Lake Pichola

Lake Pichola Review

You can't leave Udaipur without seeing the stunningly romantic Lake Palace (Jag Niwas), which seems to float serenely on the waters of Lake Pichola. A vast, white-marble fantasy, the palace has been featured in many Indian and foreign films, including the James Bond film, Octopussy. Unfortunately, the palace's apartments, courts, fountains, and gardens are off-limits unless you're a guest at the Lake Palace hotel or you have reservations at the restaurant (well worth it). The equally isolated, three-story Jag Mandir palace occupies another island at the southern end of the lake and at the end of 2007 was turned into an elegant restaurant. You can take a boat there during daylight hours. Built and embellished over a 50-year period beginning in the 17th century, Jag Mandir is made of yellow sandstone, lined with marble, and crowned by a dome. The interior is decorated with arabesques of colored stones. Shah Jahan, son of the Moghul emperor Jahangir, took refuge in Jag Mandir after leading an unsuccessful revolt against his father. Legend has it that Shah Jahan's inspiration for the Taj Mahal came from this marble masterpiece.