Built entirely of brick and stone with no cement or iron to hold it together, Datia

Mahal is one of the finest examples of the blend of Indo-Islamic architecture. A

look by Chitra Ramaswamy

We make our way through narrow, crowded alleyways flanked by shops selling a
myriad of wares. The aroma of sweetmeats wafts the air and there is a flurry of
activity all around; yet, paradoxically, the mood seems relaxed as our Innova
pushes past the melee to come upon the grand subject of our interest the Datia
Mahal.

In the wee hours of the December dawn, the rays of a mild sun pierce through a
thin veil of mist to cast its warm glow, gently on this magnificent eastward facing
structure. It is an imposing architectural beauty, even as it stands desolate,
uncared for and apparently forgotten. The 7-storey Purana Mahal , originally
called Bir Singh Deo Mahal after its founder, or simply Datia Mahal in Datia, is
about 40 km from Orchha, on the Jhansi-Gwalior route. It stands in testimony to
the friendship between Mughul Emperor Jehangir and Bir Singh Deo, the ruler of
Datia, a part of the region then known as Bundelkhand. Fortunately for us,
B.S.Rajput, caretaker of the Mahal doubles up as guide as we begin our tour of
the large building, ducking our heads at times to avoid the fragile films of
cobwebs, thriving here and there for want of proper care. Two of its seven floors,
we learn are built underground and closed to visitors.

The palace perched atop a rocky outcrop, encircled by a fort wall and overlooking
the Karna Sagar Lake, is visible from trains passing the Gwalior-Jhansi railway
line. Built entirely of brick and stone with no cement or iron to hold it together, it
is one of the finest examples of the blend of Indo-Islamic architecture. The
building, in the design of the Swastik, with its restraint and emphasis on a
classical and symmetrical plan inspired none other than Sir Edward Lutyens,
architect of New Delhi. For a man whose impressions of Indian architecture were
not flattering to begin with, he was so overwhelmed by Datia Mahal that he
chose to visit other edifices in India before he embarked on designing New Delhi.
He incorporated aspects of Datia Mahal in the interior design of New Delhis
North and South Blocks.

Datia Mahal is only one of very few palaces and forts structure in north and
central India that boasts a spectacular amalgam of Indo-Islamic architecture
though examples of such fusion are found in several temples in the regions. The
palace is marked by a large courtyard at the core, in the centre of which is the
40m-high, five-storey tower, housing 440 rooms and several courtyards. It has a

ribbed dome atop which is lotus petal-shaped shikhar, typical of Bundela

architectural style . While the arched doorways and dome are characteristic of
Mughal architecture, the sculptures and paintings of birds, animals and flowers
are suggestive of the Rajput style. Paintings executed with vegetable and other
natural dyes, exquisite and intricate in design, adorn the walls and ceilings of
several chambers of the top three floors of the palace. Some paintings have
evidently withstood the test of time, being discernable in good measure. The
palace windows are a beauty in themselves, veiled with elegant stone lattice
work, each motif different from the other.

The play of light and shade in several areas of the palace is scintillating as we
walk down its labyrinthic corridors, embellished with ornate pillars and arches.
The balcony of each floor accords a stunning view of the city of Datia dotted with
temples, shops and residential areas, while from its terrace, the citys Fort can be
seen in full view with its royal quarters and temple.

Bir Singh Deo, the ruler of Datia and an avid builder of the times, laid the
foundations of Datia Mahal in 1614. History records that the palace stands
testimony to the friendship between the Mughus emperor Jehangir and Raja Bir
Singh Deo. Bir Singh championed Jehangirs cause against Akbar and beheaded
Abul Fazal. In return, Bir Singh was made the ruler of Datia.

The palace complex was built to mark Jehangirs visit to the place. Fortunately or
unfortunately, the visit did not take place and it still remains a mystery as to why
no ruler ever lived in the Mahal. When Datia became an independent estate,
offices became established in the palace premises.

As we step out of the portals or this marvelous structure, there is just a single
thought in my mind: a good scrub, splashes of copious water inside and outside,
some illuminations, and lo, Datia Mahal would stand majestic and magnificent in
all its former glory!
Datia Fort

Location

In Between Gwalior and Jhansi

Built in

1620

Built by

Bundela King Bir Singh Dev

Main Attraction

Courtyard at the core, Mukarba, Chhattris

Architecture Rajput and Mughal Architecture

Nearest Metro Station

No Metro Services

TheDatia castle is a well built fort with magnificent architecture. The

architectural designs include the layout of Mughal and Rajput Empire. That is the
fort consists of both the royal Mughal as well as the Rajputana grace.

The fort was constructed by Bir Singh Dev, The Chief Officer of Bundela in the
year 1620. The fort is built upon a rock, one reason for which it appears to be
taller than its actual height. It is a five storeyed 130 Ft tall building. The Lord
hasting, British Governor General stayed in the fort in the year 1818 and an
event to welcome Lord Curzon, the viceroy was held in the year 1902.

To view the forts immense beauty is like a dream come true experience.

The fort is located almost in the midway of Chennai and Mumbai track and hence
accessible from both the areas by train and even bus. But if coming via air
transport the most closest airport is that situated in Gwalior.

