Historical landmark in Jaipur
Chandra Mahal
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The story of Chandra Mahal
Chandra Mahal stands inside City Palace, Jaipur, the royal residence and former administrative headquarters of the rulers of the Jaipur State. The most striking thing here is that the palace is a seven-storeyed citadel, and Britannica-style listings place it as part of the City Palace complex, with the royal family still associated with it today.
The published pages on Chandra Mahal describe it as built under Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the 18th century, with work said to have begun in 1729 AD and ended in 1732 AD. Those same pages say it was intended as a royal residence and a symbol of Kachwaha prestige, and one calls it Chandra Niwas. They also place it on the western side of the City Palace and say it covers almost one-seventh part of the whole complex.
From here, look for the seven floors named Pitam Niwas, Sukh Niwas, Chabi Niwas, Ranga Mandir, Mukut Mahal, and Shri Niwas. One page says the royal flag is hoisted at the top, and another says access to the royal quarters is only through premium tour tickets.
If you want to visit, the listed opening hours are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday is closed.
In brief
The City Palace, Jaipur is a royal residence and former administrative headquarters of the rulers of the Jaipur State in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Construction started soon after the establishment of the city of Jaipur under the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who moved his court to Jaipur from Amber, in 1727. Jaipur remained the capital of the kingdom until 1949—when it became the capital of the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan—with the City Palace functioning as the ceremonial and administrative seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The construction of the Palace was completed in 1732, and it was also the location of religious and cultural events, as well as a patron of arts, commerce, and industry. It was constructed according to the rules of vastushastra, combining elements of Mughal and Rajput architectural styles. It now houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, and continues to be the home of the Jaipur royal family. The royal family has around 500 personal servants. The palace complex has several buildings, various courtyards, galleries, restaurants, and offices of the Museum Trust. The MSMS II Museum Trust is headed by chairperson Rajamata Padmini Devi of Jaipur (from Sirmour in Himachal Pradesh). Princess Diya Kumari runs the Museum Trust, as its secretary and trustee. She also manages The Palace School and Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh School in Jaipur. She founded and runs the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation to empower underprivileged and underemployed women of Rajasthan, and is also an entrepreneur. In 2013, she was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan from the constituency of Sawai Madhopur.
Before you go
- Open today
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Time to allow
- 1.5-2.5 hr
- Address
- WRGF+RC2, Agra Rd, Gangori Bazaar, J.D.A. Market, Brahampuri, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India