Jagatjit Palace

Jagatjit Palace is a historic palace in Kapurthala, Punjab, now housing Sainik School Kapurthala. Built between 1900 and 1908 for Maharaja Jagatjit Singh and designed by French architect Alexandre Marcel, it is modelled on the Palace of Versailles and Fontainebleau. Noted for its French Renaissance architecture, formal gardens, and Durbar Hall, it is a prominent example of Indo-French heritage in Punjab.

Visitors can expect to view the grand French-inspired exterior, formal gardens, fountains and forecourt of the palace from outside. The palace is an active Sainik School campus, so interior access is restricted and requires prior permission. Visitors can appreciate the symmetrical facade, mansard roofs, classical columns, and landscaped grounds, and take exterior photographs where permitted. The setting is within the city of Kapurthala near other colonial-era buildings.

Commissioned by Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala State and constructed between 1900 and 1908. Designed by French architect Alexandre Marcel, the palace reflects the Maharaja's admiration for French architecture after his travels to Europe. It served as the principal residence of the Kapurthala royal family until the princely state's integration, and later was allocated to house Sainik School Kapurthala in 1961.

Represents the distinctive Indo-French architectural heritage of Kapurthala, often called the Paris of Punjab. The palace illustrates the cultural exchange between Punjab royalty and European design in the early 20th century and remains a symbol of the city's cosmopolitan heritage and educational legacy as a premier military school campus.