Aina Mahal

Damaged Aina Mahal exterior

Damaged exterior

corridor

The pleasure room of Rao Lakhpatji in Aina Mahal.

Aina Mahal is an 18th-century palace in Bhuj, Gujarat, India. It is located next to the Prag Mahal. It was built by Rao Lakhpatji in 1761.^[1] The chief architect and designer of Aina Mahal was Ram Singh Malam,^[2] who was assisted by local builder community (Mistris of Kutch) in construction.^[3] It was constructed with marble walls adorned with gold lace and glass.^[3] The walls of the palace are of white marble covered with mirrors separated by gilded ornaments with shades of Venetian glass.^[4]

The palace was damaged in the 2001 Gujarat earthquake. However, a portion of the palace which was not so badly damaged has been restored and it houses the museum, displaying the bed room, music room, court room and other old pieces of arts, paintings, arms, palanquin etc.

References

1. Desai, Anjali (2007). India Guide Gujarat. India Guide Publications. p. 393. ISBN 9780978951702.
2. Gujarat State Gazetteer - Volume 2 - Page 533, 1991.
3. Bhuj: art, architecture, history - Part 4 - Page 34
4. Gujarat State Gazetteers: Junagadh - Page 589, 1971.

Further reading

• "All about Gujarat: Palaces". Gujarat State Portal.
• "Aina Mahal". Gujarat Tourism.
• Joe Bindloss & Sarina Singh. India. Lonely Planet (2007), p. 760.
• Michael Kohn. "Two Years After Devastating Quake, Gujarat’s Aina Mahal Still in Ruins". Associated Press (January 29, 2003).
• "The arts, in past tense". The Hindu (April 22, 2001).
• "Lack of funds takes a toll on 2001 tremor-hit Aina Mahal". Express India (February 15, 2008).
• Peter Popham. "Relics of medieval India left cracked but still standing amid the rubble". The Independent (January 30, 2001).
• Amin Jaffer. "The Aina Mahal: An Early Example of 'Europeanerie'". In Arts of Kutch (Christopher W. London, ed.). Marg Publications (2000). ISBN 81-85026-48-3.
• Pramod J. Jethi and Christopher W. London. "A Glorious Heritage: Maharao Lakhpatji and the Aina Mahal". In Arts of Kutch (Christopher W. London, ed.). Marg Publications (2000). ISBN 81-85026-48-3.
• Paul Watson. "Treasures of India's Royal Past Among Quake Losses". Los Angeles Times (February 11, 2001).
• Soutik Biswas. "The Remains of Days Past". Outlook India (February 26, 2001).
• Jane Yang. Let's Go India & Nepal. Macmillan (2003), p. 218. ISBN 0-312-32006-X.

Coordinates: 23°15′19″N 69°40′08″E / 23.25530°N 69.66877°E