Padmini Palace | Royal Abode of Cleopatra of India

Right at the heart of the Chittorgarh Fort, the garrison that the Rajputs cleverly built to take advantage of the naturally rocky terrain, stands the Rani Padmini Palace. The once beautiful and stately, albeit small structure is now in an advanced state of disrepair. And yet, it stands out as a touch of femininity in the midst of what is obviously a soldier’s world. The fort itself stands atop a 180 meter tall hill, making use of the natural settings to make it impregnable. Spread over about 700 acres, the Chittorgarh fort is believed to have been originally constructed in the 7th century.

Rani Padmini’s Palace makes for a visual treat. It is one of the earliest palaces constructed in India to be completely surrounded by water. The queen’s ill-fated but legendary beauty is reflected in the lotus pool that surrounds her small but stunning palace. The architectural style is distinctly Rajasthani, but hints of the Persian influences that had started to make their presence felt in India at the time. While there are certainly many parts of the Chittorgarh Fort that may be listed on tour guides and perhaps cry out for attention, the queen’s palace combined with its history make this an unforgettable and attractive part of the fort.

This three storied white building was built in the 19th century, and is located in the southern part of the fort overlooking a pleasant lotus pool. The palace is adorned by the pavilions at the top and surrounded water moats. The architecture of this palace becomes the example for many other notable structures which were surrounded by the water. The bronze gates to this palace were carried off by Akbar and can now be seen in Agra Fort. Near Padmini's Palace is a small prison where captured invaders were kept; former prisoners include sultans of Malwa and of Gujarat.

TIMINGS

• 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Open on all days

ENTRY FEE

• for Indian Tourist - INR 15
• for Foreign Tourist - INR 200

BEST TIME TO VISIT

• September to March is an ideal time to discover this amazing palace as the weather is quite moderate and the winters are also lovely to unravel the monuments around Chittorgarh.

LOCATION

• 1.5 km from Kumbha Palace
• 7.5 km from Chittorgarh Railway Station
• Southern part of Chittorgarh Fort

HOW TO REACH PADMINI PALACE

• By Road
  Located in the Chittorgarh Fort at a distance of 5 km from centre of Chittorgarh on Fort Rd, Padmini Palace is easily accessible by rickshaw, local bus or taxi or by walk
• By Rail
  Through nearest Chittorgarh Railway station (6 km) to major cities railway stations like Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Chennai, Bikaner, Pali, Jaipur, Ahmedabad.
• By Air
  Through nearest Udaipur airport (98 km) which is well connected with regular domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai.