Intro
If temples reveal the soul of a land, palaces reveal its pride. After Eklingji’s blessing, our steps turned towards Udaipur’s greatest monument — the City Palace. More than just stone and marble, it was a scroll of Mewar’s history, unrolled one courtyard at a time.

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Arriving at the Palace

As we reached the city, the drizzle gave way to bright sunshine. Slowly, our damp clothes dried, and so did our spirits. Determined to continue, we rode through the narrow lanes of the old city, weaving past shops and havelis until the gates of the City Palace finally came into view.

Parking was a challenge—the lots were overflowing with cars and two-wheelers—but after some circling, I found a safe spot close to the Tripolia Gate. Entry tickets for two came to ₹800, and at the gate, we engaged an official guide for ₹500. It was a decision well made, for he would soon peel back the layers of this palace like a storyteller unrolling a scroll.

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The Crown Jewel of Udaipur

The City Palace is truly Udaipur’s crown jewel—a sprawling complex begun by Maharana Udai Singh II in 1559, the founder of Udaipur, and expanded by his successors over the next 400 years. Built in a fusion of Rajput, Mughal, and European styles, it remains one of the largest palaces in Rajasthan, still housing the descendants of the Sisodia dynasty in a private wing.

We first entered the Mardana Mahal, the men’s quarters. Here the walls spoke of valor. Displayed within glass cases were weapons that had once guarded Mewar—curved swords, spears, lances, maces, and shields. The highlight was the full set of armor and the great sword of Maharana Pratap, the legendary warrior who resisted Akbar’s Mughal forces in the 16th century. Standing before them, I could almost feel the spirit of Haldighati, the battlefield where Pratap’s defiance became legend.

Nearby was a striking life-size figure of Rana Sanga, the great grandfather of Pratap, who fought so fiercely that even after losing one eye and an arm, he continued to lead Mewar. His statue, incomplete yet unbowed, captured the essence of Rajput grit.

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The Zenana Mahal

From the Mardana we moved into the Zenana Mahal, the women’s quarters. Unlike the martial atmosphere of the men’s wing, this space felt gentler, though no less grand. Courtyards opened one into another, each filled with delicately carved balconies and ornate jharokhas, where queens and princesses once watched the world unseen.

The Zenana Chowk in particular stood out. Our guide explained that this courtyard is still used for royal weddings and functions even today. At its heart stood a dazzling mandap made of pure silver, preserved under a glass pavilion. Once, it was used for the wedding of the present Maharana’s sister—a dazzling reminder of Mewar’s regal splendor.

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Artistry in Every Corner

Everywhere artistry surrounded us:

• Glass inlay work sparkling like jewels on walls.
• Blue and turquoise tiles that seemed to cool the air.
• Miniature frescoes of hunting scenes and divine stories.
• Mīnākārī enamel work, still vivid despite centuries.

The architecture seemed not only to showcase wealth but to declare an identity—Mewar’s royal family lived surrounded by reminders of both beauty and duty.

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Stories in Stone & Paint

In one gallery, we paused before paintings of the great battles of Mewar—Maharana Pratap astride his faithful horse Chetak, depicted leaping across rivers to save his master even in death. The stories, half history, half legend, breathed from the canvases.

The palace also reminded us that it was no relic. Part of it remains alive, still the residence of the House of Mewar, headed today by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, 76th custodian of the dynasty. From certain balconies, our guide pointed out the private wing that overlooks Lake Pichola, closed to the public but still inhabited—a living continuation of an unbroken line stretching back to Bappa Rawal in the 8th century.

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Treasures to Carry Home

Before leaving, we wandered through the souvenir shop run by the Mewar Charitable Foundation, which supports heritage conservation. Here we discovered textiles unlike any we had seen—sarees woven not from silk or cotton but from unusual natural fibers: banana, bamboo, mulberry, custard apple, and even lotus.

The Maharani Padmini saree, woven entirely from lotus stem fiber, caught our attention immediately—delicate, rare, and steeped in lore. Alongside were ayurvedic dohars (quilts) said to promote healing. We bought sarees for my wife, mother, and mother-in-law, tokens of a palace visit that gave us both history and heritage to carry home.

Stepping out at last, the sunlight gleamed off the palace walls, and I felt as though we had just walked through centuries in the span of an afternoon.

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Outro / Teaser
The palace had shown us Mewar’s grandeur. Next, the story would move to its mansions and waters — Bagore ki Haveli and a stormy boat ride on Lake Pichola that turned the evening into a scene we will never forget.