Jal Mahal in Jaipur, India is one of the many tourist attractions in the pink city.
Jal Mahal, Jaipur (Rajasthan, India)
Jal Mahal in as the name suggests is a palace in waters of Man Sagar Lake of Jaipur which is also known as the pink city and is the capital of Rajasthan. The palace and the beautiful lake were beautified and repaired in the 18th century by the Maharaja Jai Singh the second of Amber.
Very recently an initiative was taken to further beautify the palace and the lake as well. The boats that take the tourists from the lake’s shore to the palace have been crafted Rajputana fashion. The lake has been cleaned and the water is very clear with the surroundings being pretty picturesque.
Once you reach the palace you’ll find royal decorations along the hallways and leading you to the Chameli Bagh. From the palace, the beautiful city of Jaipur can be seen and across is the Aravali Hills with ancient forts and old temples.
A few years ago Jal Mahal was in pitiable condition but now the lake has been deepened and the water cleaned with the Mahal getting a facelift as well. Five islands have been created for the migratory birds to nest!
In the past, the lake and the palace used to be a bird-watching hot spot as several birds like the Flamingo, Pintail, Kestrel, Coot, etc were found migrating near the lake. The royals of ancient times used to hold duck shooting parties in the past to celebrate while on a picnic.
Jal Mahal and the lake don’t witness as many birds as they used to witness in the past but still after recent restoration efforts many local breeds have made it their habitat and add to the beauty of that place.
Jal Mahal is one of the architectural marvels of ancient India built in the Mughal and Rajput style of architecture consisting of domes and arch-like structures. The palace has beautiful surroundings with Nahargarh Hills visible from the monument.
The palace in total has 5 floors, out of which 4 remain underwater when the lake is full. There is a garden on the terrace of the palace which is very beautiful and in recent restoration works; many new beautiful plants have been planted.
The Jal Mahal located in Man Sagar Lake can be reached from the New Delhi- Jaipur highway, national highway 8. Jaipur is located in central Rajasthan so the national highway number 8 is accessible and connects Mumbai and Delhi to the state capital.
Along with the Jal Mahal, there are several other monuments in Jaipur and Rajasthan that can be visited and the state is well connected with a good network of rail and road transport. Nearby cities of Udaipur and Ajmer are well connected to Jaipur and draw a lot of tourists every year.
The management of the site lies with the team of Jal Tarang that manages the entire Jal Mahal valley and one can also travel in the luxurious palace on wheels, a 5-star train service from New Delhi covering whole Rajasthan.
Also, read the List of Monuments of India
