Aina Mahal, Aina Mahal Kutch, Review Of Aina Mahal, Aina Mahal History, About The Aina Mahal, Travels & History

 Aina Mahal

The Aina Mahal in Bhuj is one of the finest examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture constructed ever in India. This dreamy palace is the divine creation of Ramsinh Malam. The palace is unique and extraordinary in terms of interiors and architecture. Many water bodies and fountains are engulfed in the interiors of the palace, forming a variety of patterns that charms the viewers. Spread over two floors, the building features Darbar Hall, a hall of mirrors, and suites belonging to the various members of the royal family.

Aina Mahal Kutch

The Aina Mahal fabulous Aina Mahal is a part of the extravagant Darbargadh Palace of Bhuj. Content and the architecture of the palace are associated with the life story of its architect, Ramsinh Malam, who was rescued by the Dutch when he got shipwrecked at the East African Coast. Later, he was taken to Netherlands, where he mastered the art of tile making, enamelling, and clock making. Years later when Ramsinh came back to Kutch, the ruler of Kutch- Rao Lakha gave him an opportunity to display his skills. The Aina Mahal was thus ornamented with Venetian-style chandeliers, silver objects, clocks –all made locally under the Ramsinh’s supervision. Superb local craft like scroll paintings, jewelled swords, ivory inlaid doors, and paintings depicting processions are displayed in the palace.

 The Aina Mahal :

Museum is also a part of Aina Mahal. Exhibits displayed in the museum include paintings, photographs, royal possessions and finest samples of the Kutch embroidery. An exquisite collection of the museum also includes 15 m long scroll that depicts the Royal Procession of Maharao Shri Pragmalji Bahadur. The fort also holds a compound; a portion of the same is almost in ruins. With so many attractions to see, Aina Mahal is surely a significant heritage of the Kutch region.

This Bhuj based beautiful palace, built in 1752, lost its top storey in an earthquake, but the lower floor is open for travellers, with a fantastic 15.2m scroll showing a Kutch state procession. The palace is one of the three that lie in the walled complex of the old part of town. The 18th-century elaborately mirrored interior is a demonstration of the fascination with all things European – an inverted mirror of European Orientalism – with blue-and-white Delphi-style tiling, a candelabra with Venetian-glass shades, and the Harding lithograph series The Rake’s Progress. There are lofty views of Rani Mahal from atop the tower. The palace was built for Maharao Lakhpatji by Ram Singh Malam, a sailor from Dwarka who had learnt European arts and crafts on his travels. In the bedroom is a bed with solid gold legs. In the Fuvara Mahal room, fountains played around the ruler while he sat watching dancers or composing poems.

Read Also__Mandvi beach

Aina Mahal Timing And Location :

Location: Maharao Of Kutch, Darbargadh Chowk, Bhuj, Gujarat 370001 

Price: Rs 20 for person and Rs 30 for camera

Timings :    Monday to Wednesday

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

3:00 am - 6:00 am

Friday to Sunday

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

3:00 am - 6:00 am

Best Time to Visit: October to March

How To Reach Aina Mahal :

 Within Bhuj, you can reach the Aina Mahal easily by state transport buses which is the common form of conveyance or by hiring a local vehicle - whatever suits you better.

Hall of Mirrors :

The Hall of Mirrors is a unique room in the palace that you will hardly ever find anywhere else. It is a vast room with stark white marble walls covered with mirrors of different shapes and sizes and other gilded ornaments. The whole place looks hypnotising once you step inside with so many glasses shimmering and reflecting off each other. The floor of this hall is laid with tiles, European in style but local in make.

By Post_Travels & History