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Description:
One
of the most impressive palaces constructed during the last
half of the nineteenth century, the Lallgarh Place defies the
bleak and rugged reality of the harsh Thar Desert around
Bikaner.
The renowned architect, Sir Swinton Jacob, was commissioned
for the proposed residence of the young ruler, Maharaja Ganga
Singh. Initially, the palace was proposed to be finished
within a lakh of rupees and further reductions in cost were
suggested to be made by substituting stucco for carved stone.
But the moment Maharaja Ganga Singh got personally involved in
the building exercise, all cost cutting was banished. The
Palace began in 1896 and by the time the first quadrant,
Lakshmi Niwas was completed in 1902, cost had already zoomed
to ten lakh rupees. The idea of using cheap stucco was
replaced with the finest and most intricate stone carving of
all the modern palaces in India. The princely abode welcomed
Lord Curzon as its first important guest. Maharaja Ganga Singh
named his new residence in honour of his father, Maharaja Lall
Singh.Lallgarh Palace was the most completely integrated
example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, and as some hold, the
most perfectly realised of Sir Samuel Jacob's creations. The
sheer poetry in sandstone was further extended for the
Maharaja's son, Sadul Singh, and grandson, Karni Singh.. |
