This expansive building, known as Chhatta Rai Mukand Das, was constructed by Ray-i-Rayan Mukand Dass, the Diwan of Narnaul, during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658). Although the exterior appears plain and modest, the structure is masterfully designed and elaborately decorated. It is a five-story building featuring multiple halls, rooms, and pavilions. The large open terrace on the southern side, elliptical pavilions at various levels, halls supported by pillars, and a running verandah surrounding a central courtyard (which once had a marble fountain) all contribute to the sense of space and light. The extensive use of marble for veneering, pillars, and brackets, along with artificial cataracts and drainage systems, made it a comfortable retreat during the hot summer months.
In the southeastern corner of the terrace, there is a deteriorating well, which once supplied water to reservoirs at different levels. A beautifully designed, isolated gateway complex, with projecting balconies and marble veneering, stands a few meters to the west of the palace and is believed to have been the main entrance.
According to local legend, the building contains four underground tunnels leading to Jaipur, Mahendragarh, Delhi, and Dhosi. It is also said that the structure, known as Chhatta Rai Mukand Das, is associated with the visit of Emperor Akbar and his advisor Birbal to the town, which is why it is sometimes referred to as “Chhatta of Birbal.”
Nearby, a short distance from the Chhatta, stands the Sarai Rai Mukand Das. An inscription on the building reveals that during Shah Jahan’s reign, Mukand Dass, a servant of Nawab Asif Khan, oversaw the construction of the grand structure, with Mehta Puran Mal Hari Dass supervising the project.
