Jagmandir Island Palace

Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

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Jagmandir Island Palace, also called the Lake Garden Palace, is a historic 17th‑century royal complex built on a small island in Lake Pichola in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Its construction began in 1551 under Maharana Amar Singh and was largely completed in the early 1600s by Maharana Jagat Singh I, with work carried out by three Sisodia Maharajas of Mewar. The palace is famous for its blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture, featuring yellow sandstone structures, intricate carvings, domed halls like the Gul Mahal, colonnaded pavilions, and a lush garden filled with palm trees, roses, jasmines and bougainvilleas.

Historically, Jagmandir served as a summer retreat for the royal family because the cool lake breeze made it comfortable in hot weather, and it also became a refuge for Mughal prince Khurram (later Shah Jahan) in 1623, whose stay here is said to have inspired architectural ideas for the Taj Mahal.

Today, the palace operates as a heritage hotel where visitors can arrive by boat, explore its courtyards and museum area called Jagriti, enjoy dining and events, and take in sweeping views of the lake and surrounding hills, especially in the winter months from September to March when the weather is pleasant.