The foundations of the City Palace Complex, Udaipur, are embedded into its once pristine natural environment.

After careful surveys the site was selected by Rana Udai Singh II for its breathtaking views and natural terraces, proximity to a reliable source of water - the Lake Pichola and the strategic advantage it offered to the defenders of erstwhile Mewar.

The site of the City Palace Complex is located in the historic town of Udaipur, situated in the north-western state of Rajasthan in India

Its geographical coordinates are 24° North Latitude 74° East Longitude and at an average of 578 meters (1895 feet) above mean sea level

Udaipur lies in a basin on the upper central plateau, surrounded by the hills of Aravali among the oldest mountain ranges in the world.

With its dramatic backdrop of the lake and the hills, the City Palace Complex provides one of the most spectacular landscapes of India.

Architecture 

Twenty four successive Maharanas from the royal family of Mewar lived in the City Palace Complex since the 16th century. The City Palace Museum is filled with stories about each Maharana and his endeavours, lifestyle and architectural achievements
Udai Singh II, Pratap Singh I, Amar Singh I, Jai Singh, Amar Singh II, Sangram Singh, Jagat Singh II, Karan Singh, Jagat Singh I, Raj Singh I, Ari Singh, Hameer Singh II, Bhim Singh, Jawan Singh.
This monument is an exemplary model of the Rajput palace fortress and a masterpiece of medieval Rajput architectural grandeur in India
The palace, built in marble and granite is an incomparable example of amorphous, asymmetrical, additive Rajput planning and of an amalgamation of Rajput and Mughal architectural styles as seen in its stone carvings, cupolas and projecting balconies
It has been built and added to at various times between the 16th and 20th centuries.
Despite these layers, the fortress exhibits a uniformity of design and has been described as one of the most majestic structures in the state of Rajasthan.
The series of palaces built by successive Maharanas as part of the two main components, the Mardana Mahal at the northern end and the The Zenana Mahal at the southern end function today as The City Palace Museum.
The Mardana Mahal comprises of significant palace interiors including the Rai Angan, the Chandra Mahal, the Kacheri Mahal, the Baadi Mahal, the Dilkhushal Mahal and the Mor Chowk.
These palatial spaces are arranged around courtyards opening at various levels with Baadi Mahal at the highest point located on a natural ridge
The Zenana Mahal comprises of the main courtyard called the Lakshmi Chowk and the chambers around it. Another courtyard, the Moti Chowk links the Mardana Mahal with the Zenana Mahal.
The common areas of both the Mardana and the The Zenana Mahal such as the kitchen (Rasoda) and the dining area (Bhojanshala) open onto this courtyard.
The entrance to this courtyard from the Manek Chowk on the eastern end is marked by a magnificent gateway called the Toran Pol
The main approach to the palace is through a successive series of gates- the two gates at the northern end, the Badi Pol followed by the triple arched Tripoliya, which opens onto the Manek Chowk.
The development of the entire City Palace Complex is broadly categorised in five major phases:
Phase 1 - Mewar-Mature Phase (1559-1620)
Phase 2 - Mewar-Mughal Early Phase (1620-1698)
Phase 2 - Mewar-Mughal Early Phase (1620-1698)
Phase 3 - Mewar-Mughal Mature Phase(1698 -1778)
Phase 4 - Mewar-British Phase (1778-1930)
Phase 5 - Post-independence Mewar Phase (From 1931)

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