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INR 20.11 crore would be spent on restoration of 150-year-old Moti Mahal in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. It has been three years in the waiting. On September 1, 2020, the roof of, then protected heritage structure, collapsed after the scaffolding beneath gave way.
Section of the conservation and development as museum at Moti Mahal is being undertaken by MP department of tourism, through MP State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC). It is being funded by the Union and state governments, said an official. Completion timeline is set at 18 months. The side of the palace which faces Sadar Manzil will be undertaken for restoration, he added.
Half of the palace would be developed into a museum by tourism department. It is not clear, how the other half would be restored and put to adaptive reuse.
Unakoti, known for its centuries old ‘Shaivite rock’ sculptures in the northern part of Tripura, will soon have a cafeteria, toilets, drinking water and other facilities for travellers, a senior tourism department official said here. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is the custodian of the Unakoti rock carvings created in the 8th-9th century on Raghunandan hills, about 180 km from the state capital Agartala.
Restoration of the Moti Mahal will hopefully revive and give impetus to moves to conserve royal quadrant of palaces, spread together in 4.6 acres. Restoration of Sadar Manzil was undertaken by Bhopal Smart City in 2016. Last April, it was leased to a private entity for 30 years for commercial use.Right in front of Sadar Manzil is Moti Mahal, overlooking the grand Upper Lake, one of the highest and most picturesque points of the city.
Going by MP department of archaeology factsheet, west to Iqbal Maidan in the city is a huge two-storey building known as Moti Mahal. It had been built by the ruler of Bhopal province Nawab Qudisa Begum and was the first darbar hall of the province.
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