The city palace museum is also known as the Pratap Museum .Construction of this palace was started by Maharana Udai Singh, the city's founder. The main part of the palace is now preserved as a museum with a large and varied collection. It was established in 1890 AD and is one of the earliest museums of the state. Down steps from the entrance is the armoury museum exhibiting a huge collection of protective gear, weapons including the lethal two-pronged sword. The City Palace museum is then entered through the Ganesh Deori meaning the door of Lord Ganesh. This leads to the Rajya Angan, the royal courtyard that is the very spot where Maharana Udai Singh met the sage who told him to find a city here. In this museum you will get a distinct collection of coins, sculptures, inscriptions, portraits wall paintings and also a turban of Khurram popularly known as Emperor Shah Jahan. The turban is displayed to exhibit the friendship that existed between Shah Jahan and Maharana Khazan Singh.
The museum includes the Mor Chowk with its beautiful peacocks in mosaics, the favourite Rajasthani bird. The Manak (Ruby) Mahal has glass and porcelain figures while Krishna Vilas has a remarkable collection of miniatures. Bhim Vilas has a boldly striped floor and scenes from the Radha - Krishna stories are painted on the walls. In the Bari Mahal, there is a fine central garden. 'More' paintings can be seen in the Zanana Mahal. The Moti Mahal has beautiful mirror work and the Chini Mahal is covered in ornamental tiles. The museum has the armour of Maharana Pratap and the drums and bugles of the ruler of Mewar, Rana Sanga.
The museum has a few Hindu statues that predate the Rajput period. This surasundari (beautiful celestial maiden) is dated to the 11th century. Her tribhanga sway and cross-legged posture would not be out of place in a 15th century temple, but the naturalism of this figure is a clue to its earlier date. Timings: 9.30 am - 4.30 pm,
Closed on Sunday |
