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| Prag Mahal, Bhuj, GJ upload.wikimedia.org |
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| Durbar Hall, Prag Mahal, GJupload.wikimedia.org |
Among the palaces of Rajasthan with a striking and stunning architecture, Prag Mahal in Bhuj city, Gujarat cab be marked as one of the best. The largest of the three palaces within the Darbargadh walled complex, the Aina Mahal, it was severely damaged during a severe earth quake on 26 January 2001( magnitude: 7.7 on Richter scale, 20000 died and more than 140000 people were injured) Named after Rao Pragmalji II, who commissioned it, its architect was Colonel Henry St Clair Wilkins of the Royal Engineers. The construction work began in 1865 and the architect followed the Italian Gothic style with a typical English styled clock tower. However, architects describe it as Romanesque architecture incorporated on the Indo-Saracenic style of design followed famous brutish architects like Robert Chisholm, Irwin Jacob and others. It is worth visiting this fine palace its inspiring European style of design, majestic Durbar Hall, with its glittering chandeliers,
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| Prag Mahal, Bhuj, Gujarat. flickr.com |
Above image: The grandeur and beauty of this amazing palace that housed the government museum partly reduced to rubble and broken fragment due to 2001 severe earthquake in this area. The epicenter of the quake lay near the town. ....................
The construction cost of the palace, was a whooping sum rich people of the past period could ever think of - 3.1 million rupees. Surprisingly, the maharajah, it, is mentioned, paid the wages of palace artisans' in gold coins in 1879 during the regency of Khengarji III (Pragmalji II's son) following Pragmalji II's death in 1875. The local Kutchi builder community (Mistris of Kutch) were employed in the construction work of Prag Mahal and they were of great help to Colonel Wilkins. The palace is made of rich Italian marble and sandstone mined in Rajasthan.
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| Prag mahal, Bhuj, GJ.gujaratexpert.com |
Above image: Damaged walls, broken banisters, broken European statues, big chandeliers and the mounds of dust and fragment around the site bear testimony to the intensity of the powerful earthquake ever struck in this part of Gujarat. Many visitors to this site say it a poignant experience to see the rubble littered around the once opulent palace and it shows the transient nature of life.
Within the palace the impressive one is Main Hall decorated with taxidermied animal - stuffed hunting trophies collected by the maharajah after hunting.. The Durbar hall with many huge arched windows with fine columns and cornice has fine flooring. The big chandeliers and classical statues are broken because of earthquake. The ceiling is very high with fine ventilation for free air circulation and to cut down radiation from above.
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| location map, Bhuj, Gujarat, weatherforecast.com |
The 45 foot high tower with a clock, enhances the grandeur of the palace at the façade. From the top of the city one can view a fine vista of Bhuj town all around. There is a Hindu temple behind the palace in the courtyard as it was wont among the rulers to pray in the temple before going on a war campaign or facing the raids from outside. The temple has many well carved stone work.
Known for beautiful craftsmanship flawless and absorbing European style design with a strong influence of Gothic and Romanesque architectural elements (like Corinthian ornamental columns), lots of tourists come here.
https://www.gujarattourism.com/kutch-zone/kutch/prag-mahal.html
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