INTACHTHE HERITAGE CLUB NEWSLETTER

VOL. 10 No. 1JANUARY - MARCH 2013

Hi Young INTACH Pals,

Palaces - Glimpses of Glory 1Palaces Inside Out 2Palaces - Down the Ages 3

Let's Unearth Some Stories 4Our Picture Perfect Palaces 5-8Activities 4 U 9, 10

Heritage News, Subscription Form 11Prize Winners, What’s Next? 12

CONTENTS

Palaces represent grandeur, taste, architectural brilliance and beauty! Apart from being the royal residences, palaces are an example of opulence and comfort, showcasing artistry, style and design. Across the length and breadth of our country there are palaces galore.

Today as we look back, one cannot but think about the immensely talented designers, architects and artists who built them with their blood and sweat. While the kings had the taste and the money, it was these people who turned their dreams into reality.

Some of these palaces have stood the test of time and stand as beautiful and as elegant as ever as we walk back into time and history to relook at some of the ‘perfect palaces‛.

A palace is an opulent grand residence of a head of state, king or a high ranking dignitary.

Palaces have been a part of our historical tradition.

There is a view held by some historians that before the Muslim conquest of India, ancient India did not have grand palaces. This opinion is based on the fact that there are no such buildings to prove otherwise. However, the evidence to prove this is both literary as well as archaeological. Some also attribute this loss to the fact that these palaces were made of wood and therefore not as sturdy as stone!

We have beautiful palaces well preserved from the medieval era onwards. During this period palaces were generally located inside a fort for protection. Gradually new palaces with a lot of European infl uence started getting built. In the 20th century, palaces with completely modern art and decor started coming up.

This time we go back into time and history and revisit what were homes to kings

and emperors –the palaces.

Palaces - Glimpses of GloryPalaces - Glimpses of Glory

DID YOU KNOW

The oldest surviving Rajput palaces date from the mid-15th century. These are the palaces

of Rana Kumbha of Chittor and Raja Kirtti Singh of

Gwalior.

PRESENTDAY PALACES

Today several old palaces have been converted into heritage

hotels and museums. Even though they have been

renovated, they still retain an old world charm. This beautiful

amalgamation of the old and the new is what makes them so

attractive.

HIMALAYAN HEIGHTS!

Built by the Buddhist kings of Ladakh, the Leh Palace is an extraordinary dun-coloured

palace. It is nine storeys high. You can fi nd your way here through its maze of dark

passages, hidden stairs and rickety ladders to reach the

rooftop and lo and behold have a great view!

Standing tall with all their grandeur and mightStanding tall with all their grandeur and mightHaving braved darkness and light, oh! what a sight Having braved darkness and light, oh! what a sight These extraordinary dwellings of queens and kingsThese extraordinary dwellings of queens and kingsSo magnifi ciently made, their tales we still sing!So magnifi ciently made, their tales we still sing!

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PALACES INSIDE OUTPalaces in India are perhaps the best in the world not just in terms of their beauty or opulence, but also in terms of their

architecture. All palaces in India did not have a similar structure, but broadly the palaces were compartmentalised into

separate sections for men, women, a place where public dealings would be held, and a hall where private meetings would

take place.

ACTIVITY-The King‛s DurbarThe king from Diwan-I-Aam interacted with the common man. Write about any one of the tales of a well-known king who met the common man and dispensed justice. Send us your story in about 100 words.

HAMMAM It was the royal bath.

It can be said that this place used to be what a

modern day’s ‘spa’ is.

DIWAN –I- KHAS

It was the hall of private audiences. The king held

meetings with his ministers, courtiers and state guests

in this area.

NAQQAR KHANA 

It is a term for a drum house. It was also known as the naubat khana. Music was played here at specifi ed hours.This was located

near the main gate generally.

GARDENS

All palaces had beautifully designed gardens which had exotic seasonal fl owers. The

Mughals introduced the char bagh pattern of gardens.

ZENANA

The zenana had a separate entrance and was the women's

quarters.The construction of jalis or screens across the windows

was unique.It allowed the women to see the proceedings without

being seen.

DIWAN-I-AAM

It was the hall of public audiences of the king. The king

here was seated on a higher platform and he would hear

the complaints and pleas of the common people.

MARDANA

The mardana was the men’s quarters and was much more

splendid than the zenana. This was divided into rooms from where the aff airs of the

state were conducted.

SOUTHERN SPLENDOURPalaces in South India were erected using bricks and wood primarily. The Padmanabhapuram palace of Travancore kings consisted of several structures. It had a Mantrasala which is King's Council Chamber,Thai Kottaram or Mother Palace (meaning the fi rst building or the mother of the buildings) and Nataksala; meaning, the Hall of Performance, or of Performing Arts.

