Jal Mahal Jaipur

The Water Palace of Jaipur, Jal Mahal, is a unique landmark of the city. The tranquil monument is located in the middle of Man Sagar Lake in the state capital of Rajasthan. The lake is located between the historic city of Amer and Jaipur and has a water spread area of 300 acres. Enclosed by the Aravalli hills, the lake is bordered by a promenade which is ideal for viewing Jal Mahal and taking memorable pictures. A Jaipur city tour is incomplete without striking a pose here with your loved ones. Visitors are not allowed to enter the palace or the lake.

A stunning view of the Man Sagar Lake and the Jal Mahal palace can be enjoyed from the Nahargarh Fort in the hills. The lake was created by constructing a dam across the Darbhawati River, between Khilagarh hills and the hilly areas of Nahargarh. During 1596 AD, when there was a severe famine in this region, the then ruler of Amer constructed a dam to store water and help the people of this region. The dam was later converted into a stone masonry structure in the 17th century. After this, the dam, the lake and the palace in its midst underwent several phases of restoration under various rulers of Rajasthan. The final restoration in the 18th century is credited to Jai Singh II of Amer.

The history of Jal Mahal
Though there is no official record of the exact period of origin of Jal Mahal, legend has it that it was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, whose idea behind building this palace was to use it as a hunting lodge for his duck shooting adventures and not as a palace to stay. The origin of the lake can also be attributed to him as it was formed when a dam was constructed between the hills which led to the formation of the lake.

Another legend says that it was built by Maharaja Madho Singh in the 1750s to serve as a hunting lodge. His son Madho Singh II had a big role to play in enhancing the interiors of Jal Mahal during the 18th century when he added the courtyard grounds which are still a part of this palace.

Jal Mahal and the lake around it were given a makeover by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amer in the eighteenth century. Later years saw the facade of this heritage site deprecating due to sewage and water logging and restoration work was undertaken again to bring the palace to its current glorious state. Though there are trees atop the terrace of the place, the garden hasn’t been made to look like it was in its days of glory, including the arched gateways which used to be there at the terrace. However, plans are underway to recreate a rooftop garden here on the likes of the one at Amer Palace in Jaipur.

Architecture of Jal Mahal
Jal Mahal was constructed right in the center of the Man Sagar Lake and though the place has five storeys, only one of the storeys is visible today, with the other four being submerged in water. The depth of this lake is 15 feet with its low lying areas having a depth of 4.9 feet. This red sandstone palace reflects a mélange of the Rajput and Mughal architectural style and is symbolic of those times when these two reigns existed in India. The four corners of Jal Mahal are adorned with four octagonal domes or chhatris and a large rectangular one in Bengali style graces the terrace at its center.

People who have witnessed its beauty in its erstwhile glory talk about arched passageways on the terrace but it is a fact only heard in tales now. Even after braving two centuries, the palace still looks magnificent. People who visit the Nahargarh Fort can see Jal Mahal from there and are entranced by its beauty even from a distance. Nahargarh hills that surround the lake from the north-east side have quartzite rock formations and covered with lush greenery all the year-round. An interesting trivia about the restoration work of this palace is that the work was done using traditional materials for plastering, materials that are not used in the construction work today. The plaster consists of partly organic material: a mortar mix of lime, surkhi, and sand mixed with gur (jaggery), guggal and methi (fenugreek) powder.