Sunday 9 November 2014

Sadiq Garh Palace, Bahawalpur

from online sources)

Sadiq Garh Palace is another, perhaps the best and most famous of the palaces made by the former Nawabs of Bahawalpur state, in South Punjab, now in Pakistan (please also see earlier note below on Noor Mahal Palace) .

When Nawab Bahawal Khan Abbasi IV died in 1866, his son Sadiq was child of five, succeeded him. On his 18th birthday, Sadiq received the traditional 'dastaar' or turban and with it authority to rule over Bahawalpur as Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan IV.

Nawab Sadiq was a cultivated person and possessed of fine tastes. He was a great builder of palaces and as a connoisseur of Italian architectural practices left behind a number of extravagant buildings that flaunt his style and wealth. The finest and most well-known of these edifices that he made, was Sadiq Garh Palace, which was started in 1882 and completed thirteen years later in 1895. Sadly, fate decreed the Nawab only four years to enjoy the palace as he died in 1899, aged just 38.

Indeed, in this lasting monument to his taste, the Nawab created a masterful blend of vernacular and Italian architecture. The palace is a classic mixture of local and Italian building traditions as the Nawab’s wealth permitted him to acquire the services of an Italian architect. While the Italian executed the Baroque, working in close coordination with him were a number of local craftsmen to see that the imported did not completely take over the local. And so we have a plethora of bay windows, Mughal arches and domed minarets surmounted by a parapet with Italian ornamental details and domes. A happy mixture, all in all. However, it seems that the palace could be looked after better, it is a bit shabby at present.


See also: http://www.mybahawalpur.com/bwp/sadiqgarh.html



                                    Sadiq Garh Palace, Bahawalpur , South Punjab, Pakistan

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