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Jal Mahal
Many of us are always building castles in the air but for those who cherish the desire of building one in the water, a visit to the Jal Mahal in Jaipur is a must for it will surely be a very inspiring example.
Sawai Man Singh I formed the Man Sagar Lake by building a dam between the Nahargarh hills and in the centre of this lake Sawai Pratap Singh built the Jal Mahal in 1799A.D. A road raised above water leads you on to the Jal Mahal which stands firm in the midst of the lake opposite the cenotaphs.
This pleasure spot was also used for the royal duck shooting parties. The Jal Mahal built of red sandstone is now abandoned but well preserved. It is frequently visited by tourists at all times of the year though it looks all the more beautiful in the rainy season when it is set against the backdrop of the water hyacinth filled lake. In the winter season it is visited by several migratory birds.
The first four buildings of the Jal Mahal remain submerged in water and it is only the uppermost storey which is visible. However even that is very much worth seeing because of its well designed and intricate architecture.
The Jal Mahal also has a terrace garden which is enclosed by arched passages. This island palace is surely a very romantic place where one can listen to the twittering of the birds, the soft ripples of the lake and momentarily be transported to a totally different world only thought of in dreams.
This exotic piece of work reflective of the technical skills and the architectural dexterity of Rajputs should definitely be visited.
Tourism of India provides detailed information about the Jal Mahal in Jaipur and offers on-line booking for a package tour of the city of Jaipur wherein Jantar Mantar is included.
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