home · Finland · Live in a palace in India. Mysore (Mysore) - Maharaja's Palace, Part 1, India

Live in a palace in India. Mysore (Mysore) - Maharaja's Palace, Part 1, India


The palace, which looks like a fairy tale vision, is not in vain considered the main attraction of Jaipur. The amazing building in the form of the crown of Krishna has five floors, 953 windows and no stairs, but there is a unique ventilation system that allows you to keep cool on the hottest day. It was built of pink sandstone for the numerous wives of the Maharaja.

History of Hawa Mahal



The amazing palace was erected when Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh became the head of the principality of Dhundhar. Historians believe that the Palace of the Winds was completely completed no later than 1799.
Each room of the unique palace was very beautiful and comfortable, but completely unsuitable for permanent residence due to its small size. However, the building was not intended for this.





The main function of the palace was to provide the entire harem with the opportunity to observe what was happening on the street, especially during the holidays. In fact, the fairy-tale palace was like a closed theatrical box, through the tiny windows of which one could contemplate life outside the walls of the palace. At the same time, no one could see the faces of women, as intended by the ruler.



The jharoka balconies decorating the palace were closed to fully comply with the purdah tradition, which forbids a woman to appear in front of strangers. If the Maharajas had not built the Hawa Mahal for them, the girls from the harem, who are constantly locked up, would not have seen at all what was happening outside the walls of the palace.

Structural features



Numerous loopholes and artificially created cracks look like exquisite stone lace from the outside. Each window in the palace does not exceed the size of a human head. But a large number of them creates the possibility of air movement, which is why the Hawa Mahal always remains cool.



Surprisingly, the higher the air temperature outside, the stronger the breath of wind in the palace. That is why the unique building got its name - the Palace of the Winds.



It seems that the construction of five floors implies the presence of numerous stairs and passages. However, instead of stairs, special ramps were built in the palace, allowing you to move from floor to floor. It is not known what prompted such a decision, but the fact remains that there are no stairs in the five-tier structure. It was quite easy to go down these ramps, but for the convenience of climbing to the upper floors, special notches were made on each span. Thanks to them, the shoes of the beauties did not slip, and they could safely walk to their floor.



Hawa Mahal embodies the best traditions of oriental architecture of those times. There is a Moorish arch, and lattice windows with colored stained-glass windows, which not only look beautiful, but also create a feeling of magic, thanks to the many multi-colored rays of the sun penetrating through the glass.



The thickness of the walls of the palace does not exceed 20 centimeters, and the whole structure, when viewed from the side, seems flat. Despite the many windows, bay windows and decorative elements, the palace does not look heavy. On the contrary, when viewed from the streets of Jaipur, Hawa Mahal seems incredibly graceful, almost lacy.

Hawa Mahal today



Music sounds inside the palace and many tourists who visited Hawa Mahal admit that they had a feeling of a fabulous dream. If the music stops, you can hear the palace itself singing. The wind, penetrating inside through numerous openings, whistles slightly, because it seems that the palace is performing its own oriental song.



Due to the fact that the Hawa Mahal was built to protect the women of the Maharaja from prying eyes, it does not have an entrance from the elegant facade. He hides in the courtyard and can be found if you go around the palace on the left side.





If you climb to the very top of Hawa Mahal, the visitor will see an amazing view of Jaipur. On the one hand, you can look at Jantar Mantar and the City Palace, and on the other, at the city bazaar called Siredeori.



On the territory of Hawa Mahal there is a small archaeological museum. It contains a fine collection of miniatures and unique ceremonial armor.



The palace is open to visitors from 9 am to 5 pm, but experienced travelers recommend looking at the Hawa Mahal in the early morning. You can visit inside at any time, but from the outside the palace looks like an illustration of an oriental fairy tale, when it is illuminated by the rays of the rising sun.

In addition to the amazing Palace of the Winds, one of the observatories built by Maharaja Jai ​​Singh II between 1727 and 1734 can be seen in Jainpur. In total, under his leadership, five structures of a unique form were erected, each of which had a special functional purpose. and unites the buildings, which the architect gave bizarre geometric shapes.

Fresh review

Finally, in the spring of 1949, the day came when the last scaffolding was removed. The creators of the architectural ensemble once again walked around and carefully examined the entire structure. All the shortcomings that they noticed were corrected in the short time that remained until the day of the official delivery. The selection committee, along with Soviet architects and artists, included several leading comrades from the SVAG.

