Prag Mahal, 19th century Gothic palace in Bhuj Taluka, India.
Prag Mahal is a palace in Bhuj combining Italian Gothic architecture with Indo-Saracenic design, built from sandstone with decorative features throughout. Inside, marble surfaces, tall stone walls, and a prominent clock tower form the main structural elements visitors encounter.
Construction began in 1865 under Rao Pragmalji II and finished in 1879, with architect Henry Saint Clair Wilkins overseeing the project. The completed palace represented a turning point, marking the first major attempt to merge Western and local building traditions in this region.
The Durbar Hall displays European statues and Corinthian pillars alongside intricate Jali screens showing European plant and animal patterns. This blend of artistic traditions reveals how the palace brought together distant creative influences under one roof.
The site is accessible throughout the day, and comfortable shoes are recommended since there are many stairs and uneven surfaces to navigate. Exploring the interior rooms and different levels typically takes one to two hours for most visitors.
Italian artisans worked alongside local Kutchi builders during construction, creating a rare partnership that bridged distant craft traditions. This collaboration allowed techniques and design methods from different worlds to merge in ways that might not have occurred otherwise.
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