Fees For Child | 350/- | 350/- | ||
09 | Vintage & Classic Car Collection Entry Fees For Adults | 250/- | 250/- | ||
10 | Vintage & Classic Car Collection Entry Fees For Child | 150/- | 150/- | ||
11 | Boat Ride Fees For Adults | 400/- | 400/- | ||
12 | Boat Ride Fees For Child ( Age 5-12) | 200/- | 200/- | ||
13 | Sunset Boat Ride Fees For Adults | 700/- | 700/- | ||
14 | Sunset Boat Ride Fees For Child ( Age 5-12) | 400/- | 400/- | ||
15 | Cargo Boat Ride Fees | 4100/- | 4100/- | ||
16 | Charter Boat Ride Fees (Capacity 7- 24 person) | 4500/- to 18000/- | 4500/- to 18000/- | ||
17 | City Palace Guide Fees | 300/- | 300/- | ||
18 | City Palace Museum Guide Fees | 250/- | 250/- | ||
19 | Still Camera Fees | 200/- | 200/- | ||
20 | Video Camera | 500/- | 500/- | ||
21 | Car Parking | 250/- | 250/- | ||
City Palace Udaipur Timing
The City Palace is open to tourists from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm all week. It takes 3-4 hours to see the City Palace full and well, so keep enough time with you whenever you go to visit the City Palace. The Mewar Light and Sound Show runs from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The best time to visit the City Palace is from October to March.
Note: – All rights related to the entry time and entry fee in the City Palace are reserved by the City Palace Management. Tourists can only visit certain confined places with the entrance fee at the City Palace, so tourists should exercise their discretion when purchasing tickets. The museum, crystal gallery, light and sound show and boat ride at City Palace are payable separately. The fee of Indian tourists and foreign tourists can be changed by the City Palace management.
Places to visit near City Palace Udaipur
There are many beautiful tourist places around City Palace like Udaipur Part-01, Udaipur Part-02, Udaipur Part-03, Udaipur Part-04, Kumbhalgarh, Kumbhalgarh National Park, Jodhpur, Ranakpur, Parshuram Mahadev Temple in Saadri, Chittorgarh, Nathdwara, Mountabu and Amba Ji Temple located in Gujarat.
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