Forts and palaces are the unfading marks of history. Their glorious tales, the charm that they are built with, and the memories associated with them are what make them such iconic structures. Do such stories fascinate you too? Do you get excited seeing impeccable architecture? Are you a travel nomad just like us? If yes, we know a place that you must visit! We present to you the mighty Sajjangarh Monsoon fort, a gem in the city of Udaipur. Here’s a lowdown of the history, the structure, attractions, and everything else that you need to know. So come on, take the royal walk through the Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace with us.
The Mighty History
This Rajasthan Palace reflects the glorious history of the Mewar kingdom. Also, the construction of the palace began under the command of the 72nd King of the Mewar dynasty – Maharana Sajjan Singh. His vision of building the palace was to watch the monsoon clouds which is why the palace is also known as the Monsoon Fort or the Monsoon Palace.
Sajjan Singh stood out as he was an influential thinker and a developer. His contribution to preserving the culture of Udaipur has been extraordinary. Even though he ruled for a short span of only a decade between 1874 and 1884 before his untimely death, he was the ruler who envisioned the development of the city and built dams, roads, and other infrastructure.
Maharana Sajjan Singh initiated the construction of the palace but couldn’t see it complete. After his death at the tender age of 26, the plan was shelved before his successor, Maharana Fateh Singh, completed the construction of the might palace in 1884. Till the Mewar dynasty ruled Udaipur, Sajjangarh Palace was a palatial residence for the royal family. Today, it is open to tourists and visitors who enjoy history.
Architecture Of The Sajjangarh Monsoon Fort
Located on the Bandara peak of the Aravalli hill in Udaipur, this palace sits at a height of 3100 feet. It is built in pristine white marble and is nine stories high. However, the pillars of the fort are made of marble as well and have intricate motifs of flowers and leaves carved around them. Also, the massive walls of the palace are plastered with lime mortar which gives them a stunning look. Moreover, the palace cum fort has high turrets and guards that surveil each tower. Hence, the palace is impeccably adorned with the right placements of domes, mountains, and jharokhas.
When visiting the palace, be ready to be mesmerized by the grand central court, huge staircases, and open balconies that give a stunning view of Lake Fateh Sagar. At night, the palace is illuminated to look nothing less than a gemstone on the crown of Udaipur.
How To Reach The Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace?
Reaching the Sajjangarh Monsoon Fort is not an arduous task as it is well connected with the rest of the city. Mentioned below are the ways in which you can reach the palace.
- Air: The Depok airport is the nearest airport to the palace. It is around 27.4 km away. You can reach the palace from the airport via any local transport. Domestic flights from cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, etc land here.
- Rail: The Udaipur railway station is 7.9 km away from the Sajjangarh Fort and can be reached via any public or private transport. You can take a direct train to Udaipur from any major city in India.
- Road: From the central Udaipur city, the palace is about 10 km away which means it takes around 20-30 minutes via local cab, rickshaw, or bus to reach the palace.
Things To Do At The Sajjangarh Palace
Apart from admiring the beauty of the palace, you can explore the area around it to get a taste of the local culture. You can also visit the Chittorgarh Palace if you wish to learn more about the folk literature of the Rajasthan. If you are traveling with your family and kids, you can pay a visit to the nearby wildlife sanctuary where kids will not only enjoy but also learn a lot of things. You cannot miss shopping in Udaipur, ensure that you have it up to your itinerary!
The palace is open to visitors only between 8 am and 6 pm on all days. The minimal entry fee of 10 Rupees is mandatory. It is suggested to leave the palace before sunset as traveling back through the woods surrounding the palace is risky.
If you have visited the Sajjangarh Monsoon Fort, do share your experience with us in the comments below!