Chandra Mahal Jaipur: Entry Fee, Timings and Guide

Chandra Mahal, the Moon Palace, is the crowning jewel of Jaipur's City Palace, a magnificent seven-storey palace that is still home to the former royal family of Jaipur. This guide from Delhi Agra Tour Packages covers the Chandra Mahal entry fee and timings, what to see across its floors, the famous courtyard gates, and how to visit, ideally as part of a Jaipur day on a Golden Triangle tour.

I was born in Delhi, and in more than 11 years guiding the Golden Triangle for Experience My India I have shown many travellers around Jaipur's City Palace. Here is the clear, practical guide.

Chandra Mahal Jaipur at a glance

Chandra Mahal Jaipur entry fee and timings

Chandra Mahal is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day of the week.

Because most of Chandra Mahal is the private residence of the royal family, going inside requires a special premium ticket, priced at around 3000 rupees per person, and it needs special permission. Prices and access change, so reconfirm the current fee and the exact experience when you plan your visit. The general City Palace ticket covers the rest of the complex, but not the Chandra Mahal interiors.

What is Chandra Mahal?

Chandra Mahal is the grand seven-storey palace at the very centre of the Jaipur City Palace complex, built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur, in the 1720s. Its name means Moon Palace, and it has served as the seat of the Jaipur royal family for centuries.

Remarkably, it remains a living palace, the residence of the erstwhile royal family, which is why only part of it is open to visitors. A flag flying from the top signals when the head of the family is in residence, a lovely touch of continuity with the past.

The seven storeys of Chandra Mahal

Each of the palace's seven floors has its own name, character and decorative style, rising from the courtyard to a crowning pavilion:

• Pritam Niwas: the ground level, opening onto the beautiful courtyard of the four gates.

• Sukh Niwas: a hall of blue-and-white decoration.

• Rang Mandir: adorned with mirrored, glittering interiors.

• Shobha Niwas: the celebrated hall of glass and mirror work.

• Chhavi Niwas: a delicate blue-and-white retreat, lovely in the monsoon.

• Mukut Mandir: the crowning pavilion at the very top, with sweeping views over the Pink City.

Together they showcase the finest of Rajput and Mughal palace craft, from mirror work to painted walls.

Pritam Niwas Chowk and the four gates

In the courtyard in front of Chandra Mahal lies Pritam Niwas Chowk, home to one of Jaipur's most photographed sights: four exquisitely decorated gates, each representing a season and a deity.

• The Peacock Gate: the most famous, dedicated to autumn, with its glorious peacock motifs.

• The Lotus Gate: representing summer.

• The Green or Leheriya Gate: representing spring.

• The Rose Gate: representing winter.

These gates are a highlight of any City Palace visit and among the most iconic images of Jaipur.

The wider City Palace complex

Chandra Mahal sits within the sprawling City Palace, and your visit takes in much more:

• Mubarak Mahal: the elegant reception palace, now a textile and costume museum.

• Diwan-i-Khas: the hall of private audience, home to two giant silver urns, said to be the largest silver objects in the world.

• Diwan-i-Aam: the hall of public audience, with a fine art and manuscript gallery.

• Sabha Niwas and the courtyards: grand halls and spaces rich in Rajput splendour.

How do you visit Chandra Mahal?

The City Palace complex is open daily, and there are a few ticket levels. A general ticket lets you explore the museums, courtyards and Pritam Niwas Chowk, while access inside Chandra Mahal itself needs the special premium ticket noted above. A guide greatly enriches the visit, bringing the palace's history and the royal family's story to life.

It is easy to combine with the neighbouring Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar, all close together, and our Jaipur 1 day itinerary shows exactly how to slot them into a day. For the full range of the city's sights, see our things to do in Jaipur guide.

How to reach Chandra Mahal

Chandra Mahal and the City Palace are in the heart of the old walled city, at Gangori Bazaar in the Pink City, close to Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and the main bazaars. A taxi or auto is the easiest way to reach it, and it is walkable from the other old-city landmarks. If you are exploring more of the area, our hidden places to visit in Jaipur guide points to quieter gems nearby.

When is the best time to visit?

The best time to visit Chandra Mahal is October to March, when Jaipur's weather is pleasant for exploring the palace and its courtyards. Mornings are ideal, soon after opening, with softer light for the gates and fewer crowds. After your visit, our famous foods in Jaipur guide points to great places to eat nearby.

Travel tips for Chandra Mahal

• Arrive soon after the 9:00 AM opening for softer light and fewer crowds.

• Confirm the current premium ticket price and access before you go.

• Take a guide to bring the palace and royal history to life.

• Do not miss Pritam Niwas Chowk and the famous Peacock Gate.

• Combine it with Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar nearby.

• Visit October to March for the most comfortable weather.

Want Chandra Mahal and the City Palace planned into a smooth Jaipur day, with tickets and a guide sorted? Message us on WhatsApp and Experience My India will build it for you.

Plan your trip with us

Jaipur's palaces are best enjoyed when the tickets, the timing and the guiding are all handled, and that is what we do, the City Palace and Chandra Mahal timed right, a licensed guide, and the rest of the Pink City worked in, so your day flows.

Tell us your dates and group size and we will price it honestly around your standard rather than a fixed figure. Explore the full circuit with our Golden Triangle tours, or add the Taj at its finest with our Sunrise Taj tour. We can build it all within our wider Delhi Agra Tour Packages.

Related guides

• Jaipur shopping malls: where to shop in the Pink City.

• Jaipur to Udaipur distance: on to the City of Lakes.

• New Delhi tour: the capital's landmarks on a wider trip.

• Old Delhi tour: the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk.
  

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