What Are the World’s Largest Pieces of Silverware?
The Gangajalis at Jaipur’s City Palace are the largest single pieces of silver in the whole world!
What Makes It Historical?
Strict Hindu laws forbade a king from crossing the “black seas,” or else he’d lose his caste. The only solution was to bring an idol from home onto a ship where beef had never been cooked and bathe exclusively in water from the Ganges while abroad! So that’s just what Maharaja Madho Singh II planned to do for his trip to Edward VII’s coronation in 1901!
Luckily, he’d already commissioned three giant jars for ritual bathing in 1894! The palace silversmiths, led by Gorind Narain had melted down 14,000 silver coins to build three jugs that were 5 feet tall and 8 feet in circumference with a capacity of 476 gallons apiece! One of the jars had to be tossed overboard on the journey to calm the wrathful sea god Varuna, but the surviving two are still housed at the City Palace in Jaipur!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Donate to the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum Trust!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
Tulsi Marg, Gangori Bazaar
J.D.A. Market, Pink City
Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The palace and museum are open daily from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM!