City Palace

About

The royal complex at the centre of the walled city, begun by Sawai Jai Singh II when he founded Jaipur and added to by his successors ever since. Chandra Mahal, the seven-storey palace at its heart, is still partly a private residence, which is why parts of the complex are closed and the rest is unusually well kept. What most people come for is Pritam Niwas Chowk, the inner courtyard with four painted doorways, one for each season — the Peacock Gate is the one that ends up on everybody's camera roll. Give it longer than you think: the armoury and the textile rooms are quieter than the courtyards and better than they sound.