City Palace towers over the Pichola Lake. Maharana
Uday Singh initiated in the construction of the palace
but succeeding Maharanas added several palaces and structures
to the complex retained a surprising uniformity to the
design. The entry to the Palace is from the Hati Pol,
the Elephant gate. The Bari Pol or the Big gate brings
you to the Tripolia, the Triple gate. It was once a
custom that the Maharana would weigh under this gate
in gold and silver, which was distributed to the populace.
It is also now the main ticket office. Balconies, cupolas
and towers surmount the palace to give a wonderful view
of the lake. Suraj Gokhada or the balcony of the sun
is where the Maharana would grant public audiences mainly
to boost the morale of the people in difficult times.
The Mor Chawk is the peacock square and gains its name
from the vivid blue mosaic in glass of a peacock that
decorates its walls.
Fateh Prakash Palace
It's like being cocooned in authentic royal luxury at
the Fateh Prakash Palace, the grand heritage palace
of the HRH group. The warmth of royal hospitality greets
you as you walk along the corridors lined with large
paintings of the Mewar school that flourished in the
seventeenth through nineteenth century.
The lake facing suites in the turrets are suitably
appointed with four poster beds and period furniture,
festooned with maroon velvet curtains and delicate silk
tassels. It's a legacy kept alive since the early decades
of the twentieth century when Maharana Fateh Singh (period
of reign : 1884 - 1935) used to be the royal occupant
of this palace. Till date the formality of royal occasions
are maintained.
Jag mandir
This is the other island palace in Lake Pichola, which
was constructed by Maharana Karan Singh as a hideout
for Prince Khurram the estranged son of Emperor Jehangir
the implacable foe of the Maharana. The reason for the
aid was that the prince was the son of a Rajput mother.
It is also said that Shah Jahan [prince Khurram] derived
some of these ideas for the Taj Mahal from this palace
when he stayed there in 1623-24. The island has some
striking carving including a row of elephants that looks
as though they are guarding the island. The exquisitely
carved chhatri in grey and blue stone is another example.
City Palace
Inside the separate palace enclosure,
entered from the South of Badi Chowk, are the Shiv Niwas
and Fateh prakash Palace, which are now run as hotels.
The Sunset view terrace and gallery restaurants, the
crystal gallery and the boat wharves for trips to Jagmandir
and the Lake Palace. It costs Rs 25 for visitors to
enter this area, or you can buy a package ticket (adult/child
Rs 435/175) that includes entry to the City Palace museum
and Crystal gallery, a boat ride to Jagdish mandir and
two free drinks. The ticket must be used within two
days. There's another entrance to this enclosure on
the southern side of the palace, more convenient if
you're staying in the Lake Palace road area.
Maharana Pratap Memorial (MOTI MAGARI)
An impressive bronze statue of Maharana Pratap
and his favorite and loyal horse, who was fiercely
protective about his master and stood by him till
his last breath, stands at the top of Moti Magri
(Pearl Mount) overlooking Fateh Sagar. Local people
climb the hill to pay homage to Rana Pratap and
his faithful charger 'Chetak', who was killed
in the battle of Haldighati. There are the ruins
of one of the first Udaipur's forts and there
is also a charming Japanese rock garden not faraway
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