Lakshmi Madhavi S., St. Thomas Residential School, Thiruvananthapuram

OTHERSSHEESH MAHAL – The bedroom was often one of the most beautiful parts of the palace with inlaid mirror work and therefore called a sheesh mahal.

PLACE OF WORSHIP – A temple or mosque too formed a part of the palace.

SILEH KHANA and the DAULAT KHANA – The public area of the mardana usually also included the sileh khana or the armoury, a daulat khana or the treasury, sometimes it included even barracks for soldiers and stables.

Palace Complex of Red Fort, Delhi

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PALACES - DOWN THE AGES

ANCIENT LOST TREASURESThe great Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata have many references to palaces. The Pandavas and the Kauravas were described as residing in palaces that had pillared pavilions, marble halls with interiors that were opulent and polished fl oors. Even as far back as the Indus Valley Civilisation, a huge palace-like building has been found at Banawali. Megasthanes, the Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya in 4th century BC describes the palace at Patliputra as ‘series of open halls supported by wooden columns that were decorated in gold and silver’.

However, none of the ancient palaces have survived. Historians believe that one reason for this is that ancient Indians took care of the temples and not the palaces. The other belief is the material used for the construction of these palaces was wood. This made them more prone to decay.

During the end of the ancient period, the regional dynasties in the south built extraordinary palaces too.

Palaces were not merely seats of authority, they represented the artistic, aesthetic and the architectural ability of the ruler

and those who built them. Though there is little or no trace of the ancient palaces, the medieval era saw some legendary

palaces built by both the Mughals as well as the Rajput kings. Modern palaces stand as beautiful as the ancient and the

medieval.

MESMERISING MEDIEVAL ERAThe medieval era can easily be called the golden era of palaces. Both Mughals as well as the Rajputs built several palaces. Palaces were generally a part of the fortifi ed complex as this helped to protect them and they were heavily guarded to ward off any enemy attack. Rajput palaces were diff erent in many ways from the Mughal palaces. While the Rajput palaces were rooted in ancient Hindu tradition and had elements from temple architecture, the Mughal palaces consisted of a number of separate buildings that were surrounded by a fortifi ed wall.

In south India, during the medieval times, Hampi was the seat of the Vijaynagara empire. In the late medieval period, wooden palaces were made by the kings from Travancore..

MAGNIFICIENTLY MODERN While the medieval era had fortifi ed palaces, it was much later in the 19th century that British and the several native states of India developed a distinct architectural style called the Indo-Saracenic style - a fusion of the Indo-Islamic and European style. But these modern palaces were essentially based more on the European style. The durbar halls were replaced by ballrooms, murals gave way to sparkling chandeliers and heavily embroidered fabrics and low–style seating was replaced by French and British furniture.

MAGICAL MATERIAL All kinds of material were used to build these palaces like – stone, wood, red sandstone etc. The kings left no stone unturned to use expensive materials that would further enhance the beauty of these royal residences – some used teak wood, some gems and other expensive stones too.

Kolkata which became the largest city under the British was known as the city of palaces due to the grand residential buildings that were a part of the

British architecture during the end of the 18th century.

ped to off any ene

any ways from the ces were rooted in ancie

ents from temple architecture, t

ounded by a fortifi ed wall.

gara empire. In the late medievamade by the kings from Tra

TLY MODERala

Illustration by : Nadisha Minz Std. 9, All Saints School, Beawar Road, Ajmer, Rajasthan

Ruins of Asoka's Palace

Illustration by : Aakriti Verma, Summer Fields School, DLF Phase-I, Gurgaon

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VOL. 10 No. 1

LET’S UNEARTH SOME STORIES

SECRET STORIESThe Nawab of Murshidabad, West Bengal was very interested in the deep foundations for his Hazarduari. His obsession with a deep foundation went to such depths that he once fainted from suff ocation!

MYSTICAL MANDU The city of Mandu, Madhya Pradesh has two beautiful palaces –one is Jahaz Mahal and the other is Hindola Mahal. The Jahaz or the ship palace is 120 metre long and built between two artifi cial lakes. The Hindola or the swing palace as it is called so due to its sloping walls appear as if they are swaying with the wind.

Palaces across the country might vary in terms of their design or architectural style, however, one thing that binds them is

the common passion of the kings and the rulers to erect splendid palaces in order to spread their personal glory.

MAGIC OF MOVIESPalaces are ideal locations for any fi lm that requires an opulent setting. Many fi lms have been shot in diff erent palaces across the country. Palaces not only make a perfect setting for any form of creative activity but also provide a whole lot of themes to choose from. Classics like Mughal-e-Azam were shot in Deeg Palace, Bharatpur and in the famous Sheeshmahal of Amber Palace!

