The breathtaking sight of monsoon clouds romancing the splendorous Aravallis from the Sajjangarh Palace is something you must see to believe, especially if you’re a rain lover! Overlooking Udaipur (Rajasthan) in all its glory, the hilltop citadel provides some of the most amazing vantage views of the Lake City.
Crowned on Bansdara peak of the heartwarming Aravalli hill range in the Lake City of Udaipur, this citadel is sure to enamor you with its majestic panoramic view. And if you are lucky to visit the Sajjangarh Palace in the monsoon season either by choice or coincidence, you earn the reward of unraveling its true magnificence. As you watch the breathtaking sight of the rain-bearing clouds romancing the splendorous Aravallis, you will be filled with amazement to think of the man who built it in the year 1884. Maharana Sajjan Singh (1874–1884) of Mewar had the palatial residence erected to be able to get a vantage view of Chittorgarh, his ancestral residence. Another key reason to build the palace was to view the beauty of the monsoon clouds. In fact, the Maharana had initially visualized a 5-storey astronomical centre. However, the original plan could not be materialized owing to his premature demise and hence it was used as a hunting lodge by the royal family.
Today, Sajjangarh Palace is managed by the Forest Department of the Government of Rajasthan. It is enveloped by Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to tigers, panthers, reptiles, jackals, nilgai, sambhar and wild boars among a host of other animals. There’s a separate entrance to the Sanctuary while on your way up the hilltop.
Amazing Facts about the Monsoon Palace
- Sajjangarh Palace featured in the James Bond film Octopussy in 1983. It was portrayed as the home of the exiled Afghan prince Kamal Khan.
- The palace offers an awe-inspiring view of the sunset. It is lit-up in the evenings for a scintillating look.
- Another major attraction of the hilltop palace is that it overlooks the two important lakes of city of Udaipur – Fatehsagar and Pichola.
- Located on the outskirts of Udaipur City, the palace appears on the haunted list of monuments in Rajasthan. The underground floor of Sajjangarh remains closed for public. After eerie and supernatural incidents were reported by tourists, the underground floor has been locked permanently for the public. But the rest of the palace is safe open for viewing.
- Tourists are refrained from staying back beyond 7pm because of its hilltop location and risky road journey because of low visibility.
