10 Stunning Royal Palaces to Visit in India | Feature Articles | Solitary Traveller

 

Since the ancient era, India has held a unique place on the world map owing to its rich diversity and culture. This culture and artistic taste of the land best finds its expression in various architectural masterpieces built since centuries here. So if you truly want to experience India and its cultural wealth, you ought to visit the palaces.

The palaces don’t just display the artistic gift of our ancient people, but they also bring alive all those fantastic tales of grandeur and opulence of the rulers of this mighty land. Given that our land is dotted with so many small and large palaces visiting all of them may not be possible in one lifetime.

To help you through, here is a selection of the top names that you may include in your next itinerary:

Samode Palace, Jaipur

Samode Palace, Jaipur
Picture Courtesy: Google

Set at the foot of the Aravalli range, Samode palace is one of the tourist hot spots of Rajasthan. This royal palace is located 40kms from the main city of Jaipur is a perfect example of Rajput- Mughal architectural craftsmanship. In the year 1987, this19th century luxurious palace was remodelled into an opulent luxury hotel. This palace, known for its extraordinary hospitality and comfort, has been hosting famous celebrities, artists, royalties, and travellers from all around the world.

Fun Facts:  This palace has been part of a number of Hindi Bollywood movies as well as the Raj-romantic classic, “The Far Pavilion.”
Location: Village Samode, Tehsil Chomu, Samode 303806
Timings: 9.00 am to 6.00 pm

Udaivilas Palace, Udaipur

Udaivilas Palace, Udaipur
Picture Courtesy: Google

Today this palace sits as a 30-acre resort located on the banks of Lake Pichola. But it is a must-visit spot in Udaipur, the city famed for its beautiful palaces and lakes. Built-in 1567, Udaivilas is decorated with elegant Mewari architectural brilliance and ornamental courtyards and garden. Other than this, frequent sightings of peacock and deer can be seen as nearly forty per cent of this palace is a wildlife sanctuary which makes it a perfect getaway destination for luxury and nature lovers.

Fun Facts:  It was ranked Number 1 in ‘India’s Top 20 Hotels’ by Travel + Leisure (India and South Asia), making it one the most famous palaces in India.
Location: Badi-Gorela-MullaTalai Rd, Haridas Ji Ki Magri, Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001.
Timings: Open 24X7

You may also like: 10 Ayurvedic Retreats To Try Out In India

Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Bangalore

Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Bangalore
Picture Courtesy: Google

“Rash e Zannat” was the title given by the emperor of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, to this historic  summer palace which simply means “Envy of Heavens.” And travellers today attest that it was named quite rightly so. The palace is renowned for its Indo-Islamic architecture, with delicately carved pillars, teakwood carvings, outstanding stand out balconies, and majestic arches. If you are a traveller and want to know more about the history of Bangalore’s most famous “Hero,” Tipu Sultans summer palace is the right spot to start your journey.

Fun facts: Once started by Hyder Ali, this palace was completed by Tipu Sultan in the year 1791.
Location: New Tharagupet, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560002.
Timings: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

Chowmahalla Palace, Hyderabad

Chowmahalla Palace, Hyderabad
Picture Courtesy: Google

When you are in Hyderabad, a place known for its beautiful structures like Charminar and  Golconda Fort, it is likely that you may miss out on the lesser-known gems. Chowmahalla Palace is one such place. Built-in the 18Th century, this Nizami masterpiece is known for its magnificent Persian, Rajasthani, and European style influenced into the architecture and courtyards and intricate carvings on the walls and ceilings. In the year 2005, this palace was restored and opened to the public, and it is slowly becoming one of the popular sightseeing spots in Hyderabad.

Fun Facts:

  • A 1912 Rolls Royce Silver car of the Nizam is put on display here.
  • The clock above the main gate of the Royal Palace has been ticking away for around 250 years.

Location: Khilwat, 20-4-236, Motigalli, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500002, India.
Timings: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

You may also like: Don’t Miss these Mysterious Archaeological sites of India

Hazarduari Palace, Murshidabad

Hazarduari Palace, Murshidabad
Picture Courtesy: Google

A 19th-century masterpiece, Hazarduari palace is a heritage site that every soul of Murshidabad likes to boast about. Surmount over massive 40 acres of land, Hazarduari Palace is the perfect exhibition of European architectural brilliance as this was built by the famous architect Duncan Macleod during the dominance of Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah. This tourist favourite is known for its splendid museum, which displays a collection of artillery, paintings, and portraits of the Nawab. This palace, by every means, is one of the famous historic palaces of India.

