The City Palace Preface

Toran Pol and Amar Mahal
At a glance:

Toran Pol

Toran is the name in Hindi of a sacred or honorific gateway. Before entering the place of Yagna one has to worship Toran, same for entering the house of one's in-laws. According to legend there was a demon with the name Toran, who would obstruct the path of gods from entering their abode. The gods got together and managed to annihilate him and since then this custom of Bridegroom touching the Toran with the sword or a cane was started.

Toran Pol is the large gate built by Maharana Karan Singh (r.1620 - 1628 CE), between Manek Chowk and Moti Chowk. It was possibly built in conjunction with the adjoining Sabha Shiromani block on the north in late 16th century. Miniature paintings from early 18th century show a dome on top of the gate. This was screened by a high parapet wall with motifs and three cusped arches in the early 18th century, additions possibly by Maharana Jagat Singh II (r. 1734 - 1751 CE). The paintings in the ceiling belong to the 19th century. This gate continues being used as entrance to the Moti Chowk that is to function as orientation center/museum information centre for this site.

Toran is a wooden structure, which is hanged from the front side of the Pol where the royal bridegroom would touch it with his sword or a cane before entering the bride's house "The Zenana Courtyard" on his wedding evening. The gate has been used for this ritual since the 19th century till today. Right in front of the Toran Pol is a smaller gate called Suraj Pol or the Sun Gate, also built by Maharana Karan Singh. This gate was used for the entry of public into The Manek Chowk and for cavalry horses from the stables below.

Toran Pol

Amar Mahal

Amar Mahal was built in the early 17th century exists in its original form, after the Mewar - Mughal treaty when Maharana Amar Singh I (r. 1597-1620 CE) moved back to Udaipur. A stone jalis on front facade the lower gokhdas and stone jalis on either side of the central gokhda are of 19th century. This was constructed as a grandiose structure, to shift the rawala; living quarters of the royal ladies' to the south of the main palace. Since Maharana Ari Singh (r. 1761- 1773 CE) to the recent past, this had been used as a treasury for valuables hence the name Bhandar. In the early 19th century Mahrana Bheem Singh (r. 1778-1828 CE) placed the deity of Ban Mata ji in the front room of the Amar Mahal that was worshipped during Navratri. The deity of Ban Mata ji was recently relocated to the adjoining temple complex in the west of Amar Mahal. There is an addition of early 20th century structure called the Bhupal Vilas on the North - western end with some interventions in the Amar Mahal to link the two blocks.

This is three storied structure with an interesting juxtaposition of domes adding to the skyline. The interior and exterior of Amar Mahal resonates with the architectural vocabulary of the earlier Palaces at Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh. This is one of the most magnificent pieces of architecture in the entire Palace and it retains its original form of the 17th century showing minimal interventions. Presently Silver Gallery titled 'Amar Mahal Gallery: Splendors of Silver - Reflecting the finest of silver smithy' is witnessed. Facade restoration has been done in 21st century.

Amar Mahal