Random entries

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The name of the hotel is rather banal - Beach Hotel Sharjah. When we checked in, we were very happily informed that they had made a free upgrade and instead of "city view" they gave us "sea view". To be honest, I like to look at the city more than at the sea - it's just more interesting, but we didn't have to choose. And as it turned out from our room, the sea is still not visible, but at the same time we had our own separate access to the pool - it's very convenient.

All the rooms, which supposedly overlook the sea, have a balcony, which is very convenient in principle. And for those who live on the ground floor - the balcony has a passage to the pool.

The first couple of days after arrival, we decided to get a little familiar with the local situation and take a walk in the nearby parks. And since this park was a 15-minute walk, we went there. It is named after actor and director Ted Craig. Looked at Wikipedia, there is such a director, he filmed the series "The Box" and the film "Look Back in Anger" in 1985 based on the play by John Osborne. I did not find a film of this year, there are films with the same name from 1959 and 1989. I didn’t watch it, complicated family relationships in American life are not mine. Yes, and that's not what we're talking about.

This last part will be dedicated to sports and, probably, construction and new buildings (if you can now call buildings that have already been built by the time the album was released)

This article begins the description of our new travels in America. In general, I did not think that we would gather again in such a distance, but my husband retired, and from nothing to do, he suddenly felt a craving for distant wanderings. And since our visa to the USA has not yet expired, we decided to use the opportunity to ride freely, besides, Ksyusha supported us. So, it took almost a day to get from Alma-Ata to Los Angeles: 6 hours to Istanbul and more than 13 hours from Istanbul to Los Angeles, plus the transfer took 2.5 hours. To relieve stress from such a long flight, I would like to communicate with nature, but in such a way that it does not take long to get to it.

To begin with, all over the world (including, oddly enough, even) brown signs mean some sites of interest to tourists - natural and cultural attractions, museums, historical monuments. But not in Review. There is practically nothing to look at in Obzor, so there are absolutely all available signs that are brown here. New ones anyway. (Everything that really should be brown pointers is listed in the note

A hundred years ago in British India there were about 600 principalities, which were ruled by local monarchs - Maharajas, Nawabs and Nizams. After Indian independence in 1947, they lost power but retained numerous privileges, treasures and palaces. Now, museums are organized in most of the residences, but only part of the palace premises is open to tourists - maharajas or their descendants still live in the remaining luxurious chambers.

Maharana Palace in Udaipur (Rajasthan, India)

The city of Udaipur, founded in the middle of the 16th century, was the capital of the Rajput principality of Mewar, the eldest native principality in British India. Here is one of the largest and most beautiful palaces in India, which today is called the City Palace. The construction of the building began in 1559 by order of the Maharana (as the monarchs are called in the local dialect) Uday Singh and lasted more than 300 years. Finally, on the shores of the most beautiful Lake Pichola, a huge palace complex grew up, which combined the features of the local Rajasthani, as well as Mughal and European architecture.


There are many beautiful palaces in India. Each of them is magnificent in its own way - whether it's bright colors, arches and domes, or beautiful gardens. Many of the palaces are still official residences for members of the royal families, while others have been converted into luxury hotels. From the famous Mysore Palace to the floating Jal Mahal, here are some of the most beautiful Indian palaces.

Shesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) is the most famous part of Jaipur's Amber Fort. Pictures and flowers carved from glass cover the walls and ceilings, giving the palace its name.

The intricate construction of the five-story Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds in Jaipur, is due to the fact that it was supposed to allow the women of the royal family to look at the festivities at the palace, since they were not allowed to appear in public.

Udaipur at the City Palace is a complex of 11 beautiful palaces with gardens, gates, courtyards, terraces and corridors on the banks of Lake Pichola.

The Mysore Palace in the state of Karnataka in southern India is still the official residence of the Maharajas of Mysore. The palace was completed in 1912 and is a mixture of several styles of architecture: Hindu, Muslim, Raiput and Gothic.

Mysore is the most impressive and most beautiful of Indian palaces at night.

A stunning architectural masterpiece built of white marble, the Taj Mahal is India's most famous monument. It houses the tomb of the wife of the former Mughal emperor.

Both a luxury hotel and the residence of the royal family of Jodhpur, Umaid Bhawwan Palace is set on 26 acres and built entirely of sandstone, giving it a unique look.

