Jag Mandir Udaipur

¤ Historical Significance of The Temple

Mandir lies towards the south of the lake and was completed by Maharana Jagat Singh I (reigned 1628-1652). However, the palace was developed by Rana Karan Singh (1620-28). This palace has quite a historical significance; it has a structure that had been built to give shelter to Prince Khurram (later Emperor Shah Jahan) in 1626 when he was about to revolt against his father, emperor Jahangir. The Rana of Udaipur, Rana Karan Singh first gave him refuge in his City Palace. However, the Prince and his entourage were shifted to the island palace on lake Pichola when his nobles failed to respect Rajput customs. Most interestingly it was Khurram who had led the Mughal army in 1614 that had defeated Rana Amar Singh, the father of his host. Prince Karan was asked to act as an emissary to the Mughal court, and it was during this time that the Sisodias and the Mughals developed a friendship.
Rana Karan Singh treated his royal guest with much courtesy and built the Mughal Prince a domed pavilion upon the island. He crowned the pavilion by the Muslim crescent and lavishly decorated its interiors. The Rana had a throne built from a single block of serpentine for his revered guest and also a mosque built for the prayers of the Mughal Prince and his followers. It is believed that the pietra dura work on the interior of the palace later inspired Khurram for the detailing of the Taj Mahal.

The sandstone palace with its inlaid designs in onyx, jasper and agate had been a major influence when he built his palaces in Delhi and Agra. Khurram enjoyed his days here till moving on to Golconda in the Deccan, shortly before his father, Emperor Jahangir’s death. It was in the Badal Mahal that Khurram was bestowed the title of Shah Jahan, and before taking leave the newly appointed Emperor restored five districts and presented Jagat Singh with a ruby of incalculable value. After Shah Jahan ascended the throne of Hindustan, he specially favoured the Sisodias and the once humiliated kingdom was able to reclaim its dignity and independence. Rana Karan Singh died in 1628 just before the ascension of Khurram and was succeeded by his son Rana Jagat Singh I (1628-52). Jagat Singh extended the island palace and added a zenana (women’s quarters) and named it Jag Mandir after himself. Eight elephant statues face Jag Niwas from Jag Mandir and the empty island with its domed pavilion. This pavilion on the island better known as the Gul Mahal and built between 1625-7 was started by Karan Singh (1620-28). It is one of the few examples of Mughal styled architecture in the state and now houses some exquisite Mughal paintings and murals.