Mubarak Mandi Palace: The main seat of Dogra dynasty
Jammu, June 05: Mubarak Mandi Palace is a place in Jammu city that witnessed gross neglect by the successive governments despite the fact that it was the only place that represents the Dogra dynasty and their history in true sense.
The palace housed many government offices including High Court and Public Service Commission for decades which destroyed major part of the heritage complex even as more than 36 fire incidents and earthquakes in the 1980s and in 2005 rendered other part of the building useless.
However it was only after the High Court moved to Janipur and Public Service Commission got a new office that the building got some attention of the people with many organizations demanding restoration of the prestigious heritage building.
After a long struggle the government finally woke-up and started moving the government offices out of the building with proposal to the central government for restoration of the complex.
The complex is now undergoing repairs and renovation for many years while one part that earlier housed High Court and Public Service Commission offices has completely been restored to its old glory and is a part of annual celebrations.
This part has been added with some modern amenities like multicolor lighting system and during the annual festival an audio visual display becomes the major attraction for the visitors who visit in hordes to witness the mela and the grandeur of the palace.
The tourism department has been handling the project but many deadlines have been broken for its complete restoration due to paucity of funds and administrative lethargy.
There is also a proposal gathering dust to convert the building into a heritage hotel while an Rs 40 crore Ropeway Project between Mubarak Mandi to Bagh-e-Bahu Crossing River Tawi is also in the pipeline for many years which when implemented will be the biggest tourist attractions of Jammu city connecting the two major historical old forts of the Jammu.
The rope way in a way would also be connecting the era of Bahu Lochan to the era of Hari Singh and all it needs is the political will.
Built over a span of 150 years, this royal building served as a massive palace for rulers of the Dogra dynasty. It was infact the main seat of the kingdom until 1925, after which Maharaja Hari Singh moved the royal seat to Hari Niwas Palace in Northern Jammu. Prone to earthquakes and fires, parts of this building, like the Gol Ghar, lie now in ruins, adding to the palace’s old world charm.
The Pink Hall inside the palace has now been converted to a museum that holds several miniature paintings and Emperor Shah Jahan’s golden bow and arrow, among other interesting things. The architecture of the palace is borrowed from European Baroque, Mughal and Rajasthani styles, bringing forth a unique blend of different cultures that adds a distinct character to both the palace and Jammu.
The palace is located in the heart of the old walled city of Jammu and overlooks the Tawi River. The oldest building of the complex dates back to 1824. Successive maharajas added to the complex in size and building took more than 150 years to complete.
The complex is grouped around several courtyards and includes various buildings and palaces like the Darbar Hall
Complex, the Pink Palace, Royal Courts buildings, Gol Ghar Complex, Nawa Mahal, Rani Charak Palace, Hawa Mahal, the
Toshakhana palace and the Sheesh Mahal. Style of construction of Sheesh Mahal is unique because it is entirely made of glass. This delicate and pretty structure is also an important highlight for tourists coming to the region. The halls and galleries of the palace were used for official functions and ceremonies.
The Palace is a magnificent structure located on the banks of Tawi River located in the lap of nature amidst Himalayan ranges, close to the famous Raghunath Bazar. This palace is located in old walled city of Jammu. The location adds to mystical ambience of this palace. A large numbers of tourists come to explore the richness of this palace and also to enjoy bounties of nature.
Surrounding areas have residences of those Dogra rulers who were part of the King’s administration in those times. Residences of other high-profile personnel are also located near the palace. A visit to this palace will give you a peep into the richness and splendor of people of those times.
Existence of this beautiful and majestic palace Mubarak Mandi adds to the grandeur of this region. The phenomenal look of this palace stuns tourists. Majestic halls and galleries of the palace were used for ceremonies and functions. Passing by this Dogra heritage tourists get the fragrance of royalty spread in the air of Jammu.
Exemplary art and architecture of this palace makes it a speaking landmark of Jammu. This palace is unique because Special attention was paid towards intricate carving done on doors and windows of this palace giving it a very rich and defined look. Even after years, the palace stands beautiful and elegant on the banks of Tawi River.
Tourists coming to explore this palace have a variety of options to choose from as Jammu is well-connected with an extensive railway network and you can take a train to most important places of India including Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.
Tourists can take direct flights to Jammu from all important cities of India. The aerial view of Jammu is worth watching.
Tourists can also travel by road to explore the region closely. There are bus and private vehicles available for hire.
Mubarak Mandi palace is placed in a very convenient location and is easily accessible from both railway stations and airport of Jammu.
Therefore tourists can come here with ample time to get immersed in the beauty of the Dogra art and culture of those times. (Compiled with inputs from Wikipedia, JKTDC and other tourism and history related sites)