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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Short description|19th-century palace in Gujarat, India}}
[[File:Prag Mahal Bhuj.jpg|thumb|[[Italian Gothic architecture]] of Prag Mahal with clock tower on right]]
The '''Prag Mahal''' is a 19th-century palace located next to the [[Aina Mahal]] in [[Bhuj]], [[Kutch district|Kutch]], [[Gujarat]], India.

==History==
Prag Mahal is named after Rao [[Pragmalji II]], who commissioned it and construction began in 1865.<ref name=gsp>[http://www.gujaratindia.com/about-gujarat/palaces.htm "All about Gujarat: Palaces"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103153843/http://gujaratindia.com/about-gujarat/palaces.htm |date=3 January 2010 }}. Gujarat State Portal.</ref><ref name=burglars>Haresh Pandya. [http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/04guj.htm "Burglars targeting Gujarat palaces"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328071508/http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/04guj.htm |date=28 March 2008 }}. [[Rediff.com]] (4 September 2006).</ref> It was designed by Colonel [[Henry St Clair Wilkins]] in what the local tourist office describes as the [[Italian Gothic]] style,<ref name=gt/> although it would be better described as a [[Romanesque architecture]] twist on the [[Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture|Indo-Saracenic Revival]] style, and many Italian artisans were involved in its construction.<ref name=burglars/> The palace artisans' wages were paid in gold coins.<ref>K. S. Dilipsinh. ''Kutch in festival and custom''. Har-Anand Publications (2004), [https://books.google.com/books?id=oPUFiGRH07IC&pg=PA81 p. 81]. {{ISBN|978-81-241-0998-4}}.</ref> Construction of the palace, which ultimately cost 3.1 million [[Indian rupee|rupees]],<ref name=burglars/> was completed in 1879 during the regency of [[Khengarji III]] (Pragmalji II's son) following Pragmalji II's death in 1875.<ref name=gsp/><ref>K. S. Dilipsinh. ''Kutch in festival and custom''. Har-Anand Publications (2004), [https://books.google.com/books?id=oPUFiGRH07IC&pg=PA22 p. 22]. {{ISBN|978-81-241-0998-4}}.</ref><ref>''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency'', vol. 5. Government Central Press (1880), [https://books.google.com/books?id=_r4MAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA254 p. 254].</ref> The local Kutchi builder community ([[Mistris of Kutch]]) were also involved in construction of Prag Mahal along with Colonel Wilkins.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.asanjokutch.com/content/monuments.asp?main_cat=visitor |title=This palace was built for Rao Pragmalji II (1860-75) by the British architects and the Kutchi builders |access-date=4 September 2010 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707172735/http://www.asanjokutch.com/content/monuments.asp?main_cat=visitor |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>''Nanji Bapa ni Nondh-pothi'' published from Baroda, in the [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], 1999. pp:5-7.</ref>

[[File:Prag Mahal4.jpg|thumb|Main Hall]]

==Notable features==
*The palace is made of Italian marble and sandstone from [[Rajasthan]].
*The main hall, filled with decaying taxidermy<ref>Jane Yang. ''Let's Go India & Nepal''. [[Let's Go Travel Guides|Let's Go]] (2003), [https://books.google.com/books?id=i_QnM3nATkQC&pg=PA218 pp. 218-19]. {{ISBN|978-0-312-32006-5}}.</ref>
*[[Durbar (court)|Durbar Hall]], with broken chandeliers and classical statues<ref name=lp/>
*[[Corinthian pillars]]<ref name=gsp/>
*[[Jali]] work depicting European plants and animals<ref name=gsp/>
*It has 45 foot high tower with a clock, from where you can see the entire Bhuj city.<ref name=gsp/>
*There is also a small temple in the courtyard behind the palace with nicely carved stonework.<ref name=gt/>

==Restoration==
The [[2001 Gujarat earthquake]] severely damaged the palace.<ref name=dna/> In 2006, the palace was burgled, with thieves stealing antiques worth millions of rupees and damaging other items throughout the palace.<ref name=burglars/> As of 2007, the palace was in a "ghostly", "forlorn" state.<ref name=lp/> The palace and the tower were later repaired, after [[Amitabh Bachchan]] took personal interest in restoration of palace,<ref name=dna>{{cite news | url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-prag-mahal-to-be-renovated-on-amitabh-bachchan-s-suggestion-1399330 | title=Prag Mahal to be renovated on Amitabh Bachchan's suggestion | publisher=DNA India | date=21 June 2010 | author=PTI | accessdate=29 December 2018 | archive-date=30 December 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230030245/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-prag-mahal-to-be-renovated-on-amitabh-bachchan-s-suggestion-1399330 | url-status=live }}</ref> and its tower and clock have been repaired and are now open for public viewing. The Darbar Hall of the majestic Pragmahal Palace was renovated by the Maharao Pragmalji-III at a personal cost of Rs 5 crore. Visitors may enter the main palace halls and ascend the bell tower, which offers views of the city.<ref name=gsp/><ref name=gt>[http://www.gujarattourism.com/showpage.aspx?contentid=44&webpartid=48 "Prag Mahal"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103203600/http://gujarattourism.com/showpage.aspx?contentid=44&webpartid=48 |date=2010-01-03 }}. Gujarat Tourism.</ref>

==In popular culture==

Scenes from the Bollywood blockbusters ''[[Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam]]'' and ''[[Lagaan]]'', as well as a number of Gujarati films, were shot in the palace.<ref name=burglars/><ref name=lp>Joe Bindloss & Sarina Singh. ''India''. [[Lonely Planet]] (2007), [https://books.google.com/books?id=T7ZHUhSEleYC&pg=PA760 p. 760]. {{ISBN|978-1-74104-308-2}}.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">
File:PragMahal-Bhuj-Gujarat-JM18.jpg|Durbar Hall
File:Clock Tower Pragmahal Bhuj Kutch Gujarat.jpg|Clock Tower
File:Prag Mahal.jpg|Back side of Prag Mahal
File:Prag Mahal Palace Bhuj.jpg|Full View of Prag Mahal
File:Prag Mahal12.jpg
File:Pragmahal ßhuj, india.jpg
File:Playground of Prag Mahal.jpg|[[Akhara|Akhada]] of Prag Mahal
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Aina Mahal]]
*[[Vijaya Vilas Palace]]

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

{{coord|23.25479|69.66833|display=title}}

[[Category:Palaces in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Bhuj]]
[[Category:Royal residences in India]]
[[Category:Rajput architecture]]
[[Category:History of Kutch]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kutch district]]
[[Category:1879 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Museums in Gujarat]]

Prag Mahal - Revision history

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