Jag Mandir

Chapter 4
Introduction:
Jag Mandir is a palace built on an island in the Lake Pichola. It is
also called the "Lake Garden Palace". The palace is located in
Udaipur city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Its construction is
credited to three Maharanas of the Sisodia Rajputs of Mewar
kingdom. The construction of the palace was started in 1551 by
Maharana Amar Singh, continued by Maharana Karan Singh
(1620–1628) and finally completed by Maharana Jagat Singh I
(1628–1652). It is named as "Jagat Mandir" in honour of the last
named Maharana Jagat Singh. The royal family used the palace
as a summer resort and pleasure palace for holding parties. The
palace served as a refuge to asylum seekers for one occasion.
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Geography
Jag Mandir is situated in one of the two natural islands in the
Pichola lake (named after the village Picholi nearby), on its
southern end. The lake was initially created in the 15th century
by a local banjara tribal chieftain for carrying grain across the
streams. During the reign of Maharana Udai Singh II, in 1560,
the lake was substantially enlarged by constructing dams across
two streams. At that time, the Maharana also built the Jag
Mandir and the Lake Palace (Jag Niwas Hotel) on islands in the
midst of the lake. Udaipur city with its City Palace and other
monuments and temples were built on the periphery of the
lake.
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History:
The real threat, which almost decimated Mewar kingdom for
many years, came from the marauding Marathas. The hope of
survival revived when in 1817, the British came to their rescue
with the "Treaty of Paramountcy" promising restoration of all
the hereditary territories and protecting the state from any
future invasions. Thereafter, peace and prosperity ensued in
Mewar Kingdom. The pride and glory of Sisodia Rajputs were
fully restored.
During the revolt in 1857, Maharana Swroop Singh (1842–1861)
saved a number of European families, mostly women and
children from Neemuch, which were given refuge in the Jag
Mandir Palace. The revolt was popularly known as the Sepoy
Mutiny, and was also called the Indian Mutiny, (or the first War
of Independence) against the British Raj.
After the Independence of India from the British rule, on 15
August 1947, at the initiative of Maharana Bhupal Singh, the
Mewar kingdom merged with the Indian union in 1949 along
with other princely states of Rajasthan.
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Structure:
The impressive series of structures in the three-storied Jag
Mandir Palace include:
.)Gul Mahal, which was built first as refuge for prince Khurram;
.)the elegant facade flanked by four carved statues of elephants
on either side at the jetty entry on the lake from Udaipur;
.)the Garden Courtyard and the Darikhana on its northern side;
.)Bara Patharon ka Mahal (palace of the 12 stones);
.)the Zenana Mahal – a southern extension to the Gul Mahal;
.)and the Kunwar Pada ka Mahal.
.)Details of these structures and of the garden are elaborated

below.
Gul Mahal
Gul Mahal was the first structure built in 1551, during the reign
of Maharana Amar Singh, which was further developed during
the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh to house the Mughal Prince
Khurram. It was initially a small sandstone (yellow sandstone)
palace with an imposing dome (which gives the appearance of a
crown). The crescent of Islam is fixed on top of this dome. The
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Gul Mahal has three circular domed chambers, one above the
other. Entry to these chambers is from a columned hall. Two
marble chhatris with sloping cornices rise above the main
façade. The massive marble slabs affixed to the interior walls
were inlaid with coloured rubies, onyx, jasper, cornelian and
jade. This type of decoration is reported to have been replicated
by the Mughals in their Tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah at Agra, in
1626. The palace is also said to have housed a throne carved
from a single block of serpentine, which has not been traced.
The Mahal is surrounded by a roomy circular apartment built in
white and black marble with murals and paintings considered
an uncommon feature in Rajput architecture. On the western
wing of the palace, this type of design has been repeated in
three other pavilions.
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Jag Mandir
Jag Mandir is the main palace, which incorporates the Gul
Mahal. The towers of the palace at the corners are octagonal in
shape and are topped with cupolas. A labyrinth of reception
halls, residential suites, and internal courts were built inside the
palace, all in Rajput and Mughal architectural styles. The
Zenana (residence of royal ladies chambers) adjoins the palace.
The Kunwar Pada ka Mahal (the Palace of the Crown Prince) is
located at the western end.
Entry pavilion
The pavilion at the entry to the palace is an impressive white
colonnade of cusped arches. The landing jetty is also located for
docking of boats arriving from the jetty of Bansi Ghat on the
mainland near City Palace in Udaipur. The cruise is through the
Pichola Lake. The pavilion is decorated with large elephants
carved in stone, four on each side of the entry steps. They face
the Lake Palace. The trunks of these elephants were damaged
and replaced with polystyrene. The pavilion marks the
perimeter of the island in the scenic backdrop of the Aravalli
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hills.
Garden
The flower garden in the palace complex is set up in the large
Garden Courtyard. It has yew bushes, jasmine, frangipani trees,
bougainvillea, palm trees, nasturtiums, verbena and moss rose.
The courtyard itself is covered with black and white tiles.
Fountains and water pools, crisscrossed by walkways with low
marble handrails, bedeck the garden surroundings. The present
Maharana hosts lavish parties here and also rents the place for
private parties.
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Darikhana
Darikhana is on the northern side of the palace, which is an
open-sided terrace built with marble columns. This place is now
run as a restaurant by the present Maharana.
Bara Patharon ka Mahal

Bara Patharon ka Mahal is located at the eastern wing of the
main palace. Mahal is so named because twelve solid marble
slabs have been used in its construction. Hence, it is also known
as the "Palace of the Twelve Stones".
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Chapter 4

.)Details of these structures and of the garden are elaborated

Bara Patharon ka Mahal

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