Pillared hall with glass and mirror mosaic decorations, in the Jalnavas or Fountain Palace, City Palace, Udaipur

Photograph of the Jalnavas or Fountain Palace, City Palace at Udaipur in Rajasthan, taken by O.S. Baudesson in 1882, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections. Udaipur was established as the new capital of Mewar state by Maharana Udai Singh (r.1567-72) of the Sisodia Rajputs, after the sack of Chittorgarh by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1567. The colossal City Palace is situated on the east bank of Lake Pichola. It was begun by Udai Singh but construction continued under subsequent rulers during the 17th and 18th centuries. It consists of a series of buildings faced in white plaster with steep, fortified windowless walls rising to meet tiers of balconies, towers and domed kiosks at the upper levels. The Jalnavas, or fountain palace, was built in 1828 by Jawan Singh (r.1828-38) on the edge of the lake, forming a ghat for landing or embarkation. The walls at the back of the hall are decorated with coloured glass mosaics. There are water channels and fountains around the wall.