| The
Nathawat family of Samode served as prime
ministers in Jaipur court, and their
four-century-old fortified residence some 40
km from Jaipur is able to exhibit the good
taste learned at royal palaces in a more
restrained space. The Durbar hall at Samode
Palace is one of the most beautifully
painted chambers in Rajasthan. Close by is
the samode bagh, the garden pavilion with
charming water channels and ancient trees.
In Jaipur itself, the family built itself a
townhouse, samode haveli. which typifies the
style of architecture then in prevalence,
including accessible public spaces,
especially for the women of the family. The
paintings at the Haveli are every bit as
excellent as at the Palace, if a little less
profuse. All three properties are hotels.
History :
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.
In 1757 the territory was returned to the
Nathawats (the hereditary title of 'Rawal
Saheb' still rests with the present family).
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. |
