| Samode according to the Rajputana Gazetteer
of 1879 was a large and flourishing town.
The Zamidars (landlords) of Samode the principal
thakurs of the state of Amber were the Nathawat
clan from Chomu, a branch of the house of
Amber, tracing their relation to the Jaipur
Maharaja the fabled Prithviraj Singhji the
17th prince of the house of Kacchwaha Rajputs.
Gopal Singhji one of his 12 sons was awarded
Samode, a noble feudatory of the Amber &
Jaipur principality. It was among the wealthiest
territories in the Amber kingdom. The Zamidari
eventually passed within the clan to the hands
of Behari Das, a Rajput warrior in Mughal
Service. After 6 generations in the hands
of his descendants Samode was relinquished
to the Raj.
For the 1st half of it's existence Samode
Palace was a little more than a fortified
stronghold in the rugged Rajput tradition.
Only in the early 19th century under Rawal
Berisal did the castle begin to take on
the lavish aspects it is now known for.
He was an eminent statesman who reached
distinction as the principal signatory (on
behalf of the Jaipur Maharaja) of the historic
1818 treaty making Jaipur a protectorate
of British East India Company. He later
became Chief Minister of Jaipur and weilded
absolute power.
Samode Palace quite clearly
began expanding at the time of his reign
and continued under his descendant Rawal
Sheo Singh who was the Prime Minister of
Jaipur state for several years during the
middle of the 19th century. He is credited
with the Palace's most fabulous addition
- the extravagantly florid had painted Darbar
Hall and the overlooking gallery which forms
the breathtaking Sheesh Mahal or the hall
of mirrors.
Samode Palace was transformed
into one the country's premium palace hotels
in 1987, and is a perfect example of Rajput-Moghul
architecture. The palace is built on a small
hillock and planned in a progression of
courtyards of increasing height. |
