Nahar Singh Mahal

Raja Nahar Singh Tewatia

Nahar Singh Mahal is located at Ballabhgarh in Faridabad district of Haryana.[1][2] This fort was built by the forefathers of Raja Nahar Singh around 1739 AD, and after whom Ballabgarh was named, the construction however continued in parts till about 1850. The fort is also known as Raja Nahar Singh Palace.[1][3]

Architecture

The elaborate cupolas and minarets of this double-storeyed sandstone structure are fashioned around a vast central courtyard. The palace has six tastefully decorated guest rooms, replete with royal ambiance.[2] The fort was decorated with minars on its four corners of which only two can be seen now due to age and neglect. The palace holds a Darbar-e-aam (Hall of Public Audience) and a Rang Mahal decorated with a beautiful Chhatri.[3]

Restoration

Aman Nath with his book "Jaipur: The last Destination"

Government of Haryana entrusted its restoration to the well-known specialists Francis Wacziarg and Aman Nath.[3] Aman Nath, a founding member of INTACH,[4] and his French business partner Francis Wacziarg, are conservationists and the founders of Neemrana Hotels.[5]

Current status

Heritage hotel

This palace is now a heritage property managed by Haryana Tourism.[2] It has been renovated and converted into a motel-cum-restaurant. The palace has been renewed into an outstanding specimen of architectural design with help of team of experts.[1][2]

Kartik Cultural Festival

Kartik Cultural Festival, the main annual fair held in the month of November since 1996, is celebrated at Nahar Singh Mahal. It is held by the Haryana Tourism, during the bright and auspicious autumn month of Kartik as per Vikram Samvat calendar.[6][7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Raja Nahar Singh Palace". Haryana Tourism. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d Vinod Mehta, 2006, Delhi and NCR city guide, Page 443.
  3. ^ a b c Madan Prasad Bezbaruah, Dr. Krishna Gopal, Phal S. Girota, 2003, Fairs and Festivals of India: Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh
  4. ^ "Founder Members". INTACH. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  5. ^ Alka Pande, A new lease of life[usurped], The Hindu, 1 August 1999
  6. ^ L. C. Gupta and M. C. Gupta, 2000, Haryana on Road to Modernisation
  7. ^ 2008, Encyclopaedia of Cities and Towns in India Volume 1, Page 79.
  8. ^ 1998, Rashtriya Sahara, Volume 6, Issues 7-12, Page 126.