A culturally rich country like India is home to centuries’ old architecture replete with historical significance. These 8 palaces were crucial in shaping India like you see it today. By Deepali Sharma
1. Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh
Referred to as ‘the pearl in the necklace of the forts of Hind’ by Mughal Emperor Babur, the Gwalior Fort is located on an isolated rock along the ‘Sun Tank’ or Suraj Kund, with quite a history attached to it. Arguably one of the biggest forts in the country, the Gwalior Fort has been invaded by Mughals, Turkish rulers, and Tomars, until the British took over. Among the many historical feats was the great victory of Hem Chand Vikramaditya who defeated Akbar in Delhi and Agra to establish ‘Hindu Raj’.
2. Golconda Fort, Telangana
The 120-metre-high fort derives its name from Golla Konda, which in telegu means ‘shepherd’s hill’. Mounted canons, four drawbridges, eight gateways, and beautiful halls showcase the marvellous engineering in the medieval period. One of the main attractions here is the Fateh Darwaza or victory gate—the outermost enclosure of the fort—that attracts maximum tourists.
3. Cooch Behar Palace, West Bengal
After the acquisition of Cooch Behar from Bhutanese, the British educated a 10-month-old Nripendra by English tutors. Maharaja Nripendra Narayan later designed this brilliant monument. He and his wife Suniti Devi are recognised for bringing in social reforms in then regressive state by building schools for girls, hospitals, and law courts.
4. Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur
The Umaid Bhawan Palace is fondly referred to as the youngest palace in India. It is the last royal palace built before India got her Independence. Maharaja Umaid Singh ordered for the construction of the palace to provide employment to the people during the famine that broke out in the 1920s in Jodhpur. Now, a part of the palace is still maintained and lived in by the royal family while the rest has been converted into a hotel and museum.
5. City Palace, Udaipur
On the banks of Lake Pichola, City Palace in Udaipur is a palace complex that echoes the rich architectural heritage of the Rajput and Mughal period through its architecture. Inside the palace complex are 11 smaller palaces, all built by different rulers. Over centuries, the City Palace has seen several political feuds between Mughals, Rajputs, and the Marathas.
6. Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
Hawa Mahal, built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, is a magnificent palace that harps back to the times when the Pardah system was a predominant culture for Rajput women. The palace allowed royal ladies to enjoy everyday street scenes from the numerous windows, without being seen by strangers.
7. Chittorgarh Fort, Chittor
Chittorgarh Fort consists 84 splendid water bodies and numerous towers that were constructed over time to signify Rajput victories. The palace is mostly known for the self-immolation by the Rajput royal ladies after the defeat of the Mewar rulers by the Mughals. Queen Padmini, along with other royal court women, sacrificed themselves in a pyre of fire, lest they should be captured by Allaudin Khilji.
8. Jagmandir Island Palace, Udaipur
Maharana Karan Singh constructed Gul Mahal for Shahjahan while he gave him refuge in the City Palace. After the death of Emperor Jahangir, Shahjahan was named the next Emperor at Jagmandir Palace. The palace was later expanded by Maharana Jagat Singh and renamed as Jag Mandir Palace.
Aindrila Mitra
Editorial Director - Travel Hub
Aindrila Mitra comes with over 19 years of experience in journalism, covering lifestyle and travel. She has handled diverse portfolios in her career tenure, both in print and digital. She has spearheaded the Indian license of the globally successful, Ziff-Davis owned, AskMen.com portal. Prior to this, for 11 years, she was a senior editor at Bennett & Coleman’s Times of India Group where she was responsible for luxury and lifestyle products, including being the founding editor of Femina Wedding Times, and launching iDiva. Since 2018, Mitra has been spearheading Travel + Leisure India & South Asia, during which the title has grown by over 300% in terms of its digital reach, and has also been instrumental in increasing readership of its print edition through strategic partnerships. Mitra is a thought-leader in India’s current media landscape and is responsible for the evolution of the brand perception of Travel + Leisure in the Indian market through campaigns like #WhyWeLoveIndia, #GoingPlacesWithPeople, among many others.
