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The Noor Mahal

Historical Prespective of Noor Mahal

The construction of Noor Mahal was undertaken by Nawab Subah Sadiq the Fourth (iv), who was popularly known as Shah Jahan of Bahawalpur for his passion of constructing buildings. Me Hennan; an Englishman, who was the State Engineer designed the building. Foundation of Noor Mahal was laid in 1872. The map coins of the State were buried in its foundation as good omen. Most of the material and furniture was imported from England and Italy and construction of the palace was completed in 1875 at the cost of Rs 1.2 Million. Noor Mahal has covered area of 44,600 square feet. It has 32 rooms including 14 in basement, 6 verandas and 5 domes.

The design encompasses features of Corinthian and Islamic styles of architecture with a tinge of sub continental style. Corinthian touch is visible in the columns, balustrade, pediments and the vaulted ceiling of Durbar Hall. The Islamic style is evident in the five domes whereas, their angular elliptical shapes are a stroke of sub continental style. Nawab Muhammad Bahawal Khan the Fifth (V), added a mosque to the Palace in 1906 at the cost of Rs 20,000,00 The design is based on the mosque of Aitchison College, where the Nawab was once a student.

The Palace was built for the residential purposes but later on it was mainly used as State Guest House and for holding state durbars and meetings with foreign delegations. The building has the honor of hosting Viceroys, Governments officials of British Empire and heads of various local states and foreign countries.

In 1956, when Bahawalpur State was merged into Pakistan, the building was taken over Auqaf Department. The Palace was leased to th Army in 1971 who later acquired it in 1997 for a sum of 119 million. Since 1971, Noor Mahal has been is use of various Headquarters. From 1971 to 1980, Headquarters 35 Division was located here. From 1980 - 1991 it was used as Station Library. In 1992 Headquarters 31 Corps Reserve was raised in this building. The building was handed over to Headquarters Artillery 31 Corps in 1996. Finally it was decided to use the building as an officers club and Bahawalpur Garrison Mess was established here in August 2001. The Building was declared a Protected Monument in September 2001 by Department of Archaeology, Government of Pakistan.

Source : written Inside the Noor Mahal

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Noor Mahal