Bordered by Nahargarh hills and offering a spectacular view of Man Sagar Lake, Jal Mahal Jaipur is an amazing tourist spot. Once you are there you get immersed in its view and do not feel like coming out from the maze of its serene beauty.
Take a walk through the write-up and unravel more intriguing things about Jal Mahal.
What is Jal Mahal?
“Mahal” in English means palace and “Jal” is water. This is one of the reasons why this Jaipur tourist destination is also popular as “the water palace”. Amidst the fast life, this palace offers tranquility to the tourists. It looks so magnificent in the morning when the sunlight falls on its light sand-colored stone walls. The view in contrast with the waters of the lake makes the palace appear awe-inspiring.
Jal Mahal Jaipur and its history
Once a shooting lodge for the Rajput Royals, the Water Palace is simple yet intriguing in its low-rise symmetrical architecture. Floating in the center of Sagar Lake, Jal Mahal Jaipur has many layers of historical truths concealed behinds its walls.
Today, you know this amazingly beautiful monument as a palace but during its construction, it was not intended to be a mahal. In 1750, the then King of Jaipur, Maharaja Madho Singh I. Madho Singh started the construction of this historical building. He wanted to use it as a personal lodge where he could enjoy his duck hunting parties, which were quite a trend in those days among the royal families.
However, the architecture of the Jal Mahal got altered in the 18th century by Maharaja Madho Singh II, who was the son and the successor of Maharaja Madho Singh I, eventually into a palace or a mahal. The interiors of the palace that includes the courtyard grounds apart from the exterior that you see today are an initiative of Maharaja Madho Singh II.
That said, it is important to tell you that the history of the dam is quite old here. It all started in 1596 when an acute shortage of water was faced by the people of Amer due to severe famine in the region. Then to overcome the problem a dam was proposed to be constructed to offer relief to the people. The construction of the dam was done with the earth and quartzite initially in the eastern side of Amer hills, but later in the 17th century, the structure was renovated to build a masonry structure.
You must know that the dam still stands tall with a dimension of 300 meters length and 28.5- 34.5 meters wide. You can also find the three gates of the dam which were used in those days to release water for irrigation in the fields. However, the final renovation is still credited to the King of Amer Maharaja Jai Singh II.
Jal Mahal Jaipur and its architecture
As far as the architecture of Jal Mahal is concerned, it is special because it reflects both Mughal and Rajput style. However, the most interesting part of the Mahal is that it is five-storeyed and the tourists view it from the banks of Lake Sagar only see the technological and design achievements of a single storey. The other four-storey are submerged in the water and the solid stone walls of this striking monument hold back millions of liters of water. You will be amused to know that even after more than 250 years, the construction of the palace is so strong that has prevented water seepage with the help of lime mortar.
Nevertheless, one cannot deny the fact that the government of Jaipur has played a crucial role in keeping the sandstone construction of the palace intact. However, even today it is not in its former glory but definitely, things are improving and that is why today this is one of the most visited sites of Jaipur.
Opposite to the splendid Jal Mahal Jaipur, you can find the shrines of Rajput Kings – Pratap Singh, Madho Singh II and Jai Singh I in a beautiful garden and the monument consists of a dome that includes 20 carved pillars. Today, this is the most popular tourist spot for taking photos as the reflection of the water palace in the water of the Man Sagar Lake looks astounding. You can have a magnificent view of the palace also from the Nahargarh Fort. Furthermore, the palace is a residence of many migratory birds.
What is the location of Jal Mahal Jaipur?
4km to the north of Jaipur city, Jal Mahal is sitting on the Amer-Jaipur road. The best way to visit this palace is to make a tour to Amer Palace and while returning to Jaipur, you may also stop for Jal Mahal. You only need half an hour to visit this palace and take a lot of pictures.
Almost three years ago, the boat rides are also allowed in the lake which has now been stopped to keep the water of the lake clean. However, you may now enjoy small market stalls and camel rides here.
Conclusion
If you are someone who wants to take pictures of this superb water palace then you must opt for any of the Jaipur tour packages available here. You must remember that you are not allowed entry to the palace, but you can take its photos and can enjoy the serene view of the palace. Definitely, the palace will offer you relaxation and the most interesting thing about this palace is that you can visit it on your way to Amer Fort. Therefore you are advised to choose the Ultimate Pink Jaipur tour package and have a delightful time in the city of forts and palaces. If you are not ready to spend a fortnight in Jaipur then go for the Undiscovered Jaipur package from PinkPedia and you will love your short stay in the city.
So, what do you say? Would you like to visit Jal Mahal Jaipur?
- Address: Amer Rd, Jal Mahal, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- No Entry Fee
- Visiting Hours: 6.00 am to 6.00 pm daily