Foreword

For more than thirty years, the Getty Foundation, USA has fulfilled the philanthropic mission of the Getty Trust by supporting individuals and institutions committed to advancing the greater understanding and preservation of the visual arts in Los Angeles and throughout the world, including a number of projects in India. In 2005 and 2007, the Getty Foundation awarded two grants to the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India to support the phased development of a comprehensive conservation plan for the City Palace in Udaipur.

The City Palace of Udaipur is a consummate model of Mewar Rajput architecture combined with later adapted Mughal additions and is one of the most majestic palace structures in Rajasthan. To preserve this jewel for the future as well as manage the normal wear and tear of the site’s many visitors, its stewards recognized the need for a complete conservation plan to guide maintenance of the site’s historic features.

The project developed by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation aligned with the Getty Foundation’s dedication to advancing the practice of conservation through careful research and planning. A team of conservation professionals, skillfully led by Dr. Shikha Jain, developed a master conservation plan that synthesized detailed information on the history, condition, and maintenance and conservation needs of the City Palace. Now a decade later, we are tremendously pleased with the outcome of the project, and it is rewarding to see the fruit of many years of hard work captured in this handsomely designed publication.

It is a great privilege to have supported the work for the City Palace, and we congratulate the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur for protecting this splendid architectural complex for future generations.

Deborah Marrow Director The Getty Foundation