300-year-old monument rejuvenated. 310 acres of lake and wildlife habitat restored.
150,000 lives in the community impacted. The magical revival of the Jal Mahal monument, an 18th-century floating pleasure palace of royalty, and its surroundings, transformed the historic building from a crumbling environmental disaster and toxic wasteland into the shining glory of Jaipur.
The project envisioned a 100-acre mixed-use tourism infrastructure that could restore ruins and serve as a green leisure destination. The commissioners called in the founders of Direct Create to give the palace, once deemed to have “no real historical value” and “ruined beyond redemption,” new life. To bring the Jal Mahal back to its former glory, the team collaborated with more than 400 craftsmen and artists from across Rajasthan. They recruited experts from around the world and harnessed the skills of local craftsmen and masons for the extensive overhaul – structures were restored; artists painted frescoes and murals throughout; flora revived; pavilions showcase the best of Jaipur's traditional decorative arts. Today, the Jal Mahal has become a landmark of Jaipur and is a glowing showcase of the vibrancy of India’s craft skills and living traditions.