Jal Mahal, Jaipur
The breeze whips the shimmering gold pennants on the royal barge.
Jal Mahal Jaipur, a magical palace and its image in the middle of the Man Sagar lake is like a leaf straight out of a fairy tale book with an excellent taste of intricate craftsmanship and the ethnic themes using the textiles all over highlight the beauty that is simply beyond compare the lake around makes a pleasant murmur with its rippling waves and lapping that adds to the mesmerizing moments.
Also Read : Jal Mahal Jaipur – Inside Palace View and Architecture
Architecture and History of Jal Mahal Jaipur:
The architectural beauty of the Jal Mahal palace is a rich blend of Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture and craftsmanship. It is five storey building made up of red sandstone. The rectangular Chhatri on the roof of the palace is designed in Bengali style and the chhatris on the four corners are octagonal in shape and were built with an elegant cupola. The terrace has been designed as the archetypal Mughal Garden The fort has exquisite marble cravings which signify the royal touch and the palace also has twenty pillars which are the cenotaph of the royal family of Raja Jai Singh. The palace and the lake around it were restructured and engorged in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber.
If one goes in the flash back of the place, it is examined that the logic behind the presence of the lake was a natural calamity as waster used to assort. And subsequently in 1596 AD, there happened an acute disaster which caused the shortage of water. Then the ruler of Amer took a didactic step by building a dam for which he was motivated so that over ride the suffering of the people in reign by accumulation of water. This was initially constructed by employing earth and quartzite across the eastern valley between Amer hills and Amagarh hills. Later it was assorted into stone masonry. The dam was later converted into a stone masonry structure in the 17th century. The dam, as existing now, is about 300 metres in elevation and 28.5–34.5 metres in width. It is provided with three rinsed gates for rendering of water for irrigation of agricultural land in the downstream area.
Photo by: Urban shutterbugs
Jal Mahal Restoration:
The palace had suffered subsidence in the past and also seepage due to water logging, which have been repaired under the restoration project undertaken by the Government of Rajasthan. In 2000, Government of Rajasthan commended to IL&FS the task of finding a permanent solution to the development requirements of the Man Sagar Lake and the palace. In 2001, Government of Rajasthan initiated a project for the ‘Ecological Restoration of Man Sagar Lake’ and the palace in its midst to its original glory and to enhance the tourism potential of the precincts. The private developers were also involved in this effort. In 2004, the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation took matters in its hands and decided to restore the monument to its pristine glory. They signed an agreement with Jal Mahal Resorts, granting it a 99-year lease to develop 100 acres along the Man Sagar Lake and the palace. After nine years the work on the cleaning of the lake and restoration of the Palace finished. The carving and etching on the palace walls is done minutely by skilled artisans. Now there are many inhabitants of the area and it has created a great job opportunity for the people of Jaipur and Rajasthan.
Four levels of the building submerge under water when the lake is full and only the top most level remains visible and can be accessed with the help of boats which have been prearranged by the caretakers of the present Jal Mahal project to take the tourist from the land to the palace in the center of the lake. A bridge has been built on the western edge of the palace where the tourists can go down from the boat and enter the palace. Spread across 60 meter square in area, it is appositely located on the Amer Road which is popularly known as the channel of the tourists.
Timings and Tickets of Jal Mahal:
Jal mahal’s best haunt time is from October to March as the weather’s aroma is favorable and alluring. Else the rest of the year is quite hot, and foreign guests will have to suffer adjusting the tough time coping with the sharp heat and sweat.
Tourists are no more allowed to visit Jal Mahal Palace but you can have a look at its interior by clicking here.
Currently Top jeweller from Jaipur, Navratan Kothari has taken Jal Mahal on lease.
Water succumbs to sheerness it attracts in multitudes, and dwarfs the chaos of the city and flips the serene side of the city. Between water, admits splendid aroma, in azure appearance it sprinkles the soul of purity. The place simply states ‘Jal Mahal begets to fascination ’.It draws a dream-destiny in tourist’s mind and traces a wish to reside at the place for whole life.
