#darbargadh

[wgm-beautiful-world]

Amazing architecture from Darbargadh Palace in Morbi, Gujarat, INDIA

[nawanagartime]

દરબારગઢ નજીક ચકલીઓનો દરબાર! જામનગર: સમગ્ર વિશ્ર્વમાંથી ચકલીઓ દિવસે-દિવસે લૂપ્ત થઈ રહી છે ત્યારે વિશ્ર્વ ચકલી દિવસ મનાવવો પડે તેવી સ્થિતિ નિર્માણ થઈ છે.

[nawanagartime]

દરબારગઢમાંથી વધુ 16 રેંકડી જપ્ત કરતી એસ્ટેટ શાખા જામનગર: જામનગર પંથકમાં કોરોનાએ ચારેકોરથી ઘેરી લીધો હોય તેમ કોરોના કેસ દિવસેને દિવસે વધી રહ્યો છે. રોજે રોજ વધી રહેલા કોરોના કેસને પગલે તંત્ર ઘાંઘુ બન્યું છે અને સોશિયલ ડીસ્ટન્સ, માસ્ક સહિતના નિયમનું પાલન કરાવવા સુશુપ્તતા ત્યજી કામગીરી અંગે તંત્રએ કમરકસી છે.

[famousplacesinindia]

#AinaPalace, Bhuj. The #AinaMahal is an 18th-century palace that is located next to the #PragMahal in #Darbargadh, #Bhuj, #Gujarat, India. The palace was built by Rao Lakhpatji of Cutch State around 1750. Lakhpatji's master craftsman Ram Singh Malam designed the palace in the local style and decorated it in the European style with glass, mirrors and tiles. https://www.instagram.com/p/B6nuo61hqnm/?igshid=1iw1jb3yomijj

[inpursuitofpattern-blog]

We got an overnight bus from Ahmedabad to Bhuj in Kutch. We went with Shah Jahand bus company, it was no Paulo coaches, it was really dirty, the beds were smaller and the driving was terrifying.   

Arriving in Bhuj was much more calm than arriving in Ahmedabad, we stayed in City Guest House which is located in the alleys which are full of friendly people who pointed us in the right direction whenever the narrow streets got the better of us. City Guest House is basic, with squat toilets and a very hard bed, but Mr Latiff and his staffs kind nature make up for that, as does the price of only a 250 Rupees (about £2.60) per person for a twin room.    

The Guest House is a five minute walk from the Darbargadh Palace Complex, which has a beautiful exterior despite the visible damage caused by the 2001 earthquake. Two of the Palaces are currently open, the newer Prag Mahal Palace and the eighteenth century Aina Mahal Palace. The Pragmahal is in better condition, it is Gothic style and not unlike a Palace that you might see in Europe, with the addition of some exotic taxidermy. I far preferred the Aina Mahal and I expect anyone who loves pattern and colour would agree. The Aina Mahal is in more disrepair and is a bit shabby but this added to its charm and authenticity. Although I do hope it is restored and preserved so that it can be enjoyed for many more years, I was glad to see it in this way. The Palace is beautifully decorative and over flowing with pattern, in the form of tiles, rugs, wall paintings, carvings and Textiles, with all of this reflected in the many mirrors which add to this almost hectic but fantastic interior.   

On our way back from Gujarat Tourism, who despite their name know very little about tourism in Gujarat, we walked past the Swaminarayan Temple and were amazed as we hadn't heard about it, it is an intricately carved white marble Temple. We hesitated about whether it was appropriate to go inside and luckily a Gujarati man from London saw this and took us in. It was peaceful with many people praying, the contrast of the colourful saris in bright reds and vivid greens against the entirely white building was stunning. After seeing many Temples in India so far Bhuj's Swaminaryan Temple has had the biggest impression on me.     

The Kutch Museum is Bhuj's oldest Museum and houses artefacts from the area and many textiles with techniques explained, this provided us with good background knowledge before we headed to the surrounding villages to see Kutch’s famous traditional textiles.