Timings : 4:00 - 23:00
Right in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, on the outskirts of Jaipur, lies the illustrious and calm Jal Mahal. A master-piece, it is surrounded by the Nahargarh hills This low-rise symmetrical palace was once a shooting lodge for the Maharajas and now attracts many visitors from around the world. The Jal Mahal was constructed in the 1750s and was built by Maharaja Madho Singh.
The most special thing about this palace is that while only one story is visible above the water level, in fact, 4 stories below are submerged.
Architecture
Jal Mahal is a five-storey palace inspired by the Rajput style of architecture. With four floors submerged in water, only the fifth floor is visible. It is made of red sandstone and has four octagonal shaped chhatris on the corners of the palace. It was renovated by Maharaja Jai Singh II in the 18th century and has a total of twenty one beautifully carved pillars which are the monuments of the royal family. There is a garden on the roof which is called Chameli Bagh. A stage in the center of the garden was used for singing and dancing artists. Although the original garden has been damaged, it has been rebuilt. Visitors are not allowed to enter inside the temple. You can admire its beauty from a distance.
Bird Watcher's
The Jal Mahal or the Water Palace which is situated on the Man Sagar Lake was a dream come true for the bird watchers. It was home to various migratory and local birds like Flamingo, Great Crested Grebe, Pintail, Pochard, Kestrel etc. Unfortunately, their numbers declined as the lake quality declined. However, with restoration work, some birds can be found in Lake Mann Sagar such as the common moorhen, gray heron, white-browed wagtail and blue-tailed bee-eaters. An annual bird fair is also organized to raise awareness about the condition of the lake.
