Jag Mandir: The Royal Gift That Bonded Two Warring Kingdoms

Among the many beautiful palaces and monuments which line the picturesque waterscape of Udaipur

, Jag Mandir emerges as a gem of rare beauty and historical significance.

Maharana Amar Singh first began the construction of Jag Mandir (also called the Lake Garden Palace) in 1551 on a natural island in the Pichola Lake. His son completed the Gul Mahal and gifted it to a young Shah Jahan as a political refuge from his irate father. This event had key significance in the Mewar kingdoms later prosperity, for it helped foster a mutually beneficial friendship between the Sisodia Rajputs and the Mughal Empire, once the prince had ascended the throne. The third Maharana of the line expanded the Gul Mahal into a pleasure palace and named it Jag Mandir after himself. It once again made its mark in history as a safe haven when European women and children were given asylum therein during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

The Gul Mahal, the original palace that once housed Shah Jahan, has three circular chambers with a domed roof adorned with the crescent of Islam. The marble-tiled interior walls are inlaid with multi-colored semi-precious stones in a design that was later replicated by Mughals in Agra. The murals and paintings featured within its outer apartment and pavilions stands out as an unusual feature in Rajput architecture.

The main palace complex, which was built around the Gul Mahal, is flanked by chhatri-topped towers on either side and houses a labyrinth of suites, halls and internal courts in an intermixing of Mughal and Rajput styles. It also includes a garden where flowers run amok within a monochromatically tiled courtyard of pools and fountains, which once hosted lavish royal functions. The white-colonnaded pavilions at the palace entrance are decorated with large stone-hewn elephants, enhancing the regal elegance of the complex.

The Bansi Ghat Jetty, located next to the Lake Palace, is the only access point to the Jag Mandir, which must be reached by boat. Tourists wishing to explore this monument would do well to find accommodation in an Udaipur hotel. The Leela Palace Kempinski Udaipur located on the shores of Lake Pichola, offers premier hospitality from among the hotels in Udaipur and is an ideal access point to the citys other historical attractions as well.

by: Pushpitha Wijesinghe

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