Housed in the Fateh Prakash Palace is the world-famous Crystal Gallery; it's spread across the upper-gallery of the glittering The Durbar Hall Sabhagaar.
Crystal Gallery has been hailed as probably the single largest private collection of crystal anywhere in the world. The visitors here are privy to one of the most exclusive and exquisite crystal collections. It was in 1877 that Maharana Sajjan Singh (period of reign: 1874-1884) ordered the crystal collection from the Birmingham-based F&C Osler company. The collection includes a bewildering number of objects d'art, dinner sets, perfume bottles, decanters, glasses, washing bowls and even furniture. The Crystal Gallery also houses the only crystal bed in the world! The collection has been customised for the House of Mewar; the Crest of Mewar being delicately etched on the crystal, adding yet another amazing facet.
The Durbar Hall Sabhagaar, which adorns the Fateh Prakash Palace, is of historical significance. In 1909, Lord Minto the Viceroy of India, laid its foundation stone and, in his honour, the hall was originally called Minto Hall. Today its opulent interiors - with huge chandeliers and special lights, portraits of the Maharanas of Mewar, royal artifacts and the legendary armory of the Mewar dynasty - transport you to times past when the Maharanas held forth in The Durbar Hall Sabhagaar.
The Audio Guide Service at Crystal Gallery narrates the history and anecdotes about how the present Custodian of the House of Mewar, Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur, conceptualised the Gallery; how the crystal was unpacked after it had been in crates for over half a century!
Makers
The Crystal Gallery exhibits artefacts primarily created by F. & C. Osler, the foremost manufacturers of monumental cut glass luxury objects in the Victorian era and thereafter. Established in Birmingham in 1807, Osler revolutionised the cut glass industry by exploring the material’s structural possibilities, conceiving for the first time a monumental form of crystal, of which the Udaipur Collection is a fine example. F. & C. Osler traded very successfully through much of the 19th century both in Britain and in India.
Timings:
9.00 am to 6.30 pm
Photography is strictly prohibited in Crystal Gallery
Entry Fee:
| S.No | Particulars | Price (INRs) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | CRYSTAL GALLERY VISIT – TICKET PRICE | ||
| 1 | Crystal Gallery Visit – Adult | 500/- | |
| 2 | Crystal Gallery Visit – Child | 300/- | |
| Note: (a) Management Reserve the right to change, amend and withdraw the rate without any prior notice. | |||