The abandoned ‘floating’ palace in India

NO, THIS isn’t a mirage. Tourists are banned from this lavish palace, which lies hidden in the middle of a lake. So how did it end up like this?

Water Palace (Jal Mahal) in Man Sagar Lake. Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. 18th Century. The palace Dzhal-Mahal

IT MAY appear to be a mirage at first glance, but this place is straight out of a fairytale and is very real.

The Jal Mahal is a “water palace” which lies mostly submerged in the middle of a lake in Jaipur city, India.

With four of its five levels hidden underneath the water, it appears to float and is a hauntingly incredible sight.

Yep, it’s in the middle of the lake!

While few details are known about the Jal Mahal, it’s believed it was built around 1734 as a lodge for the Maharajah (royals) to hunt ducks.

A view of the Jal Mahal and a fortress from the nearby land.

It was constructed in the lake on purpose, with its red sandstone walls designed to hold back millions of litres of water. Carvings, artworks and rooftop gardens adorn the inside.

So close, yet so far.

Sadly, the palace was only used for a short time and was then neglected for more than 200 years, with water from the then foul-smelling sewage outlet seeping inside through cracks.

Few people are currently allowed inside. Picture: Rishabh Mathur

In recent years it has been restored from ruins to its original glory. Unfortunately tourists have been banned from the inside of the palace unless they seek special permission.

It’s on our bucket list! Picture: Ray Tsang

Gondolas used to take visitors across the lake, but they were halted years ago.

There are now plans to transform it into an exclusive restaurant.