Jal Mahal (Water Palace)

Jal Mahal, the Water Palace, is a five-storey palace in the middle of Man Sagar Lake on the road between Jaipur and Amber Fort, Rajasthan. Jal Mahal was built and later enlarged by the rulers of Jaipur in the 18th century as a retreat and a lodge for duck shooting on the lake. When the lake is full, only the top floor shows above the water, so the palace seems to float.

Man Sagar Lake itself was formed by a dam built around the end of the 16th century. By the late 20th century the lake had become badly polluted, and a restoration project in the 2000s cleaned the water, restored the palace and replanted its rooftop garden. Jal Mahal is still closed to visitors, but the promenade along the shore is one of the best photo stops in Jaipur, with the Aravalli hills behind and the building mirrored in the water. Migratory birds gather on the lake in winter.

What to see

• The palace facade with its octagonal corner chhatris, mirrored in the lake
• The Aravalli ridge behind, topped by the walls of Nahargarh
• Winter birdlife on the water, including ducks and herons
• The evening promenade, busy with local families, camel rides and snack carts

What to wear

Jal Mahal is an open-air viewpoint with no dress code. The promenade has little shade, so a hat and sunscreen help by day, and a light layer is useful on winter evenings. Stalls along the lake sell bright bandhani scarves and Rajasthani safa turbans, which many visitors buy for photos against the palace.

Local food to try

The promenade has carts selling bhutta (roasted corn), chaat and masala chai. For a proper meal, the old city is ten minutes south: try pyaaz kachori, mirchi vada, and dal baati churma, or ghevar, the honeycomb sweet of the monsoon festivals of Teej and Gangaur. Nearly all the street food here is vegetarian.

Good to know

• Best from October to March; early morning and late afternoon give the softest light
• Viewable at any time from the promenade
• Free; the palace is not open to visitors
• Allow 20 to 30 minutes
• About 4 km north of the walled city on the Amer road
• Drones are not allowed; boats on the lake are not offered to the public

Nearby places

Jal Mahal sits on the way to Amber Fort, and the royal cenotaphs of Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan are just behind the lake, below Nahargarh Fort on the ridge.