MONSOON PALACE
AT
UDAIPUR
The Monsoon Palace, formerly known as the Sajjan Garh Palace, is a hilltop palatial residence in the Udaipur city. It is named as Sajjangarh after Maharana Sajjan Singh (1874–1884) of the Mewar Dynasty, who built Sajjangarh Fort in 1884. It offers a panoramic view of the city's lakes, palaces and surrounding countryside. It was built basically to watch the monsoon clouds; hence, appropriately, it is popularly known as Monsoon Palace. The Monsoon Palace provides a beautiful view of the sunset. High in the Aravalli Hills, just outside Udaipur, the Palace is illuminated in the evenings, giving a glow of golden orange.
Sajjangarh is a hilltop palatial residence in the city of Udaipur, which is often referred to as the 'Monsoon Palace'. It derives its name from Maharana Sajjan Singh (1874–1884) of the Mewar Dynasty, who was responsible for its construction. Built in 1884, the palace is located in the Aravalli Hills, just outside Udaipur. The aim behind the construction of the palace was to watch the monsoon clouds.
Appropriately known as the Monsoon Palace, it is believed that the Maharana built it at the top of the hill to get a view of his ancestral home of Chittorgarh. Reflecting the history of the Mewar Kingdom, the palace is located on Bansdara Peak of the Aravalli range, at an elevation of 944 metres. Built with white marble, the palace overlooks the Pichola Lake and provides beautiful views of the palaces and surrounding countryside.
The nine storey complex aimed to serve as an astronomical centre. From the palace, the Maharana planned to keep a track of the movement of monsoon clouds in the area surrounding the palace, and also to provide employment to people.
In addition to these, the palatial complex was also supposed to serve as a resort for the royal family. Owing to his untimely death, the construction of the palace was completed by his successor Maharana Fateh Singh, who used it to watch the monsoon clouds.
For the Royal Family, the palace also served as a hunting lodge. Built on marble pillars, the palace has high turrets and guards regulating each of the towers, along with a central court, a staircase and many rooms and quarters.
The pillars that support the palace have been carved with exquisite motifs of leaves and flowers. In the precincts of the palace, a unique water harvesting structure exists to collect rainwater in an underground cistern. Lime mortar has been used to plaster the walls of the palace.
By Air
The nearest airport in Udaipur is called the Maharana Pratap Airport which is situated about 20 kilometres away from the city center. It is well-connected by air to all major cities in India including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Jaipur. Some of the popular airlines that have daily flights to and from Udaipur are Jet Airways, Indian Airlines, Air Deccan, and Kingfisher Airlines.
Once you reach at the airport, you can hire cabs or book pre-paid taxis that are easily available for travelling between the airport and the city.
By Train
Udaipur lies on a vast network of rail that connects it to major cities in India such as Jaipur, Delhi, Kolkata, Indore, Mumbai and Kota. Some of the popular trains that run daily are Mewar Express, Gwalior-Udaipur Express, Bandra-Udaipur SF Express, Chetak Express and Annanya Expres. In fact, the famous and luxurious Palace of Wheels also makes a scheduled stop in Udaipur.
Once you reach the station, you can hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw depending on where do you want to get down in the city. The fare will depend on the number of kilometers covered.
By Bus
There is a very well-established bus service network to Udaipur, linking it to several cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Indore, Kota and Ahmedabad, among others. There are a number of options when it comes to travelling by bus. These include deluxe buses, air-conditioned coaches and State-run transport.