MAHABHARATA MYTHAccording to mythology, Lord Krishna and Prince Arjun once helped God Agni, consume the ‘Khandava’ forest and protect him from God Indra. During this process they saved an asura, ‘Maya’ who agreed to construct a building built like never before. The palace at Indraprastha was built with gold, and its walls were adorned with precious stones. The palace had a pond; the banks were made of marble and pearls. S. Aditya, Std. 9, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee

Hills, Hyderabad

STUNNING SHEKHAWATIGetting its name from the Shekhawat Rajputs, Shekhawati is located in the northeast part of Rajasthan. This region was once on the caravan route that resulted in many rich traders and merchants making Shekhawati their home. However, as business declined, the merchants moved to other parts of the country but meanwhile built beautiful havelis for the love of their land.

COLLOSAL COLLAPSE The architect of the Laxmi Vilas Palace, Baroda, Major Charles Mount, committed suicide when he realised that his creation on completion would collapse due to the many architectural designs he had used.

LARGER THAN LIFERuled by many ostentatious rulers in the 19th century, Punjab, Patiala’s name is synonymous for everything big like the Patiala salwar! Legend has it that the entire collection of chandeliers in the palace were bought at one go by Maharaja Mahendra Singh from a shop in Kolkata. Apparently, not recognising the king, the shopkeeper paid little heed. Upset and not used to little or no attention the maharaja bought everything in the shop and had it all transported in bullock carts !

Illustration by : Ishaan Singh Dhindsa, Std. 7, Delhi Public School, Gurgaon

ACTIVITY-MY STORYResearch, delve and fi nd the story connected with your favourite palace in your city. Ghost who walks, murder, mystery, love story, intrigue…… your palace will have its own tale. Send us your story in 100 words.

You will not believe what

I saw!

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our picture perfect palaces

GLORY OF TRAVANCORE Padmanabhapuram Palace is located in Kanya Kumari district near Thuckalay. It has wooden carvings and innovative designs in it. The Padmanabhapuram palace complex is inside an old  granite fortress  around four kilometers long.  The palatial mansion is a wooden paradise.K. Shanmugapriya, Std 9, Revoor

Padmanabha Chetty’s Matric Hr. Sec.

School, Kaladipet, Chennai

Padmanabhapuram Palace is the offi cial residence of the erstwhile Maharajas of the Travancore state. It was later named as Padmanabhapuram Palace by Padmanabha Dasa.M. S. Mahesh Krishnan, Std. 6, Sanskriti School, New Delhi

Kanakakkunnu Palace is situated in Thiruvananthapuram It is located about 800 meters northeast of the Napier Museum in the heart of Trivandrum city. It is one of the last architectural vestiges of the colonial era. Minulekshmi M. S., St. Thomas Residential School, Thiruvananthapuram

MIGHTY MYSORE PALACEThe Mysore Palace, also known as the Amba Vilas Palace, is located in the city of  Mysore, Karnataka. It was the offi cial residence of the  Wodeyar Kings. The throne made of 200 kg pure gold is on display to the public during the annual Dussehra  festival. The  Mysore  Palace is a unique mix of Dravidian, Indo-Saracenic and Roman style of architecture with blend of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic styles. Aishwarya T, Std. 10, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Indian Institute of Science,

Bangalore

BANGALORE’S PRIDEThe Bangalore Palace in Bangalore was built as a replica of the Windsor castle in England. The palace was bought by the British from Maharaja of Mysore, Chamaraja Wodeyar for Rs. 40,000 and later got it renovated.G.Bhavana, Std 10, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills,

Hyderabad

Tipu Sultan’s Palace is a beautiful palace which was built between 1781 and 1791. This palace is identical to the Daria Daulat, another palace of Tipu Sultan. The palace is referred to as the ‘rash-e-Jannat’, meaning the envy of heaven and abode of happiness. Raghvendra M., Std. 9, ACTS Sec. School, Bangalore

ROYAL TAMIL NADUA 17th century palace, Thirumalai Nayak Palace in Tamil Nadu was erected by King Thirumalai Nayak of Madurai’s Nayaka dynasty. This palace is a classic fusion of Dravidian and Islamic styles. In its heyday, Thirumalai Nayak Palace was considered to be one of the wonders of the south.G. Madhana Gopal, Revoor Padmanabha Chetty’s Matric H.S. School,

Chennai

The Thanjavur Maratha Palace Complex in Tamil Nadu, known locally as Aranmanai, was built by the Nayaks and then later additions were made by the Marathas. It was the offi cial residence of the Bhonsle family who ruled over this region from 1674 to 1855.E.S. Ashwini, Std. 9, Green Fields School, Delhi