Fun Facts:

  • It was rumoured to be built on an estimated whopping 16.50 lakh gold coins back in the day.
  • It has three floors with around 1000 doors, of which 100 being genuine real doors.

Location: SirajUdDaulah Rd, Hazarduari, Murshidabad, West Bengal 742149.
Timings: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM  

Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, Madurai

Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, Madurai

Madurai’s prized possession; this 17th-century artistic architecture is a popular sightseeing spot among the backpacker tribe. Constructed as a residence for the then ruler, King Thirumalai Nayak, this magnificent architecture has a blend of Islamic, Dravidian, and Rajput influences. Once you are inside the beautifully structured Palace, the biggest attractions of the place are the majestic pillars and beautiful sculpted paintings on the ceiling of the palace.

Fun Facts:

  • This palace has been a background for many renowned movies, such as  “Iruvar” and “Guru.” 
  • The palace offers a light and sound show depicting the story “Silappathikaram” in both English and Tamil languages.

Location:  Palace Rd, Mahal Area, Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625001.
Timing: 9 AM to 5 pm

You may also like: Exploring The Temple City- Madurai

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
Picture Courtesy: Google

From a list of palaces in India, Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal, without a doubt, is a destination that makes it on every traveller’s bucket list. Hawa Mahal, or “Palace of breeze,” is a five-storied structure built by Kachhwaha Rajput ruler Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the year 1799. The structure is an amalgamation of Mughal, Islamic and Rajput inspired architectural masterpieces. The palace is decorated with a distinctive pink colour on the walls and has a honeycombed hive look which comprises a whopping 953 windows, which adds to the majestic look.

Fun Facts:

  • Each floor of the Hawa Mahal has a temple in it.
  • Unlike other palaces of India, there isn’t a gateway in the front of the palace. One should enter through a door, which exists on the side of the building.

Location: HawaMahal Rd, BadiChoupad, J.D.A. Market, Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002.
Time: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

 

To Explore more Royal Palaces Visit Us @  10 Stunning Royal Palaces to Visit in India

Location: India

Comments

Post a Comment

Latest from The Blog

10 Traditional Cuisines from Different Regions of India | Solitary Traveller

Image
  Popularly known as the home of spices, India has been delighting people both with its recipes and ingredients for ages. While Indian spice may have spaded the cuisines across the world, in its part, too, it has been influenced by traditions and techniques from all across Aisa. The result is a unique range of traditional food and drinks that leaves a fountain of flavours in your mouth. Each cuisine and sub-cuisine has its own specialities too. So if you want to explore traditional Indian gastronomy in its entire splendour, these are the top dishes that you must try out: Aloo Poshto – West Bengal Image Source: Google This traditional dish needs no introduction for those who are well-versed with Bengali cuisine. Aloo Poshto is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated Bengali dishes enjoyed by Bengalis and people living around the eastern part of India. It’s a simple vegetarian dish cooked with potatoes with a lightly spiced p...
Read more

10 Most Haunted Places in India with Real Stories Behind | Feature Articles | Solitary Traveller

Image
  Are you someone who is mystified by tales of horror and the supernatural? Well then, get ready for a real treat! India is a land of great beauty and culture. It is also a land teeming with innumerable myths and legends, many of which cross paths with the supernatural. Almost every city, town, and village here have their own share of haunted places and horror stories. Some of these places have become so popular that they have entered the legendary list of most haunted places in India.  10 Haunted Places of India with Real Stories So if you want to really test your courage and feel the adrenaline rushing, here are the top picks along with the stories associated with them: Bhangarh, Alwar Picture Courtesy: Google There is hardly a time when Indian spooky stories creep into conversations, and Bhangarh is not mentioned. This historic and majestic fort was built by Raja Bhagwant Das in the year 1573 and is located at th...
Read more

10 Precautionary Measures For Safe Travel Post Pandemic | Feature Articles | Solitary Traveller

Image
  Have you been shelving all your travel plans for more than a year owing to the coronavirus pandemic? Well, there seems to be some hope at the end of the tunnel now. With the availability of vaccines and W.H.O declaring that travel through aeroplanes and private vehicles are considerably safer, many tourist locations are preparing themselves to play the host once more. Picture Courtesy: Google  When the prime minister of the world’s largest democracy announced a nationwide lockdown on the evening of March 24 th , 2020, the entire country came to a standstill. While some activities began to be allowed with time, travel still remained far down the list.  But this is soon to change. With the new vaccine drive and increased awareness about the disease, the long-lasting clouds of uncertainty are finally clearing. Nations such as Israel and Spain are already stepping towards a virus-free future. Hopefully, other nations will ...
Read more