The Prag Mahal is a 19th-century palace located next to the Aina Mahal in Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat, India.
History
editPrag Mahal is named after Rao Pragmalji II, who commissioned it and construction began in 1865.[1][2] It was designed by Colonel Henry St Clair Wilkins in what the local tourist office describes as the Italian Gothic style,[3] although it would be better described as a Romanesque architecture twist on the Indo-Saracenic Revival style, and many Italian artisans were involved in its construction.[2] The palace artisans' wages were paid in gold coins.[4] Construction of the palace, which ultimately cost 3.1 million rupees,[2] was completed in 1879 during the regency of Khengarji III (Pragmalji II's son) following Pragmalji II's death in 1875.[1][5][6] The local Kutchi builder community (Mistris of Kutch) were also involved in construction of Prag Mahal along with Colonel Wilkins.[7][8]
Notable features
edit- The palace is made of Italian marble and sandstone from Rajasthan.
- The main hall, filled with decaying taxidermy[9]
- Durbar hall, with broken chandeliers and classical statues[10]
- Corinthian pillars[1]
- Jali work depicting European plants and animals[1]
- It has 45 foot high tower with a clock, from where you can see the entire Bhuj city.[1]
- There is also a small temple in the courtyard behind the palace with nicely carved stonework.[3]
Restoration
editThe 2001 Gujarat earthquake severely damaged the palace.[11] In 2006, the palace was burgled, with thieves stealing antiques worth millions of rupees and damaging other items throughout the palace.[2] As of 2007, the palace was in a "ghostly", "forlorn" state.[10] The palace and the tower were later repaired, after Amitabh Bachchan took personal interest in restoration of palace,[11] and its tower and clock have been repaired and are now open for public viewing. The Darbar Hall of the majestic Pragmahal Palace was renovated by the Maharao Pragmalji-III at a personal cost of Rs 5 crore. Visitors may enter the main palace halls and ascend the bell tower, which offers views of the city.[1][3]
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Durbar Hall -
Italian Gothic architecture of Prag Mahal with clock tower on right -
Back side of Prag Mahal -
Full View of Prag Mahal
In popular culture
editScenes from the Bollywood blockbusters Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Lagaan, as well as a number of Gujarati films, were shot in the palace.[2][10]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ a b c d e f "All about Gujarat: Palaces" Archived 3 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Gujarat State Portal.
- ^ a b c d e Haresh Pandya. "Burglars targeting Gujarat palaces" Archived 28 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Rediff.com (4 September 2006).
- ^ a b c "Prag Mahal" Archived 2010-01-03 at the Wayback Machine. Gujarat Tourism.
- ^ K. S. Dilipsinh. Kutch in festival and custom. Har-Anand Publications (2004), p. 81. ISBN 978-81-241-0998-4.
- ^ K. S. Dilipsinh. Kutch in festival and custom. Har-Anand Publications (2004), p. 22. ISBN 978-81-241-0998-4.
- ^ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, vol. 5. Government Central Press (1880), p. 254.
- ^ "This palace was built for Rao Pragmalji II (1860-75) by the British architects and the Kutchi builders". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- ^ Nanji Bapa ni Nondh-pothi published from Baroda, in the Gujarati, 1999. pp:5-7.
- ^ Jane Yang. Let's Go India & Nepal. Let's Go (2003), pp. 218-19. ISBN 978-0-312-32006-5.
- ^ a b c Joe Bindloss & Sarina Singh. India. Lonely Planet (2007), p. 760. ISBN 978-1-74104-308-2.
- ^ a b PTI (21 June 2010). "Prag Mahal to be renovated on Amitabh Bachchan's suggestion". DNA India. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.