Monsoon Palace Udaipur, Entry Fee of Monsoon Palace, Timings of Monsoon Palace, History of Monsoon Palace, Attractions of Monsoon Palace, Interesting Facts about Monsoon Palace, Best Time to Visit Monsoon Palace.
Monsoon Palace
Built by Maharana Sajjan Singh of Mewar, the Monsoon Palace was named after him and even today is often referred to as Sajjangarh. While initially planned as a 9 storey building, the palace was stopped after 3 floors were built since the Maharana passed away in 1884. Located on a hill top, the Monsoon Palace allows for a great view of the lakes of Udaipur and also the city itself. Named after Maharana Sajjan Singh, the Monsoon Palace is also known as Sajjan Garh Palace. Posted at the top of a hill, the Monsoon Palace was originally built to overlook Maharana Sajjan Singh’s hometown, Chittorgarh. The Monsoon Palace offers a panoramic view of Udaipur which had risen to prominence under the rule of Maharana Sajjan Singh. The palace was planned to be a 9 storied astronomical observatory which would record the arrival of monsoons by keeping track of the monsoon clouds. Unfortunately due to the untimely death of Maharana Sajjan Singh, the plan of construction was shifted over to his successor Maharana Fateh Singh. He constructed a lake which he named Fateh Sagar Lake, which could be viewed directly from the palace. The royal family used the palace as a hunting lodge too. The palace has been built keeping in mind the Rajput architectural style. The Monsoon Palace has been built with white marble which has been labored in with turrets, towers and pillars which depict beautiful motifs of leaves and flowers. Despite the beauty of the Monsoon Palace along with its unique rainwater harvesting techniques, Monsoon Palace was slowly abandoned and has not been renovated as required due to lack of water. Not until very recently, the Monsoon Palace has been opened to the public and has been added to the list Udaipur’s popular tourist destination.
History
The Monsoon Palace, also known as the Sajjan Garh Palace, is a hilltop palatial residence in the city of Udaipur, Rajasthan in India, overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake. It is named Sajjangarh after Maharana Sajjan Singh (1874–1884) of the Mewar Dynasty, who built it in 1884. The palace offers a panoramic view of the city’s lakes, palaces and surrounding countryside. It was built chiefly to watch the monsoon clouds; hence, appropriately, it is popularly known as Monsoon Palace. It is said that the Maharana built it at the top of the hill to get a view of his ancestral home, Chittaurgarh. Previously owned by the Mewar royal family, it is now under the control of the Forest Department of the Government of Rajasthan and has recently been opened to the public. The palace provides a beautiful view of the sunset.
Entry Fee
Rs. 10 for Indians
Rs. 80 for Foreigners
Rs. 20 per person for Video Camera
If you’re travelling by auto rickshaw or car, you need to pay Rs.20 and Rs.65 respectively.
Timings
8.00 AM to 6.00 PM
Things to do in and around
Monsoon palace is surrounded by Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary which is populated by several exotic creatures and birds. You can spend our day admiring the works of the palace and enjoy a safari ride into the sanctuary. You can even trek your way to having some adventure to reach the reserve.
Attractions
Palace– The palace is a three storey building with several domes and jharokhas. The structure does not look incomplete in any way despite the fact that it does not have six stories that were part of its original plan. The lime plastering and the engraved marble pillars are a fine example of the architecture of those days. The sunset from the garden is very popular and many people come to the palace only to enjoy this perfect sunset.
Shikarbadi – This is a small palace that has been built as a hunting area. After the death of the Maharana Sajjan Singh, his successors used this area as a hunting spot.
Sanctuary – There is a huge sanctuary right next to the palace and spotting a deer or two is very common here. Some even claim to have seen bigger cats in this region.
Interesting Facts
- The palace was shown as the residence of the villain in the movie Octopussy
- The idea behind this palace was to be able to judge the onset of the rains by watching the clouds from this height.
Best Time to Visit
As the name suggests, Monsoon palace is best visited during the monsoon to fully capture its magnificence. It would be a good idea to avoid visiting Monsoon palace during summer time as the temperatures can rise up to 40 degree celsius. Winters are a good time to visit too but you may miss the reason as to why the palace earned this pseudonym.
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