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The equivalent amount of gold and silver
from the royal treasury would be distributed among the people. The
Moti Mahal, the royal apartments, is
exquisitely done in tiny mirrors, glinting in the light.
Another similar palace complex is the Sheesh Mahal, the Palace
of Mirrors, with thousands of tiny mirrors set in the walls.
The Suraj Gokhada is where the people omce assembled to hear
the king’s speech.
The Mor Chowk, or Peacock Square, takes its
name from the colored glass peacocks adorning the walls. In
the Manak Mahal, you will see some beautiful items of crystal
and ceramics, testifying to the royal luxury of the times. The
Krishna Vilas depicts the life of the royalty in more peaceful
times, when hunting used to be one of their favored pastimes.
In stark contrast, the paintings in Bhim Vilas depict the
deity Lord Krishna, accompanied by his consort Radha.
The Amar Vilas has beautiful gardens, with delicate blooms on
slender creepers, and magnificently terraced flower beds. The
Chini Chitrasala, Chinese Art House, has a design similar to
that of Chinese palaces. It is easy to see that the much aware
kings of Udaipur wanted their palace to reflect not just
traditional Rajasthani grandeur, but also the beauty of global
architectural styles.
Today, part of the palace houses a hotel, so you may not be
able to tour those parts unless you are a hotel guest.
However, most of the palace is open to visitors, and you can
tour the beautiful chambers, gardens, and museums inside the
City Palace Complex without trouble. |
