One of the earlier Thakurs of Bissau Shyam Singh was an outstanding if somewhat unconventionalruler.
An Englishman who visited his court in 1808 had this to say "At his palace I saw four ShekhawatChief'sand
cousins - they were plain men, and seemed to be living in great harmony. While some of the others bore strong marks of the effect of opium especially noticeable in their eyes, one of them Shyam Singh seemed remarkably mild and well mannered but scarcely had I crossed the desert when I heard that Shyam Singh had murdered the three others at a feast, stabbing the first with his own hand". This story may or may not be authentic but is quite typical of times and conditions prevailing in that particular era. To his credit, however, it must be maintained that Shyam Singh was a brilliant general and tactician who hired the services of French mercenaries in his fight against the British and the Jaipur State. Most of the armoury displayed here were a part of Shyam Singh's 'personal effects'. Bissau Palace is an elegant traditional hotel built in 1919 and recently renovated. Close to the walled city and overlooking the Tiger fort the Bissau offers an oasis of calm, care, comfort and respite from the 'heat and dust' of the city.