CHARM OF CHETTINAD My very own Chettinad home – My ancestral house is in Aranmanai Siruvayal in Chettinad Nagarathar village, Tamil Nadu. Did you know the walls were polished with egg whites to give a smooth texture. The constructive material and furnishings were mostly imported from East Asian countries and Europe. Rahul Balasubramanian, Std. 10, Delhi Public School, Kuwait

The Chettinad Palace is a famous palace and is known as the Raja’s palace at Kanadukathan, Tamil Nadu. The construction was started in 1902 and it took 10 years to complete it. The palace is huge, extending over 40,000 square feet and the rooms are embellished with Burmese teak wood, Italian marble and English steel.S. Shruthi, Std. 8, SSVM Hr. Sec School, Chennai

Illustration by : Teiasri K. Std. 9,Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Public School, Jubliee Hills, Hyderabad

Illustration by : Khushboo Mishra Std. 10, All Saints Sr. Sec. School, Beawar Road Ajmer

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VOL. 10 No. 1

PUNE PALACESThe Aga Khan Palace was built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in 1892 in Pune. The Sultan wanted to help the poor in the neighbouring areas of Pune who had been hit by a famine. Aga Khan Palace is a majestic building with Italian arches and spacious lawns.K. Shanta Sahiti Reddy, Std. 10, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public

School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

Shaniwar Wada, a palace in Pune was named from the Marathi words, ‘Shaniwar’ (Saturday) and ‘wada’ (palace). Made by the Peshwas the teak for it was imported from the jungles of Junnar, stone from nearby quarries of Chinchwad and limestone was brought from Jejuri. Omkar R. Pisal, Std. 9, Vidya Prathishthan’s English Medium School,

Baramati, Pune

CHARM OF CHANDRAGIRIIn Chandragiri, Andhra Pradesh within the fort one can fi nd the Raja Mahal Palace. Only the ruins of the palace and the temples remain. The fort has two palaces that were used by the royals as their residence.

P. Sai Shreekanth, Std. 6,Vidyanjali School, Kakinada

Did you knowThe Motimahal Palace at Gwalior was given its name by Jivaji Rao Scindia because he adored pearls. The darbar hall also has a chandelier with 3,000 bulbs and a pure crystal ball hanging on to the chandelier.

Meera Dubey, Std. 8, Gwalior Glory High School, Gwalior

NIZAMS OF HYDERABADThe Nizams from 1720-1948 built the most extraordinary palaces.King Kothi Palace is a royal palace situated in Hyderabad. It was the palace where the erstwhile ruler, Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII lived.

P. Shriya, Std. 9, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills,

Hyderabad

Sardar Mahal in Hyderabad is one of those palaces which was built but no one ever lived in it. The Sixth Nizam of Hyderabad constructed it for one of his beloved consorts Sardar Begum but sadly it did not live up to her expectations as she did not like the palace built in a European style.

Siddharth Gilda, Std. 9, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee

Hills, Hyderabad

Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad is built in the shape of a scorpion with two stings spread out as wings in the north. This palace is a rare blend of Italian and Tudor architecture. C. Akshaya, Std. 9, Hans Raj Model

School, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi

Falaknuma means ‘like the sky or mirror of the sky’ in Urdu. The last guest of the palace was our fi rst president of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1951.N. Shruthakeerthi, Std. 8, D.A.V. Public School, Hyderabad

The foundation for the construction of the Falaknuma Palace was laid by Nawab Vicar Ul Umra Bahadur on March 3, 1884. It took nine years for them to complete the construction and the furnishing of the palace.Sri Harsha, Std. 8, Aditya Birla School, Kurnool

Chowmahalla Palace complex in Hyderabad consists of four palaces: Afzal Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal and Aftab Mahal. Originally the palace was spread over an area of 45 acres and is truly astounding in its grandeur and glory.D. Sreeja, Std. 9, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills,

Hyderabad

Asman Garh Palace is situated in the historic city of Hyderabad. As the very name suggests, Asman meaning sky and Garh meaning home, the palace is located high on a hillock. The palace has Gothic architecture and is in the shape of a European medieval castle.Raqeeba Yasmeen, Std. 9, Akshara School, NFCL Township, Kakinada

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Gorbanoh Palace is located in Jaisalmer. It is distinguished over the centuries for its ‘Sonar Kila’. It provides spectacular view of the acclaimed fort and is well connected to the famous ‘Sam’ sand dunes. Bhumika Sankhla, Std. 9, All Saints School, Beawar Road, Ajmer,

Rajasthan

Chandra Mahal or Chandra Niwas in Jaipur is the most magnifi cent building in the city palace complex on its west end. A seven-storied palace, each fl oor has been given a specifi c name e.g., Sukh Niwas, Ranga Mandir, Pitani Niwas,Chabi Niwas, Shri Niwas and Makut Mandir. M.Afra Sherlyn, Std. 10, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Public School,

Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

The City Palace of Jaipur is located in the heart of Jaipur, built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. This palace also includes the famous 'Chandra Mahal' and 'Mubarak Mahal'. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh ruled Amer and built the outer walls of the palace. Suchi Sharma, Std. 8, Navy Children School, Visakhapatnam                                                      

Rani Padmini’s Palace is located in Chittorgarh Fort at the height of 500 feet. It was built for Rani Padmini, wife of Rana Ratan Singh, a celebrated beautiful queen of that time. Aman Jain, Std. 8, Maharshi

Patanjali Vidya Mandir,

Allahabad

Rana Kumbha palace in Chittorgarh is a historical palace of which only ruins remain today. There are believed to be underground cellars where Rani Padmini along with other women committed ‘jauhar’.

Sushrut Garg, Std. 8, Summer Fields School, D.L.F. Phase I, Gurgaon

Lake Palace in Udaipur is located on a natural foundation of 4 acres rock on the Jag Niwas Island in Lake Pichola, Udaipur. It was built from 1743-1746 under the direction of the Maharana Jagat Singh II of Udaipur, as a royal summer palace. The palace was constructed facing east, allowing its inhabitants to pray to the Sun god at the crack of dawn. Sanjana Gupta, Std. 5, Ryan International

School, Sector- 40, Gurgaon

Umaid Bhawan Palace is the pride of not only Jodhpur but also of India. The Palace was built by His Highness Maharaja Umaid Singh Ji of Jodhpur to provide employment to the people of Marwar during the period’s great drought. It is one of the greatest private residents in the world having 347 rooms in all set amidst 26 acres of lush gardens. Doni Modi, G. D. Salwan Public School, New Delhi

The Umaid Bhawan Palace has a unique combination of heritage hotel, royal residence and a museum. It was built of golden hued desert sandstone and that is why it is also called as ‘Chhitar Palace.’ It is a blend of eastern and western architecture and designed by renowned Edwardian architect Henry Lanchester. Anjali Jain, Std. 11, Maharshi Patanjali Vidya Mandir, Allahabad

Patwon ki Haveli is the largest of its kind in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It was constructed by Guman Chand Patwan and his fi ve sons, who were traders. It has a good amount of Mosaic and Mirror-works done on its walls. The Haveli is also known as the ‘Mansion of Brocade merchant s’.

Prabhleen, Bluebells International, New Delhi

ROYAL RAJPUTANA

Prag Mahal is a 19th century palace located next to the Aina Mahal in Bhuj, Gujarat. A lot of Bollywood fi lms are shot in this palace. The 2001 Gujarat earthquake damaged the palace severely.

Vinayak Sharma, Std. 7, V.V.D.A.V. Public School,

Vikaspuri, New Delhi

Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara (Barota) is an extravagant building made in Indo-Saracenic style, by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890. It is reputed to be the largest 19th century palace and four times the size of Buckingham Palace.

GUJARAT GLORY

Illustration by : Yasmna Satyan, Std. 8, Summer

Fields School, D.L.F. Phase-I, Gurgaon

Illustration by : Ridhi Gupta, Std. 10

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills,

Hyderabad

Illustration by : Yogesh NakwalStd 10, All Saints School, Beawar Road,

Ajmer, Rajasthan

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VOL. 10 No. 1

Ram Bagh Palace in Amritsar is also known as the summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The palace is located in the middle of a garden. This palace resembles the pattern of Shalimar Bagh at Lahore. Maharaja Ranjit Singh renamed the garden and called it Ram Bagh as a tribute to the creator of the city Guru Ram Das.Samridhi Sharma, Std. 9, D.A.V. International School, Amritsar, Punjab

Sheesh Mahal is located in Farrukh Nagar, Gurgaon. It is constructed with an abundant use of red sandstone, Mughal bricks and Jhajjar stone during that time. The courtyard of the mahal had a water channel network that connected to nearby stepwell called baoli. Muskan Yadav, Std. 6, Delhi Public School, Sec-45, Gurgaon

Gujari Mahal in Hissar is connected with the legend of Feroze Shah Tughlaq who during one of his hunting trips came across a Gujjar girl. Taken by her beauty, he off ered to marry. Although they got married, the girl refused to accompany the sultan to Delhi fearing that she may not be treated at par with his other queens. Thus sultan constructed a palace known as Gujari Mahal. Ria Sharma, Std. 7, Delhi Public School, Sec 45, Gurgaon

