Located
in the heart of the walled city, The City Palace Complex gives
you an idea about the farsightedness of the founder of Jaipur
Sawai Jai Singh. He left behind a legacy of some of the most
imposing and magnificent architecture, art and craft structure
in the city. Sawai Jai Singh built its many buildings but
some of some of the structures were also built by later rulers
and some of them are even dated in the in the twentieth century
too. The palace is a blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture
and the royal family still lives in a part of the palace.
On
entering the complex and before the palace proper lies the
Mubarak Mahal, the palace of welcome or reception. Sawai
Madho Singh built the palace in the nineteenth century.
It was used as a reception centre for the visiting personage.
The building now forms the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum
and on display here are a wide array of royal costumes,
some very exquisite and precious Pashmina (Kashmiri) Shawls,
Benaras silk saris, Sanganeri prints and folk embroidery.
An unusual display is that of voluminous clothes worn by
Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I (ruled 1750-68).
