page_title: Shah Quli Khan (governor)
section_title: Biography
hierarchical_section_title: Shah Quli Khan (governor) / Biography
caption_attribution_description: English: Jal Mahal happens to be the remnant of pleasure, is a palace situated in the middle of a tank known by the name of Khan Sarovar. According to a Persian inscription over the main entrance, it was built by Nawab Shah Quil Khan, who was the Governor of Narnaul for 52 long years. The entrance to the palace is in the north through a gatehouse, with rooms for guards constructed over a bridge resting on sixteen arched-spans. The palace consists of a square central chamber with four small chambers on the four corners. Four staircases, two each on the northern and southern faces, give access to the upper storeys. The roof of the central chamber is crowned by an octagonal cupola surrounded by a hemispherical dome balanced on four smaller cupolas placed over the corner chambers . The Jal Mahal was constructed during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar in 1590-91 AD. The construction of the tank was completed in 1592-93 AD.
context_page_description: Shah Quli Khan was a 16th-century Mughal official, governor, and art patron. Quli served as the Mughal governor of Narnaul, India, and notably constructed a number of historic sites in the state.
context_section_description: Quli Khan was a member of the governing class of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century. As a young man, Quli was a protegee of Bairam Khan, a powerful noble who served as the regent of the Mughal Empire during the early reign of Akbar the Great. Quli's connection to Bairam Khan allowed him to curry an extensive amount of favor with the Mughal court.
  In the 1550s, a series of wars broke out between the Mughals and the Sur Empire. Quli Khan was deployed with the Mughal army during the war, and distinguished himself during the conflicts. During the pivotal Second Battle of Panipat in 1556, Quli fought against and wounded Hemu, the commander of the Sur army. The battle was a decisive victory for the Mughal empire, and Emperor Akbar commended Quli for his role in the victory, showering him with wealth, titles, and land.
  In the 1570s, Quli Khan was named as the Mughal governor of Narnaul. As governor, Quli began a massive construction program across the territory. His first major project was to construct a tomb in his own honor. The tomb, which has been cited as an excellent example of Mughal architectural style, was built between 1774 and 1775. The tomb featured a planned garden, and was part of Quli's gubernatorial estate.
  Fifteen years after building his tomb, Quli Khan began constructing a palace for himself. This building would become known as the Jal Mahal. The palace was built in the middle of an artificial lake, and is adorned with art and carvings. One such carving was done in such a way as to praise Quli Khan's victory over Hemi some forty years earlier.
  Upon his death, Quli Khan (who was known for his generosity) donated much of his wealth to his courtiers; it has also been posited that this donation was a way to circumvent the inheritance laws of the Mughal empire. He had no heirs.
caption: The Jal Magal in Narnaul, which was built by Shah Quli Khan in the late 16th century
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