Amar Mahal Palace in Jammu was built in the 19th century by a French architect on the lines of a French Chateau for Raja Amar Singh, a Dogra King. The palace has a golden throne weighing 120 kgs, a library of 25,000 antique books and many rare art collections.Pritha K., Std. 10 , Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills,

Hyderabad

Raja Nahar Singh Palace lies in the heart of the town of Ballabgarh, Faridabad. It was named after Raja Nahar Singh, who gave up his life in the First War of Independence of 1857. Today, the walls vibrate again with the echo of drums and trumpets with the eager feet of visitors.Aaditya Kakkar, Std. 7, Delhi Public School, Ambala

Kathi Khas Bagh is located in Rampur, about 30 km east of Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh. Set in a 300 acre compound, this huge 200 room European style palace is a unique blend of Islamic and British architecture. Mohd Sahil Javed, Std. 8 , Sunway Sr. Sec. School, Rampur, Uttar

Pradesh

REGAL NORTHIndia with its varied geographical terrain is dotted with several palaces known for its unique architectural styles. From the

palaces of Punjab to palaces of Kashmir to palaces in Uttar Pradesh, all have their distinct identities…

THE CAPITAL STORYDihli, Dilli, Dhillika, or New Delhi, one of the major

attractions of this capital city is its mahals, havelis, medieval

and modern residences. These include medieval Islamic and

British architecture.

Jahaz Mahal is located next to Hauz-i-Shamsi in Mehrauli in Delhi on its northeastern corner. It is so named since its refl ection (illusion) in the surrounding reservoir looked like a ship fl oating on a lake.Vivan Nagpal, Std. 6, Delhi Public School, Sec-45, Gurgaon

Namak Haram ki Haveli which means “the mansion of traitors” lies amidst the crowded streets in Ballimaran of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. This haveli got its unfortunate name owing to the betrayal of trust by Bhawani Shankar, the owner of the haveli.Gaurav Jain, Std. 9, Delhi Public School, Rohini, Sec-24, Delhi

Begum Samru's Palace lived its days of grandeur during the British Raj when it used to be considered the one of the most magnifi cent houses in Delhi. Begum Samru's Haveli lies in close proximity to the Red Fort. Nowadays it functions as the State Bank of India! Mayank Verma, Std. 10, Delhi Public School, Sonepat

EASTERN PRIDERajakanika Palace in Cuttack is the only remaining witness to the conquests and victories of the ruler of the great kingdom of Kanika. It has fi ve courtyards and houses two ponds measuring upto10 acres.Harsha Pattnaik, Std. 8, D.A.V. Public School, Rajabagicha, Cuttack

Dharakote Maharaja Palace is a 600 year old palace of the king of Dharakote, Odisha. The palace is situated just behind the Jagannath temple.Saloni Pani, Std. 10 , D.A.V. Public School, Bhubaneswar

Did you knowHazarduari Palace in Murshidabad is a beautiful palace with 1000 doors was built on August 9, 1829 under the

reign of Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah. An interesting feature of this palace is that out of 1000 doors, 900

doors are false. Asmita Sanyal, Std. 8, Salt Lake School, Kolkata.

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ACTIVITIES 4 UAKBAR’S FATEHPUR SIKRI

PICTURE ITBuilt by the most powerful of the Mughal emperors, this building represents both material as well as spiritual power.

Given below are some clues about the diff erent sections of this grand architectural masterpiece. Read them and guess

the section.

Ladies only please Hidden

caskets of treasures

God‛s dwellings

Commoners assembly

Elephantine entrance

Scrub it clean

Ministers' secret

meeting Enter here to the sound of

drums

IMAGINE ITHere are a couple of interesting questions for you. Do write back to us to let us know what you think.

If you become a king like Akbar at such a young age, how would you manage the state of affairs? Describe a day in your life as a young king.

Akbar had nine gems in his court. Imagine that you are a king, who would you select as the nine gems of your court and why?

DESIGN ITPalaces were the perfect architectural master-pieces. Imagine that you are a king and design a 21st century palace to ensure that it matches the very best in terms of both design and splendour. Introduce modern elements in your design. Send us your labelled design on an A4 size paper.

Picture it Answers: 1. zanana mahal 2. daulat khana 3. Prayer room 4. Hamam 5. Diwan-i-aam 6. Elephant Gate 7. naqqar khana 8. Diwan-i-khas

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VOL. 10 No. 1

ACTIVITIES 4 UPICTURE THIS PALACEHere are some palaces but not quite! A few of them are listed below. Match the following:

Taj Mahal The pride of the Pink City A hilly region

Hawa Mahal In everlasting memory A train

Raj Mahal Rail to Rajasthan A tomb

Palace on Wheels Twisted heights A wall

BRAINY BOARD GAME

Design your own board game with your own set of rules. You could make the game interesting with an element of role play!

