Location of Juna Mahal, History of Juna Mahal, Architecture of Juna Mahal, Visiting hours in Juna Mahal.
Location of Juna Mahal:
This Palace is also known as Old Palace located at a distance of 2 Km from Dungarpur Bus Stand on the foothills of Dhanmata hillock in Dungarpur City, District Dungarpur, Rajasthan.
History of Juna Mahal:
Its construction was started in the 13th Century A.D. by Rawal Veer Singh Deo amongst the superb natural defenses of a rocky peak, some 1500 feet above the sea level. His son Rawal Bhuchand Singh shifted the Capital of the Dungarpur State to this Palace. Many additions were made to it and it was completed in the 18th Century A.D.
Architecture of Juna Mahal:
The Palace can be reached by a vehicle or by trekking across the richly wooded hill track. It is a seven storied structure which looks like a Fortress with its grand arched main entrance, crenallated walls, turrets, narrow inner entrances, narrow passage ways and narrow staircases which were perhaps built with a view to slow down the invaders. It has many projected Chhajjas and projected balconies supported by stone brackets. A number of canopied Chhatris are there on the top, with each chhatri having a dome and a pinnacle. The Palace looks very simple from outside, but once inside, it appears, one has arrived in a different World of splendidly beautiful paintings.
Many magnificent and colorful Palaces whose walls, ceilings and columns are adorned with a variety of motifs, frescoes, murals, miniature paintings, glass and mirror work are located inside this Complex. The paintings display Krishna Raslila in typical Nathdwara style, scenes from Mahabharata, the Gangaur festival scene and the war scene between Bhils of Dungarpur and the Rajputs. The paintings in the Am-Khas display Vishnu’s cosmic form. The Sheesh Mahal is adorned with beautiful mirror and glass mosaic work.
The columns of Maharani’s Palace have beautiful miniature colored glass paintings and its walls are adorned with murals depicting the portrait of Queen Victoria of England and a large decorated crest of the Prince of Wales. The Maharaja’s Palace on the top floor has a collection of more then 50 miniature paintings depicting scenes from the Kama Sutra, modestly hidden in the cupboard. The floors of the different Palaces are covered with beautiful carpets. A wall is embellished with inlaid white and blue English porcelain plates and the panels bear beautiful decorations. The palace also houses the stables for horses.
Visiting Hours in Juna Mahal:
It is no longer occupied, but it is still owned by the royal family and prior permission is required to visit it.
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