Jaipur Jal Mahal

Jal Mahal or the Water Palace is one of the most majestic places to see in Jaipur. The city is dotted with marvelous architectural beauties and Jal Mahal stands at the forefront of these works of art. Standing amidst the center of Man Sagar Lake, the palace, when you first look at it, will give you the illusion of almost floating atop the lake and that is the moment when this sight takes your breath away.

The palace is not too high and has four dome-shaped pillars at four corners with a big one in the center. Jal Mahal was once the shooting lodging for the Maharaja of Jaipur and is now one of the landmarks of Jaipur.

Though the city of Jaipur has earned itself the moniker of the pink city because of pink stone being used in most of its buildings, Jal Mahal is unique due to red sandstone used in its construction. Today, visitors cannot explore the palace as a tourist attraction since the place has been converted into a restaurant and entry to visitors has been stopped.

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.

How to Reach Jal Mahal
The Jal Mahal is around 5 KM from the center of Jaipur city. It is easily accessible by autos and taxis. If you are feeling particularly adventurous you can try the local bus service. The nearest bus stop is Shahpura Bagh which is 200 m from Jal Mahal.