Read the following clues, spot the palace and then mark them on the map of India.

1. In the city of the Nizam I am shaped like a scorpion.

2. In Rajasthan, a palace extraordinary For me the king gave jobs to the man ordinary.

3. Surrounded by water, I shimmer like a pearl In the White City, I am a marvel.

4. My elegance is very real, not a lore I am a beauty from Mysore.

5. Synonymous with Saturday About my magnifi cence what do you say!

6. In Kerala, I am a palace so good Did you know, I am made up largely of wood.

7. I am nine storeys tall On a plateau, north of the Himalayan wall.

8. With a thousand doors I am in West Bengal Do you know you can open some but not all!

DID YOU KNOW…The Jahangir Palace in Orchha has a grand Iwan (three-walled hall) large enough for the entry

of war elephants!Sanchit Sahni, Std. 9, Delhi Public

School, JabalpurIllustration by : Nimish Gupta, Std. 7, Hans Raj Model School, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi

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INTACH

Our trip to Zafar MahalStudents from Blue Bells School International, Delhi went for a walk to Zafar Mahal among the thickly populated buildings in Mehrauli village. An ASI board helped them in locating the building. Zafar Mahal is located right next to Qutb Shah Bakhtiyar Kaki’s dargah. It must have been a wonderful site once. Today, the fl oor has cracks and does not have a roof. The mahal must have been vandalised and there was a lack of repair work. The students spent a long time inside the complex and discussed the various corrective measures that could be taken to improve the condition of the building. After the visit, they made a beautiful fi lm which was put up on the Filmit website.

COMPETITION

BEST HERITAGE CLUB 2012Dear Heritage Club Members and teachers,

Send us a detailed report with photographs of the activities you have organized in your Heritage Club during the year 2012 and what you have learnt from them.

Send us the report by 15th February 2013

Fabulous prizes to be won!

1st prize Rs 5000 • 2nd prize Rs 3000 • 3rd prize Rs 2000

And also Special prizes

You could also send us your inputs on why you like the Young INTACH newsletter and give us suggestions and ideas for our forthcoming issues

Trip to Bhuli Bhatiyari ka Mahal, G.D Salwan School, Delhi

CARE FOR OUR PALACESVisit a palace or a palatial home,

Study its structure,Read its history,

Discuss ways to maintain it,Care for your heritage.

WELCOME TO THE HECS FAMILY SCHOOLS

OF YAMUNANAGAR, DARJEELING, KURSEONG, VARANASI, SALEM AND

TRIVANDRUM

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VOL. 10 No. 1

Hindi Translation

INTACH Gwalior Chapter

Acknowledgement

Architectural Division, INTACH

References

1. Hands on Heritage-HECS, INTACH

2. The Rajput Palaces, G. H. R. Tillotson

3. Forts & Palaces of India, Bindu Manchanda

WHAT'S NEXT?PRIZE WINNERS

Do you have any ideas, comments or suggestions to make Young INTACH more interesting? We welcome any thoughts on what themes you would like us to select for the upcoming issues of Young INTACH.

Please write to:

Purnima Datt

Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS)Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)71, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003Tel: (011) 24641304, 24645482, Fax: (011) 24611290Email: intachhecs@gmail.com, Website: www.youngintach.org

FEEDBACK

April- June 2013Flower Fusion

Since time immemorial, fl owers played an important role in Indian culture. Flowers have been a part of our rituals, festivals, architecture and each fl ower has its own signifi cance. Write to us in about 100 words on any one of the following:• Role of fl owers in Indian mythology,

rituals, ceremonies and festivals.• Uses of fl owers especially in Ayurveda, natural dyes, natural

colours etc.• Flowers in architecture, embroideries, paintings, rangoli etc.• Your state fl ower.You could also accompany this with your sketch, painting or illustration.Last date for entries: February 15, 2013

July-September 2013Metal Mastery

Metal crafts are known to us for almost 5000 years. From bronze sculptures to tribal metal fi gurines to the everyday objects India has it all. Write to us in about 100 words on any one of the following:

• Any one metal craft of your state, its process of manufacture, its history, myths and legends.

• My favourite family metal heirloom.

• My favourite everyday traditional metal object and its use.

You may accompany your metal craft or object with your sketch, painting, illustration or personally clicked photograph.

