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Jag Mandir Palace

Jag Mandir Palace Udaipur is a grand palace that has been constructed on an islet in Lake Pichola. This palace is also known as Lake Garden Palace and the credit for building this magnificent architecture palace goes to three rulers of the Sisodia Rajputs in the kingdom of Mewar. In 1551, Maharana Amar Singh started the construction of the palace which was continued by the great ruler Maharana Karan Singh who ruled Mewar from 1620 to 1628. The construction of the entire palace was finally concluded by Maharana Jagat Singh who ruled Mewar from 1628 to 1652. The place is named “Jagat Mandir” as an honor to the last ruler Maharana Jagat Singh. This palace was used by the imperial family of Mewar as a pleasure palace and summer residence and it was also used for the purpose of holding parties. There were two different occasions when it served in the form of refuge for asylum seekers.

Jag Mandir PalaceLocation of Jag Mandir Palace Udaipur

There are two islands in Lake Pichola and Jag Mandir Palace is found standing on one of these islands located in the southern end of the lake. Lake Pichola was created by local banjaras in the 15th century for the purpose of carrying grain through the streams. The lake was also enlarged in 1560 under the supervision of Maharana Udai Singh II and there were two dams built on the lake. It was during this time that Maharana Udai Singh II also constructed the Lake Palace i.e. Jag Niwas Hotel and jag Mandir on two different islands in the middle of the lake. Udaipur city along with the City Palace and various other temples and monuments were constructed on the edge of Lake Pichola.

History of Jag Mandir Palace Udaipur

The history of the Jag Mandir Palace Udaipur begins with the compassion and the benevolence that Maharana Karan Singh showed towards Emperor Shahjahan. Shahjahan was called Prince Khurram before he took over the throne as Mughal Emperor. As Khurram, Shahjahan opposed his father Emperor Jahangir in the year 1623 and the reason behind this rebellion was the fact that Prince Khurram wanted to become the next Mughal Emperor. In this dangerous situation, prince Khurram felt unsafe and also felt greatly dissatisfied in the campaign that he had taken over and due to this fact he sought shelter in the kingdom of Mewar at Udaipur and he was given a helping hand by Maharana Karan Singh.

It is believed that Maharana Karan Singh showed this compassion because Shahjahan’s mother was a Rajput Hindu. Initially Shahjahan with his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal and two sons Prince Aurangzeb and Prince Dara was kept in the City Palace but later the entire family was shifted to Gul Mahal which served as a very safe refuge because it was located in the middle of Lake Pichola. From then onwards, the place began to be known as Khurram’s palace. Gul Mahal is basically an arched area which was built specially for Shahjahan by Maharana Karan Singh. His son Jagat Singh later enlarged Gul Mahal into a very massive palace and named it Jag Mandir Palace. Khurram was kept in the safe protection of Mewar from 1623 to 1624.


Jagmandir Island Palace





















Jag Mandir as Refugees Hideout

During the revolt of 1857, there were a large number of families from Europe that were saved by Maharana Swaroop Singh who offered them Jag Mandir as a refuge. After Independence, it was due to the efforts of Maharana Bhupal Singh that the kingdom of Mewar merged with Indian Union in the year 1949 and even the other princely states in Rajasthan also merged with Indian Union.
Structure of the Jag Mandir Palace Udaipur

The 3 storied palace called the Jag Mandir Palace consists of a number of impressive structures and they include:
  • Gul Mahal, the first built structure that served as refuge to Prince Khurram.
  • The elegant portico flanked by statues of four elephants that have been beautifully carved and they are located on each side at the entry of the Lake.
  • Garden Courtyard and the elegant Darikhana located on the north of the courtyard.
  • Palace built out of twelve big stones known as the Bara Patharon ka Mahal.
  • Located in the southern extent of Gul Mahal is the Zanana Mahal.
  • Kunwar Pada ka Mahal.
All these gardens and structures have been detailed below:

Gul Mahal

Gul Mahal is the first structure of the Jag Mandir Palace built in the year 1551. This Mahal was built during the power of Maharana Amar Singh and this Mahal was further enlarged by Maharana Jagat Singh for housing Prince Khurram and his family. Initially Gul Mahal was a very small sandstone that was yellow in color and it possessed an impressive dome that appears like a crown. Islamic crescent is found fixed on the dome top. There are three circular domes contained one on the other in the Gul Mahal. There is a columned hallway that serves as the entry to the domes chambers. The main portico of the Mahal consists of two chattris made of marble possessing sloping cornices. Interior walls of the Mahal possess very huge slabs made out of marble and inlaid with jade, carnelian, onyx, jasper and colorful rubies.