Architecture

The castle is divided into four regions each of which possess a Mandap in the
middle. The best and most astonishing feature of this palace is that it is made
completely with the help of stones and wood and not even a single bit of iron is
used in its construction. The best region of the castle is its eastern part well
carved with stones. The rest 3 regions are worth admiring too. The central tomb
inherits the Lord Ganesha's idol and Goddess Durga guards both the entrance of
the temple. In front of the first entrance of the temple there resides a the main
house diety of Bundelawhere as at the other entrance there is a Dargha. The
castle is a bit worn out by the cyclone that hit the state in the year 1985, but still
holds got for the people interested in archeology as well as architecture

On one of the low hills over which the town is built stands the magnificent palace
of Bir Singh Dev. This palace is one of the finest examples of domestic
architecture of our country. It is said that Maharaja Bir singh Dev, while on his
visit to Mathura in A.D. 1614, got himself weighed with gold and subsequently
started constructing this palace, which was completed in nine years. It is built

purely of stone and bricks with no trace either of wood or iron. It is built in the
form of a square, the monotony being relieved by four octagonal towers, one at
each corner, and string courses of stone lattice work defining the five storeys.
The summit is ornamented by numerous chhatris crowned with ribbed domes,
while many of the ceilings in its chambers are finely carved. The southern face
over looks a large lake.

Crystal Clear app kedit.svg

This article may need to be rewritten entirely to comply with Wikipedia's
quality standards. You can help. The discussion page may contain suggestions.
(October 2013)

Datia palace is situated nearly 75 k.m. from Gwalior City in Madhya pradesh. The
specialty of this palace is that it is of 7 floor. However neither member from the
royal family did ever lived here. The founder of the Datia state in BundelKhand Maharaj Birsingh Deo Build many such 52 monuments all around the Country
India. Datia's Palace or the Satkhanda Palace is also called the Purana Mahal or
the "Old palace", Historian Abdul Hamid Lahori came to this city with Shahan
Jahan on 19 November 1635. He said that the palace was nearly 80 meters long
and was also this much broad. He said this as a very beautiful and strong palace.

This Palace was made by spending 35 Lakh Rupees (78 thousand us dollars) and
it took nine years to build it. It is situated on an isolated rock on the western side
of the city Datia. It represents Mughal architecture along with Rajput
architecture. It is the biggest and most famous of all the 52 palaces build by Raja
birsingh Deo and it can be seen easily from a long distance.
Structure of the palace

The palace mainly has four quadrangular part with a "Mandap" or the main
center on the central point of the Palace. It is totally made using stones and
neither wood nor iron is used in this whole palace.

The eastern part of the palace is most beautiful and the tombs contains beautiful
pictorial drawings and windows are beautifully carved out of stones. The central
tomb and the other two tombs forms an incredible view. the central tomb has a
Lord Ganesha's Temple inside and there are Lord Durga's temple on both the
entrances of the palace. On the first part on the main entrance there is a temple
of the main house deity of Bundels and one the second part there's a Dargah. A
1985 cyclone destroyed some parts of the palace but still this palace one of the

beautiful place to visit for those who are really interested in the Mughal and
rajputana architecture and their beauty

Datia

A town of great historic significance, Datia's seven-storeyed palace built entirely

of stone and brick by Raja Bir Singh Deo in 1614, is considered to be one of the
finest examples of Bundela architecture in the country. Within the palace are
some fine wall paintings of the Bundela school. An interesting blending of
cultures can be seen in the frescoes in a temple. Datia takes its name from
Dantavakra, a mythological demon ruler of the area. The palaces at Datia and
Orchha are the best surviving examples of the Bundelkhand style of architecture
that arose in the late 16th and early 17th centuries in the Bundelkhand area
under the reign of the Bundela Rajputs.

Bir Singh Palace

It was built in 1620 by King Bir Singh Deo after whom the palace is named.
Locally, the palace is also known as Govind Mandir.Erected on a rocky ridge, the
Bir Singh Palace has five stories with a central dome rising to 35m caps the
palace. Suites of underground rooms hewn from solid bedrock on a series of
different levels provide hot-weather accommodation. The palace has a square
plan with a domed tower at each corner. The main entrance is on the eastern
side, while the south opens out to a lake, the Karna Sagar.This palace is made
entirely of stones and bricks without any use of wood and iron.
Another five-storeyed structure with apartments for the royalty stands in the
central courtyard. It is connected by flying bridge corridors to the middle of each
side. The facades are decorated with bracketed balconies, kiosks, arcades and
wide eaves which create a glorious play of light and shade. Strangely enough, for
all its mesmerizing beauty, the palace was never occupied and is now a wellpreserved monument with unusual persian style motifs.In fact many of the
ceilings inside the palace have borders and medallions which resemble the rare
carpets from Persia.

Blue Homes

The view from the terrace infront of the palace shows the old city spread in
cubistic pattern with a predomonance of blue. These are huts and small cottages
painted blue with a mixture of Mud plaster- bio degradable, and copper sulphate.
When spread on walls it both disinfects the plaster and gives it an attractive
colour.

The Chhatris

The royal families of Datia built Chhatris to commemortae their dead. These are
decorated with elaborate memorials with stories, myths and legends from the
holy scriptures , somrtimes they also have a depiczion of the great deeds of
those remembered. There is a hige complex of Chhatris built in the 18th and
19th centuries and really worth a visit.