Known as the Palace of Water, Jal Mahal looks like it's a floating city in the middle of the Sagar River in Jaipur. The building has four floors below the surface of the water. The majestic palace has now been transformed into an exclusive high class restaurant.

Fatehpur Sikri is translated as the city of victory. Built by the Mughal emperor in the 16th century as the capital of the empire - and then abandoned due to lack of water - the complex of temples, palaces and monuments is made entirely of bright red sandstone.

The City Palace, built in the 18th century by the ruler of Amer, is now part of Jaipur.

In the City Palace, there are other palaces: Chandra Mahal, which now houses a museum and Mubarak Mahal.

Built in the city of Hyderabad in the late 19th century during the reign of the Nizams, Chowmahalla Palace was the place where the royal family entertained their guests.

The Nizams were part of the Asaf Jahi dynasty which ruled until 1948.

Lakshmi Vilas Palace is one of the grandest in Vadodara - formerly known as Baroda - a city located in the western state of Gujarat. The Vadodaroi royal family still resides here.

It took 6 million rupees to build this beautiful palace. The palace boasts gardens, a golf course and magnificent interiors filled with chandeliers, artwork and mosaics.

The Bangalore Palace is located in the southwestern state of Karnataka and is owned by the same family, which also owns the Mysore Palace.

It is built in the Tudor style, which makes it an interesting landmark that contrasts with many other buildings around it. The floor ornaments are simply fantastic.

Originally built in 1835 for the Queen's favorite maid of Jaipur, Rambaj Palace was later converted into a hunting lodge and renamed by the reigning Maharaj: Sawai Ram Singh II. Now it is a luxury hotel.

A 17th-century palace converted into a luxury hotel, Jagmandir Palace sits on its own island in Udaipur's Pichola Lake. The guests are transported to the palace, which is often referred to as the “garden of heaven.”

Often referred to as the central Agartala, Ujdayant Palace was built in 1901 by the 182nd Maharaja of Tripura in northeast India. The only part of the palace open to visitors is the museum located in the palace, which houses cultural artifacts and memorabilia.

One of the brightest representatives of Indian architecture are the luxurious floating palaces Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir. They amaze with their grandeur and scope and are considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

Relatively recently, “only” in the 18th century in India, on the cliff of Nivas Island in the city of Udaipur, almost in the middle of Lake Pikola, there was a summer royal residence. Today, thanks to restoration work and original design solutions, the Maharaja's residence has "turned" into a beautiful hotel that rightfully deserves a 5-star rating. We are talking about a luxurious palace on Lake Pikola, better known as Jag Niwas, located in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The Pikola Lake Palace was built from precious and rarest white marble, the deposit of which was found in the mountains of Udaipur.

This is the most beautiful building material, which, depending on the time of day, is able to change its color. The total area of ​​the palace is almost 16,000 square meters. meters. A feature of the rooms on the second floor is their perfectly round shape, with a diameter of 6.4 meters. However, not only this can literally lead into dumb shock from the seen luxury of everyone who crosses the threshold of the palace. The long list of attractions of the Indian residence includes the throne of Shah Jahan, created from a monolithic stone, masterpieces of art, unique works of painted glass, a mosque dedicated to the Muslim saint Kapuriy Baba, unique fountains and reservoirs.


The palace building is a multi-tiered structure with many open terraces, marble colonnades, pools with the purest water, an upper room that has a perfectly round shape, as well as a huge courtyard with artificial lakes and islands located here. The roof of the building is formed by a huge dome of amazing beauty. The walls of the building, made of white marble, which can change its color shade depending on the time of day, are decorated with elegant stucco and multi-colored mosaics, in which fragments of black marble are interspersed. The main feature that delights all visitors to Jag Niwas is that the amazingly beautiful walls of the structure go straight into the depths of the waters of Lake Pichola. The windows of luxurious rooms look at the mirror surface of the lake. The time spent in Jag Niwas will remain in the memory of its visitors forever.


The construction of the Pikola Lake Palace was carried out from 1743 to 1746 under the direction of the Maharan of Udaipur. The ideological inspirer and founder of the Palace was Jag-Nivas (Jan-Nivas), in fact, that is why the new building got its name from him. The main facade of the Palace is facing east, and this is not accidental, because many residents of this country indulge in prayers to the God of the Sun in the morning hours. The Picola Lake Palace, fenced with majestic colonnades, amazing fountains and magnificent gardens, was the summer residence of many rulers of Udaipur. Here they found not only solitude, but also held so-called durbars, or secular balls, councils.