The decoration that is found in the interiors of the Gul Mahal are said to be replicated by Mughals in the tomb of I’timad-ud-Daulah that they built in Agra in 1626. It is also believed that Shahjahan got some idea of constructing the famous Taj Mahal from the architectural style of the Jag Mandir Palace while he stayed there with his family from 1623 to 1624. Gul Mahal also possessed a throne that had been carved by the use of a single serpentine block which is not found at present. Roomy apartments that are circular in shape surround the Mahal and these rooms have been constructed by the use of black and white marble with paintings and murals that are considered to be very uncommon in the architecture style practiced by the Rajputs. The same design is also found on other three pavilions that are located in the western side of the Jag Mandir Palace. In order to make Gul Mahal as perfect for serving the spiritual principle of Khurram, there was a mosque that was constructed within the palace complex.

Jag Mandir Palace

The main palace is called Jag Mandir which also comprises Gul Mahal. The towers that are found at the palace corners are octagonal shaped and cupolas top the towers. A maze of residential suites, internal courts and reception halls are also found within the palace and they have all been built in Mughal and Rajput architectural styles. The Zanana Mahal is found adjoining the palace and this Mahal served as a residence for the royal ladies of Mewar. Kunwar Pada ka Mahal or palace of the Crown Prince is found located in the western side of the Jag Mandir.

Jag Madir Palace Udaipur
the four elephants of the palace facing Lake Pichola

Entry Pavilion

The entry pavilion of the palace is quite impressive because it appears like a white colonnade that contains cupped arches. There is also a landing jetty at the entrance for allowing the proper docking of water boats from Bansi Ghat located near Udaipur City Palace. The cruise of the jetty is through Lake Pichola. The entry pavilion is beautifully decorated with statues of large elephants that have been carved and they are our in number located on every side of the steps for entry. All the four elephants face Lake Pichola. The elephant trunks went through substantial damage and they were later replaced by the use of polystyrene. The island perimeter is marked by the entry pavilion that has the scenic Aravali Range in its backdrop.

Flower Garden

The Jag Mandir Palace also consists of a flower garden that has been set up in Garden courtyard of the palace. The garden comprises of jasmine, yew bushes, bougainvillea, frangipani trees, nasturtiums, palm trees, moss, rose and verbena. The entire courtyard is beautifully covered with white and black tiles. Water pools and fountains that have been crisscrossed by decorative walkways that possess very low handrails made out of marble play a great role in bedecking the surroundings of the garden. Present Maharana of Mewar uses this Garden Courtyard for holding lavish parties and it is also open for the general public who can rent this place for private parties.

  • Darikhana: Darikhana is an open terrace located on the northern side of the Jag Mandir Palace. This palace is built by the use of marble columns and is presently run in the form of a restaurant by the present Maharana of Mewar.
  • Bara Patharon ka Mahal: Bara Patharon ka Mahal is found on the eastern side of the Jag Mandir Palace. The Mahal has been constructed by the use of twelve large and solid slabs of marble and therefore it has been named Bara Patharon ka Mahal or Palace of the Twelve Stones.

Jag Mandir Palace Udaipur as a Luxury Hotel


Jagmandir Island Palace Udaipur

The Jag Mandir Palace Udaipur has recently been redeveloped extensively as a hotel and a destination for several events like wedding and parties. In the recent times, the palace has also become the hottest venues for regal wedding in Rajasthan. There are seven suites in the palace that provide accommodation. The palace also consists of a spa named Panghat Spa and Salon that has been set up to coddle the body, the soul and the mind of the visitors.

Other facilities at the palace include a café that is open all day, a bar and a restaurant. The superb setting of the palace with the Aravali Range in the background and amidst Lake Pichola offers a very romantic and exclusive feel to the visitors at the palace. The guests who are invited to the weddings that take place at the palace are ferried to the palace by boat. There are a lot of wedding locations within the Jag Mandir Palace and one can make the choice of the wedding location depending on the size of the wedding. Visitors who plan to use the Jag Mandir Palace as a venue for their wedding can choose any location within the palace for their celebrations and ceremony.

The palace consists of a main courtyard, a garden courtyard and even a number of lawns that can always be used for the purpose of holding parties and weddings. These gardens and lawns have separate areas that have been purposely made for the buffet, the stage, the bar and the band. People, who plan weddings on a very large scale, can always make the choice of Jag Mandir Palace Udaipur for the best services because the palace possesses the capability to hold more than 5000 people at a time. The Jag Mandir Palace Udaipur as a luxury hotel is called Jag Mandir Island Resort and it serves in the form of a heritage hotel in Udaipur. The palace also overlooks the City Palace Udaipur and some luxury hotels such as Udaivilas and Leela.

This palace or hotel is exclusively recommended for honeymooners and getaway seekers. Visitors at the hotel can also enjoy performances and folk dances at garden courtyard. Access to the palace is also very easy because the palace is located at a distance of 24 kilometers from Udaipur Airport and 3 kilometers from Udaipur Railway Station.

Jag Mandir Palace Udaipur is a real destination for weddings and cocktail parties because of its elegant setting and also because of the way in which the palace has been decorated lavishly.

Address:
Jagmandir Island Palace, The City Palace Complex
Udaipur 313001, Rajasthan, India.
For reservation call: +91 294 2528008, 1800 180 2933, 1800 180 2944, +91 294 2424186 – 8. 


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