Faiz Mahal
· Introduction
The Faiz Mahal (Urdu: فَیض محل ) may be a palace in Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. It was built by Mir Sohrab Khan in 1798 as the principal building serving as the sovereign's court for the royal palace complex of Talpur monarchs of the Khairpur dynasty.
It was built by Mir Sohrab Khan in 1798 as the principal building serving as the sovereign's court for the royal palace complex of Talpur monarchs of the Khairpur dynasty. Originally it included the ruler's chambers along with 16 waiting rooms for courtiers and guest rooms for royal guests alongside the durbar and dining halls. Additionally, there was the Hathi Khana for the royal elephant and the horses stables where today there is a mango orchard.
At present, Faiz Mahal is the house of the last Talpur monarch, H. H. Mir Ali Murad Khan Talpur II (born 1933), and his sons Prince Abbas Raza Talpur and Prince Mehdi Raza Talpur. After the original Constituent Assembly of Pakistan was abolished by the Chaudry Ghulam Mohummed/General Iskander Mirza dictatorships, Khairpur state was merged with Pakistani state in 1955 using threat of military invasion in violation of the agreement Mir Ali Murad had with the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.[3] Today the former sovereign is an environmentalist and has to his credit an extraordinary flora and fauna safe haven called the Merino reserve, famous for its black buck, and hog deer, which are now rare in Sindh.
Faiz Mahal was in-built 1798 by Mir Sohrab Khan, who established the Khairpur branch of the Talpur Mirs, and was the residence of rulers of Khairpur State. The building has a unique architectural design and seems to have been designed by a professional engineer. Inside, the center of the Mahal consists of a huge hall wall with portraits of Maharajas and Princes giving the impression of sheer royalty in addition to the usual comfort and luxury of palaces. The palace is also famous as ‘Lakhi Bangla’ as it cost the owners Rs.100,000 (one lakh) at that time.
Khairpur district was a separate state in Indian landmass and it had been dominated by the Talpur Mirs throughout Talpur family (1783-1955). After Independence in 1947, the Talpur Mirs opted Pakistan and became the part of Pakistan. As this place was the town of Mirs (Rich and loaded People), they built number of monumental buildings some of which are home to the tourist, national and international.
Next to the palace, there is a bungalow built by Mir Ali Nawaz called Bali Jo Bungalow or Dilshad Manzil, where Mir Ali Nawaz and Bali used to spend most of time. By profession Bali was a dancer and singer. She was from Lahore and she spent her half of life in that Bungalow. A beautiful garden was made beside the bungalow. It is used for celebration and entertainment purpose.
As we entered through the rear gate of the Mahal, a small mosque with faded white paint greeted us, offering a faint view of the red domed towers opposite. The outer areas appeared abandoned, and for a moment I wondered if like other historical buildings in Pakistan, the Faiz Mahal had also been neglected. But this was not so. As I walked in and saw the frontal view of the Mahal, I was absolutely stunned by its magnificence. Despite the hot sun beating down our backs, we could not help but admire the pink, white and yellow palace from every angle. The symmetrical archways, domed towers and arched balconies, contrasted against the urban landscape of present-day Khairpur. While coming to this city, I would have never imagined that such a beautiful architectural treasure could be found here. The building transported me to life of the royalty in the 18th century.
Towards the front lay an enormous and luxurious inexperienced garden, with flowers lining the sides. While my family members were taking photographs of the building, I spotted an aged caretaker, and asked him a few questions about the Mahal. He told me that the garden was previously a haathi khana, where the royal elephants and horses of the rulers were stationed. I immediately pictured an elephant with an intricately designed howdah. He also mentioned that the family of the last Talpur monarch now resides in Karachi. Gesturing towards the entrance, he said, “The interior of the Mahal is even more beautiful.”
Leading towards the entrance was an open porch, held up by beige and white pillars with intricate detailing. Deer heads were mounted on the walls, signifying the royal extravagance from another era. The symmetry of the corridor was made striking by the sunlight falling through the arches.
Moving inside, I set foot on the scarlet carpet and stood in complete awe. The inner columns and archways had intricate motifs, whilst golden frames containing oil paintings of the rulers in all their glory, had been hung up on the walls. On some walls, old photographs had been hung up to narrate the rich history of the Mahal. Real lion and tiger skins were preserved in glass cases, indicating the exotic tastes of the monarchs. Large chandeliers hung from the adorned ceiling, brightening up the entire space.
In one corner was the entrance to the dining area, which consisted of a massive table, easily capable of accommodating around 40 people. As I looked up towards the ceiling, I was amazed by the ostentatious gold-plated detailing, which contrasted strikingly against the white. Sculptures made by masters of the craft had been placed on ornately decorated pedestals, with lamps which further enhanced the magnificence of the room. There were rooms upstairs too, with large doors that offered a view of the ground floor. However, we were not allowed to view these.
0 Response to "Faiz Mahal"
Post a Comment