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Jaipur Travel Info

Jal Mahal

The Jal Mahal, also known as the Water Palace is situated and as the name denotes, is located in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. The palace was built in 1799 AD by Sawai Pratap Singh and in the 18th Century Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber had renovated and enlarged the palace and the lake around it.

The lake and the palace are quite a sight during monsoons when the lake is filled up and is covered with Hyacinth. During this season, the Palace can be accessed only by a causeway or a boat. The best time to visit this palace is between October and March and is open for public viewing from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm every day. There are adequate transportation modes that tourists can avail to visit this palace.

Architecture

Jal Mahal is an architectural beauty that combines both the Mughal and the Rajput architectural styles. The view of the lake and the surrounding Nahargarh hills is rather picturesque from the palace. Built in red stone, the place has five stories. Four out of these five floors remains submerged in water during the monsoons.

There is a rectangular Chhatri on top of the roof that is a style heavily borrowed from Bengal. However, the palace has suffered quite a bit from the water logging and was restored as part of the restoration project taken up by Government of Rajasthan. There is a garden on the terrace with arched passages and each corner of the palace has an elegant cupola. The restoration work had to be redone using natural organic materials such as sand and surkhi mixed with guggal, methi and jiggery powder and a special mortar mix of lime.

Attraction

There are several attractions in this magnificent piece of work. The palace looks like a huge iceberg, shimmering against the waters of the Man Sagar Lake. There are several migratory birds that flock around the lake during the winters. This pleasure palace of the Maharajas was used for regal duck hunting shooting parties in the yesteryears.

The elaborately modeled balconies and the arched roofs are a great place to relax and enjoy the tranquility of the lake. It is said that several royal dignitaries were invited by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh to this pleasure palace.

The intricate carving and the exquisite architecture makes it a finest example for the Indo-Mughal architecture in India. Tourists can also visit the gardens present to the south of the lake. These alluring gardens are the best examples of the Rajput style architecture.

This Water Palace or Jal Mahal is one of the must visit places in Rajasthan and can also be called as the crowning glory of the Princely state of Rajasthan. To enjoy the out of the world experience in this magnificent water palace, you should travel to Jaipur between October and March and get the best out of your travel to the Palace.