Ummed Mahal is named after its patron Rao Ummed Singh. All the walls and ceiling of this Chitrashala or ‘Gallery of Paintings’ are decorated with the most exquisite miniature paintings in Bundi style. The renditions stand out because they break away from the conventional colour palette of Rajasthani painting – abundantly using turquoise, white, crimson, blue and green. These pigments are obtained from vegetation and mineral rocks and use natural gum resin for binding.

Three hundred years on, this workmanship will retain its original lustre and the murals will be highly prized in art circles. Moreover, they will tell of a highly evolved aesthetic culture and will recommend Rao as a great connoisseur of the arts, besides being a valiant Rajput.

Information & Image Courtesy: Royal Palaces of India by Tarun Chopra