Noor Mahal (Noor Palace) is a palace located in
Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Built-in 1875 AD, the palace is nearly one hundred and fifty years old, and, is the most recent monument in Punjab to be notified under the Antiquities Act. The state of Bahawalpur was merged
in Pakistan in 1956 AD and control of the palace was given to Dep. of
Auqaf under the Antiquities Act. It was locked under a judicial order but not before most of its rich holdings were smuggled out. Its furniture, carpets, paintings and crockery were sold almost all over the country.
Pakistan Army took responsibility for the palace in 1999 and helped to restore and preserve the building into its original shape. The building
was declared a “protected monument” in September 2001 by the Government
of Pakistan’s Department of Archeology. Currently the department of
Archaeology is responsible for the look after of the palace and they have
opened it for the general public, students, and to delegations and visitors
from other countries.
History:
Although there are several stories told
in Bahawalpur about the construction of Noor Mahal but among all, a famous legend is that Nawab Subah Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV laid the
foundation for constructing this palace in honour of her wife. The palace
was meant to be the residence of the late Subah Sadiq Muhammad Khan and
his family but legend says they spend only one night as they were
cautioned against so on account of its proximity to the Basti Maluk Shah
graveyard. The palace was later used as state guest house. The Nawab
also held occasional cabinet meetings here and gave audience to notable
guests.
The construction work for Noor Mahal began in 1872 AD. The palace was completed in 1875 AD at a cost of Rs 1.2 million.
Architecture:
Noor Mahal was designed by
Mr Hannan, who was a British Engineer and was working as a state in engineer in Bahawalpur. The palace cannot be related to Taj Mahal in any way but there is some little resemblance, as both the monuments were built in honour of wives. It was designed like an Italian chateau on neoclassical lines, at a time when modernism had set in. The building covers an area of 44,600 square feet (4,140 square meters). It is a
double-storey building with a basement as well. There are 32 rooms in the building, having 14 in the basement. It contains 6 verandas and 5 domes.
Inside Derawar Fort a number of buildings provided quarters for Nawab’s army. Quarters of the royal family standing deserted inside the fort are turning to dust. There are shrines of four pious Muslims near Derawar
Fort. The Derawar Mosque having four minarets and three domes is an exact replica of Moti Mosque at Red Fort Dehli and was built in 1844 A.D.
