Situated close to the famous Hawa Mahal, the City Palace is one of the major tourist attractions of
Jaipur. Built by the legendary Raja Sawai Jai Singh, it sports a delightful blend of Rajput and Mughal Architecture like many of its contemporary buildings and structures. However, the City Palace stands apart from all the other forts and palaces in and around the city due to exquisite workmanship and doubtless superiority of its art and architecture.
The City Palace Complex still houses the descendants of the royal family of Jaipur in a part that has been marked private for the purpose. The public, however, has access to several noteworthy structures and buildings in the complex, such as Chandra Mahal or Moon Palace, the City Palace Museum, and Shri Govind Dev Temple. As you enter the complex, you first come across Mubarak Mahal or Blessed Palace that now serves as the Costume Gallery showcasing royal costumes of erstwhile Maharajas.
Diwan-I-Khas or Hall for Private Audience displays a pair of world’s largest silver vessels that were used to carry water of River Ganga for Raja Sawai Madho Singh II, when he went on a trip to England. Diwan-I-Aam or Hall for Public Audience has been converted into an Art Gallery that flaunts magnificently painted ceilings and rare handwritten manuscripts of ancient Hindu scriptures. The Chandra Mahal is the best palace of all with exotic mirror work, floral decorations and elegant paintings.
