Mansingh Palace, Uttar Pradesh, India
This imperial-style palace is one of the more unusually decorated monuments you’ll see in India: the outer walls include a frieze of yellow ducks! These – and mosaic tiling of elephants, tigers and crocodiles in blue, yellow and green – give it its alternative identity of Chit Mandir (Painted Palace).
Built by Tomar ruler Man Singh between 1486 and 1516, this fine example of early Hindu architecture consists of two open courts surrounded by apartments on two levels. Below ground lie another two storeys constructed for hot weather, connected by ‘speaking tubes’ built into the walls, and used by the Mughals as prison cells.
The ticket counter is opposite the palace, while another ticket counter nearby sells tickets for the ruins of Shah Jahan Palace, Karan Palace and several other dilapidated palaces in the northwest of the fort. Also opposite the palace is the small Archeological Survey of India museum that was a hospital under British rule.
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