Mubarak Mandi Place, Amar Mahal Palace

Mubarak Mandi

The Mubarak Mandi Palace Complex is one of the architectural wonders that oozes extravagance and affluence in terms of architecture. This is possibly one of the oldest structures in Jammu, with certain chapters in history dating back to 1824. The Mubarak Mandi Complex in Jammu is a well-preserved Heritage Site of Jammu & Kashmir that encompasses the richness of 150+ years of culture and tradition. This palace was the royal residence of the Dogra Kings of Kashmir.

History

• Mubarak Mandi is a historical palace situated in Jammu and Kashmir. The castle was the imperial residence of the Dogra clans, ruling the J&K region.
• It was the clan’s main residence till 1925. Maharaja Hari Singh shifted his residence to Hari Niwas Palace, Jammu, in 1925.
• The palace oversees the Tawi river and is situated in the centre of Jammu’s historic walled city. 

Architecture

• The palace is constructed in a style that is a confluence of both Rajasthan and Mughal architectural styles. 
• The complex is developed around numerous courtyards and comprises multiple buildings and palaces such as the Darbar Hall Complex, the Pink Mahal, Regal Courts building, Gol Ghar section, Nawa Palace, Rani Charak Mahal, and Hawa-Mahal, Toshakhana Mahal, and Glass Palace(Sheesh Mahal). 
• The palace’s rooms and galleries were utilised for formal banquets and festivities.
• The Dogra Art Museum is located at the famous ‘Pink Hall’ and features an extensive collection of miniature arts and crafts in various styles from the region. 
• The miniatures are from the art institutions of the region around.
• It does, however, include a gold-painted set of bow-arrows, which belonged to the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan. 
• The pink hall comes from an area of the Mahal’s pink painted walls.
• The GolGhar portion is located in the complex’s southern wing. It has four stories and looks out over the Tawi River.  
• An earthquake in the mid-1980s destroyed it. As a result, the roofs and floors fell, leaving the structure in ruins.
• The Sheesh Mahal is wholly composed of glass.

Dogra Art Museum

• The Dogra Art Museum is housed in the Pink Hall and houses paintings of Kangra, Jammu, and Basohli Hi painting schools. 
• It also features Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s gold-painted bow and arrow. 
• The pink hall is inspired by the palace’s pink painted walls.
• The prominent feature of this museum is Bhasoli’s Pahari miniature paintings, the most renowned of which are the ‘Rasmanjari’ paintings. 
• The museum includes a collection of 7216 historical artefacts.

Current Status

• The palace, a state-designated heritage monument, is intended to be linked by a ropeway that runs up to the Bahu Fort, another municipal cultural property. 
• Some portions of the palace remain in ruins since the castle has been the victim of flames more than 36 times. 
• The Palace Complex’s history as a vital location continues today. It houses various government offices and courts, totalling 76 in number, including one of the largest government establishments, the Royal Secretariat of Jammu. Thus, it is one of Jammu’s major administrative centres in the current scheme.

Amar Mahal Palace

Amal Mahal Palace is a gorgeous establishment converted into a museum and is a must-see site in Jammu. It was built in the 19th century for Raja Amar Singh, King of Mewar, and houses some of the most spectacular royal artefacts. A 120-kg gold throne, Kangra miniature paintings, a library with 25,000 antique volumes, and a significant collection of rare art are among the items on display. The palace is composed of red sandstone, and its style is reminiscent of the splendid French chateaus.

History

In 1862, a French architect designed the Amar Mahal Palace. It was not, however, completed until the 1890s. The late Maharaja Hari Singh’s wife, Maharani Tara Devi, resided in this palace until she died in 1967. Following that, her son Karan Singh and his wife Yasho Rajya Lakshmi turned the castle into a museum to house rare books and works of art.

Architecture

The palace, constructed using red sandstone and red bricks, is located on a hillside supervising the Tawi river valley. 

The palace was built in European style, with sloping roofs, turrets, and lofty towers. 

When it was completed under the reign of Raja Amar Singh, it was the highest structure in Jammu. Long corridors on three sides of the enormous structure are covered by sloping corrugated tin roofs. Columns supported by a wooden framework support the galleries. 

The first storey of the palace structure includes French windows and a balcony linked to it. A bay window may be seen on the upper floor. The windows are also decorated with triangular projections in the ancient Greek architectural style, set above fake decorative columns. The Amar Mahal Museum features art galleries that showcase Indian art and the work of Indian artists from many sectors. The central attraction of Amar Palace is the 120 kg gold throne.

The art collection comprises art collections of Laxman Pai and MF Hussain, and other famous Indian painters. Another fascinating collection is the Pahari arts, especially the ones by Nal Damyanti, which try to depict stories from the Mahabharata and other legends.

Conclusion

The Amar Mahal Palace in Jammu is a highlight of the beautiful environment of Jammu. This palace remains tall as a testament to classic French architecture.