In some historical documents, there is a mention of the Lake Palace as a place where famous Europeans, pursued by enemies, could find refuge. About 100 years after the construction of the Palace, in 1857, sepoy uprisings took place in the country, and some European families were able to escape and hide behind the walls of the Pikola Lake Palace. The then ruling Maharan Swarup Singh decided to help the fugitives and ordered the destruction of all available boats in the city, thus preventing the rebels from reaching the island.


There is a period in the history of the palace when it turned out to be absolutely unclaimed. The most beautiful building in the period from the second half of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century was abandoned and began to gradually collapse. In the middle of the 20th century, a descendant of Indian rulers, Bhagwat Singh, bought the property and the land around it, carried out a complex of restoration and restoration works, which turned the building into an impressive high-class hotel. The American designer and artist Didi undertook to restore the palace from oblivion, as well as decorate its premises. Thanks to his talent, a dilapidated and almost abandoned building turned into one of the many beautiful pearls of Indian architecture.


It is curious that now all this is the property of tourists. After the middle of the 20th century, Jag Niwas became a luxury hotel, of course. Its luxurious rooms overlook the lake surface, its terraces, pavilions and restaurants are intricate. Visitors can, for example, remember for a long time an evening spent on the floating islands of one of the in-house restaurants of the Jag Niwas Hotel. Even today, the only way to get to it is by boat.


Time slowly went on as usual, the Palace on Lake Pikola gradually began to lose its former grandeur, and there was no question of at least some restoration work. Many writers have referred to this masterpiece as "the unique water palace of Udaipur, falling apart under the influence of time and moisture." Maharan Bhopal Singh, whose reign was in the 1930s-1955s, adds a pavilion to the Palace, later called Chandra Prakash. A little later, Jag Niwas Palace was radically transformed into the first luxury hotel in Udaipur. The famous American artist Deed Contractor worked on the creation of the project. In 1971, Taj Hotel Resorts and Palaces became the owner of the hotel. Deciding to contribute to the restoration of the monument of history and architecture, the new owners, under the leadership of Jamshid D.F. 75 more rooms are being completed to the main building. The subsequent global restoration, which affected the Pikola Lake Palace, was carried out quite recently, only in 2000. Nowadays, it is in excellent condition and is included in the lists of many travel companies as one of the most significant sights of the East. This building was once visited by Queen Elizabeth, the Shah of Iran, Jacqueline Kennedy, Vivien Leigh.


A room of 12 marble blocks, Shah Jahan's throne carved from a monolithic stone, a small mosque dedicated to Kapuriya Baba, a local Muslim saint, authentic paintings, sparkling and crystal works made of painted glass, artificial reservoirs with islands, fountains - these are the most interesting objects on the island , although the list of attractions of the palace is not exhausted by them. From the windows of the hotel you can admire the smooth surface of Lake Picola, and in the evening enjoy a wonderful dinner on an island among lilies.


By the way, Lake Pichola is not entirely artificial, just, at one time, the Maharaja expanded its area to eight square kilometers. The system of lakes allows the water level to be regulated during the monsoons. During drought periods, the hotel can also be reached by land transport.


Udaipur is located on the coast of three lakes, for which he received the fame of "Eastern Venice". You can also hear the name "Versailles" - for the palace in the middle of Lake Picola. It is the most recognizable landmark of Rajasthan. This magnificent lake complex has been recognized as the most romantic place in India, as well as the most expensive and most beautiful hotel in this country. It does not come out of the top ten hotels in the world and is considered one of the most famous places in the world. The Pikola Lake Palace has made the city of Udaipur one of the most recognizable and has contributed to attracting tourists. This city has been fighting for the title of the main tourist center of Western India for many years now. All thanks to this wonderful place. The current state of the Pikola Lake Palace in the city of Udaipur By the second half of the 19th century, the Udaipur water palace was very dilapidated under the influence of time, external factors and social upheavals. Pierre Loti spoke of it as "slowly falling apart under the influence of lake moisture." In those difficult times, the palace was visited by famous cyclists - Fanny Bullock Workman and her husband William Hunter Workman. They were surprised by the "cheap and gaudy style" of the palace's interiors, and said that with "filled with ancient European furniture, wooden clocks, stained glass ornaments and children's toys, it all seems to the visitor out of proportion to the place where he expected to see the real thing." oriental splendor. When this palace received the status of a hotel, it was in a state of decline. It was the only way to save this unique building. In 1971, when the hotel was taken over by Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, it was restored. And most recently, in 2000, the second major restoration of the complex was carried out. Now it is in excellent condition and is the property of tourists from all over the world. For a long time he will remain in memory, because all the unimaginable beauty of the East lies within the walls of this palace.


