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The heritage of Kachchh art and culture is
displayed in the Madansihji Museum (Aina Mahal) Bhuj. The last ruler of
Kachchh Maharao Madansinhji established the Maharao of Kachchh Aina Mahal
Trust on 1st January, 1977. Aina Mahal means a 'mirror palace'. It was
created by the artists Ramsinh & Gaidhar Devshi in the period of
Maharao Lakhpatji (1752-61).
In 1757, Rao Lakhpatji visited the emperor Alamgir in Delhi. He was
graced with the title of 'Mahi Maratib'. He welcomed foreigners in his
court. Fortune brought him a man named Ramsingh Malam who specialized in
Kachchhi architecture, enamel work, jewellery, tile work and interior
decoration.
AINA
MAHAL
The great master piece of Ramsingh is the Hall of Mirrors in the Aina
Mahal. The walls are white marble covered with mirror which are separated
by gilded ornaments. The hall is lit by elaborate pendant candelabra with
shades of Venetian glass. The hall of mirrors is on the second floor of
the Aina Mahal but Ramsingh devised ingenious pumps and siphons to raise
water to fill the pleasure pool and to operate fountains, which cast spray
in an intricate variety of patterns charming the eye and cooling the air.
ARTIFACTS
The small state apartment, carpeted with exquisite Kachchhi silk
embroidery, its walls paneled high with the same priceless fabrics still
contains Maharao Lakhpatji's bed. The hall is filled with a miscellaneous
collection of objects; a Dutch Clock, English and French celestial globes,
some antique pictures, mechanical toys, glass and china. On the walls of
the corridor are a variety of pictures, some European and many Indian. The
Aina Mahal alone cost eight million kories and was only one of the many
enterprises which the Maharao and Ramsingh undertook together.