MAHABAT MAQBARA PALACE
AT
JUNAGADH
The Mahabat Maqbara is a palace-mausoleum in the Junagadh district of the
Indian state of Gujarat, adjacent to the sacred Girnar Hills in Saurashtra.
Standing forgotten on the dusty streets of
Junagadh in Gujarat, stands the 19th century mausoleum of Nawab Mahabat Khan
II. Called the Mahabat (not Mohabbat) Maqbara Palace, also Mausoleum of
Bahaduddinbhai Hasainbhai, is a mausoleum in Junagadh, India, that was once
home to the Nawabs of Junagadh.
This stellar example of Indo-European
architecture — as the rusty, spotty iron information board informs visitors,
whose faded words stand testament to the ravages of time and neglect — has now been
declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India, and quite
justifiably so.
The construction of the Maqbara started in
1878 and finished in 1892. The Maqbara was constructed by Sheikh
Bahauddin with his own funds during 1891-1896. The monument is located inside
the city in a very busy area, with the High Court situated just across the
street.
The etymological
meaning of Junagadh "Old Fort" gives the palace its alternativ name
of "The Old Fort Palace". The yellow mausoleum, Mahabat Maqbara, is a
masterpiece of its kind with finely designed arches, vertical columns and
elaborate stone carvings on the walls and windows.
Its silver-decorated
portals, the winding staircases encircling its four tall minarets, the old
step-well in the grounds, and its onion-shaped dome contribute to its splendor.
With a combination
of Indo-Islamic and Gothic architecture, Mahabat Maqbara offers a sense of
equality and exchange between the two cultures. The Jammi Masjid is on one side
of the mausoleum while the Vazir's maqbara is on the other.
The Mahabbat Maqbara
is generally closed to the public but can be seen by obtaining the keys from
the mosque situated beside the mausoleum. Amongst the forts and monuments in the state of Gujarat, the Mahabat Maqbara is an
exquisite example the nineteenth century art and architecture.
The doors of the main building are
decorated in silver, and the minarets have rich stone carvings and large silver
doors as well.
According to the marble information tablet,
which forms a part of the Magbara’s front wall, the Nawab’s family has set
aside Rs 8,000 a year that’s given to the village for the upkeep and maintenance
of the Maqbara.
By Air
The nearest airport is at Rajkot which is just 99km away. There
are frequent flights from all major cities in India.
By Road
Junagadh is well-connected to all major towns in Gujarat and has good
transport facility. As Jungadh is a historical town, buses frequently ply from
all part of the state. Junagadh is 99km from Rajkot, 184km from Jamnagar, 54km
from Sansar Gir, 88km from Somnath and 327km from Ahmedabad.
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