The City Palace and Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

1 - Mubarak Mahal

Mubarak Mahal, City Palace. This was built by the Maharaja Madho Singh in the late 19th century in an eclectic style that fused Mughal, Rajput and European.

In 1727, the Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Amber moved his capital city and residence from the Amber Fort to a new city he would call Jaipur (Jai’s City). In that city, he built a palace that would come to be known as the City Palace, and is one of the key sights of the city of Jaipur today.

The palace, completed in 1732, continued as the residence of the Maharajas of Jaipur, and is still partly a residence today.  Besides the public areas, I had the privilege of touring some of the private quarters – unfortunately, almost all of these cannot be photographed. And so what I can present of the palace here is limited.

Just outside the City Palace, Sawai Jai Singh II built another monument – the Jantar Mantar, or collection of astrological instruments, in 1734. This was one of 5 Jantar Mantars in India, including those in Delhi, Benares (Varanasi), Ujjain and Mathura.

This Jantar Mantar consists of 19 large astrological instruments with the most astonishing of all being the vrihat samrat yantra, which is the biggest sundial in the world. It is the perfect spot at which to spend an afternoon of contemplation.

The City Palace

2 - Rajendra Pol

Rajendra Pol Gateway.

3 - Diwan e Khas

The Diwan-I-Khas, or Hall of Public Audience.

4 - Diwan e Khas Interior

Diwan-I-Khas, in a Mughal, Rajput and European style.

5 - Riddhi-Siddhi Pol

Riddhi-Siddhi Pol.

6 - Chandra Mahal

Chandra Mahal – this is the most imposing structure in the palace complex. Unfortunately, there was an event being held that evening in the courtyard and much of this structure was blocked off. I managed to have a tour of its interior.

7 - Door in the PRitam Chowk

Peacock Gate, Pritam Chowk courtyard.

8 - Closeup of Chandra MAhal

Close-up, Chandra Mahal. You can see the Sukh Niwas in blue.

9 - Up the Chandra MAhal

Up in the Chandra Mahal.

10 - View of City PAlace

View of the City Palace Complex and Jantar Mantar, from the Chandra Mahal.

11 - View of the City Palace

View of the private residential gardens of the City Palace.

12 - Exiting Pritam Chowk

Exiting the Pritam Chowk.

13 - Diwan-e-Am Tower

The Clock Tower, City Palace.

14 - City Palace Museum

The City Palace Museum.

Jantar Mantar

15 - Palace Complex

Outside the Jantar Mantar.

16 - LAghu Samrat Yantra

Laghu Samrat Yantra. This sundial is used to measure time.

17 - Jai Prakash Yantra

Jai Prakash Yantra measures altitudes and azimuths.

18 - Rashivalaya Yantra

Rashivalaya Yantra – there are 12 of these – measure the alignment of stars and planets of 12 constellation systems.

19 - View to city Palace with Yarivalaya Yantra

View towards city palace with the Yarivalaya Yantra.

20 - Samrat Yantra

And finally, the Vrihat Samrat Yantra, the largest sundial in the world.

 

About Kennie Ting

I am a wandering cityophile and pattern-finder who is pathologically incapable of staying in one place for any long period of time. When I do, I see the place from different perspectives, obsessive-compulsively.
This entry was posted in Art & Architecture, Cities & Regions, Culture & Lifestyle, Heritage, India, Landmarks & History, Museums, Photography, Travel & Mobility and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to The City Palace and Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

  1. Sanya Sharma says:

    Jantar mantar is one of the best thing to visit in Delhi, It is a kind of clock used by king of Delhi. There is one more solar clock which is locate din Jaipur i think. Wonderful information for readers. Keep posting.

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