Rajasthan is a city that is popular for the beautiful palaces that you can explore here. Amidst the dry land of Rajasthan the magnificent palaces are definitely something that attracts a major chunk of visitors. No wonder the state is one of the most popular tourist spots as well. Here you will find various kinds of palaces that you can explore. Furthermore the history attached to these palaces makes them even more significant. And if you are visiting Udaipur then you would find so many of these majestic palaces that you can explore here. One such palace is Jag Mandir Udaipur. Do not go by the name Jag Mandir, it is not a temple but one of the beautiful palaces here. Moreover the palace is located on one of the two islands on Pichola Lake. Therefore the island palace attracts even more visitors because of its ambiance and location.
The fact that the palace is located on an island obviously makes it more special. And also a long history is attached to this palace as well which would be interesting to know. Currently a section of the palace is a beautiful luxury hotel and you must visit here to enjoy the essence of the location. Also check out the Jag Mandir photos and the architecture of the palace would seem majestic too. If you are ever in Udaipur then this is one location that you cannot miss out on. The location is also one of the major marriage destinations as well which is quite popular. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about Jag Mandir. This will be a helpful article for you if you are planning a visit to Jag Mandir Udaipur any time soon.
Jag Mandir Udaipur
Location: Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Timings: Jag Mandir timings are from 10 am to 6 pm on all days of the week
Entry fee: There are no Jag Mandir tickets however there are charges for boating here. From City Palace to Jag Mandir there is a boat ride and the cost is Rs. 450 per person. And after 3 pm the price of the boat ride here is Rs. 700 per person.
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur is the nearest airport to reach the palace. The distance of Jag Mandir from the airport is about 23.4 km. Approximately it would take you around 38 minutes to travel to the palace from the airport in Udaipur. You can easily take the local transport in the area to reach the location or else you can take a car or a cab to reach the Bansi Ghat Jetty. From there the only option to reach the island palace is by a boat ride.
By train
In case you are travelling by train then the nearest railway station is the Udaipur Railway Station. From the railway station the palace is located at a distance of 3 km. It would only take you around 10 minutes to reach the Bansi Ghat Jetty from there. The best option to reach the palace from the railway station would be to take an auto rickshaw from the railway station.
By road
You can also travel by road to reach Udaipur from different locations as the roads are easily accessible. Buses are available from major cities and towns to reach Udaipur so you can opt for that. Both government as well as private buses are available on this route to reach Udaipur. You will also get buses to travel within Rajasthan as well so you can opt for that as well. You can also take a car or a cab as well to reach the Bansi Ghat Jetty. And if you are travelling shorter distances then the auto rickshaws are also good options to travel within the city to reach Bansi Ghat Jetty. From there however you will have to take a boat ride to reach the Jag Mandir Palace.
By boat
As the Jag Mandir Palace is located on an island in Lake Pichola the only option to reach the location is via a boat ride. From the Bansi Ghat Jetty you will get cruise rides as well as private boats that you can opt for to reach the location. From the ghat it takes around 30 minutes to an hour to reach Jag Mandir Udaipur.
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Overview of Jag Mandir
The Jag Mandir Palace is one of the most exquisite palaces that you can visit in Udaipur and there are multiple reasons why this is one of the unique palaces as well. This is a marble structure that almost looks like a floating palace that further elevates the beauty of this palace. Located on the southern side of the lake the palace occupies the Jag Island on the Pichola Lake. The palace is also popular as Jag Island Palace and the Lake Garden Palace. The impressive structure as well as the gorgeous ambiance makes it one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Udaipur. It is however not only a popular sightseeing spot but also a luxurious heritage hotel. The HRH Hotel Groups had converted this palace into a beautiful heritage hotel that is very popular.
There is furthermore a restaurant located at this palace as well. The Darikhana Restaurant is an exquisite venue for fine dining. For people visiting Udaipur they can definitely book a dine in at this restaurant to enjoy a lavish experience. They serve delicious international cuisine. For the evening they have a variety of a la carte menus here. And there is a set four course dinner menu which is one of the major highlights here. There is a museum located inside the premises as well that reserves the history of the land.
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What’s more?
Jag Mandir is a popular venue for hosting wedding ceremonies as well and the venue has 7 suites that are priced between Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 20,000 per night. For a destination wedding with approximately around 200 guests the Jag Mandir Udaipur wedding cost for accommodation would be around Rs. 2,400,000 to Rs. 3,000,000 per day. For food the expense will be separate and will range in between Rs. 700,000 to Rs. 1,200,000 per day. However the total Jag Mandir Udaipur wedding cost with around 250-200 guests would be between 50 lacs to 90 lacs rupees.
History of Jag Mandir
The history of Jag Mandir is actually quite interesting and it is also related to Mughal emperor Shahjahan. Jagmandir was constructed over a period of time by the Maharanas of Sisodia Rajputs of the Mewar Kingdom. Maharana Amar Singh started the construction in 1551. Later the construction continued during the reign of his successor Maharana Karan Singh from 1620 to 1628. And finally it was completed during the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh from 1628 to 1652. However in the year 1623, emperor Shahjahan who was known as Prince Khurram then, rebelled against his father Jahangir. However he felt unsafe and then sought refuge under the rule of Maharana Karan Singh. Maharana Karan Singh offered Prince Khurram refuge because his mother was a Rajput.
It was then that Prince Khurram along with his wife and sons stayed at the City Palace. Later they moved to Gul Mahal which was a structure that was partially complete in the Jag Mandir Complex. Gul Mahal therefore stayed as his refugee camp for many years and it was a safe place as it was located amidst the lake. This palace however had a severe effect on Prince Khurram and later when he became the emperor he went on to construct the magnificent Taj Mahal.
Later during the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh further many structures were added to the complex and as he completed the construction it was named after him as Jagat Mandir or Jag Mandir. Even during the Revolt of 1857 that is the Sepoy Mutiny the palace served as a refugee shelter for European families.
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Architecture of Jag Mandir
Jag Mandir is a three storied structure made of yellow sandstone and marble. There are eight life sized elephants made of pure white marble that guards the palace. There are various structures here inside the palace complex that attract visitors.
Gul Mahal
This was the first structure that was built in Jag Mandir Udaipur in 1551 and later Maharana Jagat Singh developed it more to accommodate Prince Khurram. It is a dome shaped structure with three circular chambers stacked over one another. The interiors of the Gul Mahal are also equally attractive with beautiful walls. There is furthermore a courtyard and a mosque at Gul Mahal as well.
Jag Mandir
This is the main palace and it is another major structure here. You will find octagonal towers at each corner of the palace that elevates the beauty of the structure. Also there are large reception halls, residential suites and courts here built in traditional Rajput and Mughal style of architecture. The chamber of royal ladies, Zenana and the palace of the crown prince, Kunwar Pada Ka Mahal are also important structures here.
Garden
The gardens and the courtyards of Jag Mandir are further major attractions of the structure. There is a beautiful flower garden here that has flowering plants like rose, jasmine, bougainvillea etc. Further there is a courtyard here with black and white tiles and also houses pools and fountains which was more like a private party area for the Maharana.
Bara Patharon ka Mahal
The Bara Patharon ka Mahal or the palace of Twelve Stones is another fascinating structure here. As the structure consists of 12 solid marble slabs the name of the palace is Bara Patharon ka Mahal.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about Jag Mandir Udaipur and now you just need to plan a visit to this location. The Jag Mandir Palace is one of the most magnificent locations to visit in Udaipur so do not miss out on visiting the location. Let me know if this article on Jag Mandir Udaipur is helpful for you in planning a trip to this palace.
