Moti Mahal Palace With Garden View
Moti Mahal Palace of Gwalior
The Moti Mahal Of Gwalior or Moti Palace of Gwalior is one of the main buildings of Gwalior’s history. It is standing in the Phoolbaag area of Gwalior city.
It has been a centre of power in central India for more than 130 years. It was built in 1825 by the Scindhia ruler Maharaja Shrimant Daulat Rao Scindhia of Gwalior in a Hindu architectural style. The Moti Mahal has around 300 rooms. The walls of many rooms and pillars of this historic building are polished in gold.
Moti Mahal of Gwalior was built in the Hindu style. The speciality of this style is that the building structure has more vents or jharokhas. The ceilings of the roofs are flat. In this style, the doors are made of arches and jaalis are used for beauty. To keep the Motimahal cool even during summer, water fountains were installed around it, so that when the air reached the palace through these fountains, it would cool down. The gardens around the Moti Mahal have a vast network of stone fountains.
Moti Mahal has a rich collection of wall paintings. Many of its rooms are decorated with rich Hindu art. Some outstanding paintings include a masterpiece of coloured glass and engraved images depicting Raag Raagini.
The Baijatal Lake built as an Amphitheater on the water adds a wireless pearl.
Motimahal Garden and BaijaTaal view from Moti Mahal of Gwalior – Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Baija Taal and Moti Mahal view from Baija Taal Gwalior -Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
The Madhya Bharat Assembly Legislature was held in the court hall (Durbar Hall) until 1958. The walls and roof of Durbar Hall have Golden Polish everywhere. The chandelier lamps add a golden glow to Durbar Hall whenever it is lit in the hall on functional occasions.
After the formation of Madhya Pradesh in 1958, The legislative assembly was shifted to Bhopal, after which the power centre of governance shifted to Bhopal. Although many offices of the State Government, Division and District level are still operating in Motimahal. The main offices that are operating in the premises of the Moti Mahal include the commissioner of the Department of Land Affairs and the Bandobast of Madhya Pradesh, the Revenue Division, Commissioner Excise, Commissioner of Transportation, MP and Regional Examinations Commissioner and Commissioner Gwalior.
The glory of Moti Mahal, which preceded 1947 or until November 1956, is no more. But this historic building is our heritage and the surrounding area is a heritage site, which can be preserved if the government and the people of Gwalior must preserve our heritage.