Sajjan Garh Palace, also called the Monsoon Palace is a historic monument of great architectural splendor located 5km to the west of Udaipur, Rajasthan. Crowning a rocky hillock in the Aravalli Mountain Range, the site commands a panoramic view of the neighboring palaces, and waterways including the celebrated Pichola Lake. In addition the sunset as seen from the castle is generally considered a truly mesmerizing sight of unparalleled beauty.
Construction of the palace commenced in 1884 under Maharana Sajjan Singh the 72nd ruler of the Mewar Dynasty. The Maharanas rule of ten years was marked by colossal developmental projects. The Sajjan Garh, one of his most ambitious plans, was conceived as a nine-storied astronomical observatory that would facilitate the study of monsoon clouds and provide the populace with employment during its building. The unfortunate death of the Maharana that same year at the age of 26 years prevented its realization during his lifetime. The partially constructed structure was completed by his successor Maharana Fateh Singh. Apart from functioning as an observatory of monsoon clouds, the palace was also used by the royal family as hunting lodge. At present the Sajjan Gharh is under the care of the Rajasthan Governments Forest Department due to the surrounding wildlife reserve. The palace which featured in the 1983 James Bond movie Octupussy as the abode of an exiled Afghan prince, Kamal Khan is now opened to the public.
Built of white marble the palace is characterized by high towers, a large central courtyard and numerous wings with many rooms. It also contains an ingenious subterranean water harvesting system. This grand structure is decorated with exquisite floral patterns and is rendered a vision of ethereal beauty when illuminated at night. The Sajjan Ghar and its surrounding attractions can be conveniently visited by lodging at a premier
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