Last date for entries: May 15, 2013

INTACH was established in 1984 and has dedicated all its eff orts to the conservation and preservation of India’s vast natural and cultural heritage. The primary objectives of INTACH, as stated in its Memorandum of

Association is to create and stimulate awareness among the public for the preservation of the cultural and natural heritage of India and respect and knowledge of past experience and skills.To know more about INTACH, visit: www.intach.orgRecognizing the importance of heritage education, INTACH set up the Heritage Education and Communication Service (HECS) in 1998. Since then HECS has initiated several diff erent types of training programmes for diff erent target groups: the public, professional groups, city and local authorities, our INTACH chapters, school and college teachers and students. The aim of these programmes is to make citizens aware of their role in the conservation and preservation of our natural, cultural and living heritage. To know more about HECS projects and publications, visit: www.youngintach.org We are grateful to the Ministry of Culture for sponsoring Young

INTACH, a quarterly heritage newsletter for and by children that has

about 75,000 readers and the number keeps on going higher with

each issue.

Credits

Purnima Datt

Research, Compilation

and Editorial

Kirti Kaul

Illustration

Yatindra Kumar

Editing

Bashobi Banerjee

Printing and Design

Colorcom Advertising

Circulation and Subscription

Moby Sara Zachariah

Lakshmi Madhavi S., Minulekshmi M.S., St. Thomas Residential School, ThiruvananthapuramS. Aditya, Std. 9, G.Bhavana, Std. 10, P. Shriya, Std. 9, Siddharth Gilda, Std. 9, D. Sreeja, Std. 9, Pritha K., Std. 10 M. Afra Sherlyn, Std. 10, Teiasri K. Std. 9, Ridhi Gupta, Std. 10, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubliee Hills.K. Shanmugapriya, Std. 9, Revoor Padmanabha Chetty’s Matric Hr. Sec. School, Kaladipet, ChennaiM. S. Mahesh Krishnan, Std. 6, Sanskriti School, New DelhiAishwarya T, Std. 10, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Indian Institute of Science, BangaloreRaghvendra M., Std. 9, ACTS Sec. School, BangaloreG. Madhana Gopal, Revoor Padmanabha Chetty’s Matric Hr. Sec. School, Kaladipet, ChennaiE.S. Ashwini, Std. 10, Green Fields School, Delhi.Rahul Balasubramanian, Std. 10, (Kuwait Nagarathar), DPS, Kuwait.S. Shruthi, Std. 8, SSVM Hr.Sec School, ChennaiOmkar R. Pisal, Std. 9, Vidya Prathishthan’s English Medium School, Baramati, PuneP. Sai Shreekanth, Std .6,Vidyanjali School, KakinadaMeera Dubey, Std. 8, Gwalior Glory High School, GwaliorC. Akshaya, Std. 9, Nimish Gupta, Std. 7, Hans Raj Model School, Punjabi Bagh, DelhiN. Shruthakeerthi, Std. 8, D.A.V. Public SchoolSri Harsha, Std. 8, Aditya Birla School, KurnoolRaqeeba Yasmeen, Std. 9, Akshara School, NFCL Township, KakinadaBhumika Sankhla, Std. 9, Khushboo Mishra, Std.10, Yogesh Nakwal, Std 10, Nadisha Minz, Std. 9, All Saints School, Beawar Road, Ajmer, RajasthanSuchi Sharma, Std. 8, Navy Children School, VisakhapatnamAman Jain, Std. 8, Maharshi Patanjali Vidya Mandir, AllahabadSushrut Garg, Std. 8, Yasmna Satyan, Std. 8, Aakriti Verma, Summer Fields School, DLF Phase I, GurgaonVinayak Sharma, Std. 7, VVDAV Public School, VikaspuriSanjana Gupta, Std. 7, Ryan International School, Sector- 40, GurgaonDoni Modi, G. D. Salwan Public School, New DelhiAnjali Jain, Std. 11, Maharshi Patanjali Vidya Mandir, AllahabadSamridhi Sharma, Std. 9, DAV International School, Amritsar, Punjab.Muskan Yadav, Std. 6, Ria Sharma, Std. 7, Ishaan Singh Dhindsa, Std. 7, Vivan Nagpal, Std. 6, Delhi Public School, Sec 45, GurgaonAaditya Kakkar, Std. 7, Delhi Public School, AmbalaMohd Sahil Javed, Std. 8, Sunway Sr. Sec. School, Rampur, Uttar PradeshGaurav Jain, Std. 11, Delhi Public School, Rohini, Sec 24, DelhiMayank Verma, Std. 10, Delhi Public School, SonepatHarsha Pattnaik, Std. 8, .A.V Public School, Rajabagicha, CuttackSaloni Pani, Std. 9, DAV Public School, BhubaneswarAsmita Sanyal, Std. 8, Salt Lake School, KolkataSanchit Sahni, Std. 9, Delhi Public School, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

1. Falaknuma Palace 2. Umaid Bhavan Palace 3. Lake Palace 4. Mysore Palace 5. Shanivar Wada 6. Padmanabhapuram Palace 7. Leh Palace 8. Hazarduari Palace

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