The Picola Lake Palace is located on the island of Niwas in the heart of the city of Udaipur in Western India. The city in which it is located has been famous for its palaces of incredible beauty and unique style since ancient times. Some of the most famous palaces are located here. This is the City Palace, and Jagmandir, and the Palace of Lake Pikola, and the Monsoon Palace or the Palace of Rains. Also here you can see the collection of cars of the Maharaja, the Vaishnava temple Jagdish Mandir, the residence of the former Prime Minister Bagor ki Haveli, the pink ornamental garden of the XVIII century Saheliyon ki Bari, the ethnographic museum and the tourist village of Shilpgram, Agar, the beautiful picturesque artificial mountain lake Badi ka Talab. Many tourist routes pass through Udaipur, but, nevertheless, it does not lose its special flavor.


How to get to the Pikola Lake Palace in Udaipur From Goa to Udaipur can be reached in various ways. Dabok Airport is 42 km from Udaipur. Airplanes from different cities land here: Delhi, Goa, Mubai, Jaipur, Jodhpur and others. Airlines such as Jet Airways, Kingfisher, Indians Airlines operate with this airport. You can also get there by train. True, you have to change several times. There are two trains from Udaipur to Delhi, and from Delhi you can get almost anywhere. There is also a train coming from Mubai. And, of course, we must not forget the buses. Bus routes are open to any city in India. And from the city to the hotel itself, tourists get on boats, as they once did a couple of centuries ago.


Lake Pikola Palace is often on the lists of the most spectacular sights, not only in India, but throughout the world. He dips his walls directly into the water of the lake, and this is his main feature. Inside, marble walls hide many patios, fountains, artificial lakes with artificial islands. This place has earned the love of many famous people who visited it, for example, Lord Curzon, Vivien Leigh, Queen Elizabeth II, Jacqueline Kennedy. The palace at times became a film set. The events of the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy, as well as the British television series The Jewel of the Crown, were set here.


You will not regret visiting this ancient Indian city of Udaipur. Its magnificence amazes even the most unimpressive person. It is impossible to take your eyes off the luxury and beauty of palaces and temples, made in a unique style, from the unsurpassed work of masters of all eras, and even from these narrow and crooked streets, where many historical events took place. You will completely immerse yourself in the atmosphere of antiquity and enjoy a wonderful holiday in India. Be sure to look into all corners of this city, because it is there that all the most interesting is hidden.










And now about the second palace:


The magnificent and luxurious Jag Mandir Palace is located on one of the two islands of Lake Pichola, belonging to the territory of the city of Udaipur, which is also called the Venice of the East or the White City. The construction of the Jag Mandir took place in three stages under the leadership of three rulers: it was started in 1551 by Maharana Amar Singh, continued by Maharana Karan Singh in 1620-1628, and completed during his reign (1628-1652) by Maharana Jagat Singh I.


The three-level palace is a whole complex of buildings of incredible beauty. The very first building erected was the Gul Mahal, a small yellow sandstone palace with a wide main dome crowned with an Islamic crescent. Inside, one above the other, there are three domed halls. Initially, the palace was supposed to be used as a refuge for Prince Khurram, who was hiding from his father, the Mughal Emperor Jahanjir, and to whom Maharana Amar Singh treated with great favor.


The main palace Jag Mandir communicates with the Gul Mahal and faces the City Palace. It is a combination of many halls, pavilions and halls lined with wonderful stone mosaics. At the corners of the palace are octagonal towers, decorated with small domes. Immediately at the entrance to the palace is a pavilion, which is an arched colonnade of snow-white color, which is decorated with figures of elephants carved from stone, but later, they were damaged and replaced with foam.


On the territory of the palace complex there is a lush garden, for which the Jag Mandir is even called the Palace of the Lake Garden. It is located in the courtyard, which is finished with white and black tiles and is full of fountains and pools. Jag Mandir Palace has always been a place of relaxation, and today it is often rented for various events and parties. You can get to the territory of the island with the help of boats and boats that depart from the pier at the City Palace.