'Golghar' - A Bhopali monument of Nawab-era

Golghar monument is situated near Bab-e-Ali ground, Shahjahanabad, Bhopal. The round building was constructed near Pari Park in Shahjahanabad locality of Bhopal.

It was christened as Gulshan-e-Alam but came to be popularly known as Golghar. The building was constructed during the regime of Nawab Shahjahan Begum (1868-1901). The round-shape building has 12 doors. Its staircase is also in round shape leading to the dome. Its pillars are cylindrical and doors decorated. The dome has been painted with flowers of purple, yellow, orange, red, brown and green colours. There is a round-shape balcony on the upper story, which is covered with tin shade supported by wooden pillars. Originally, the building had also a Persian style park known as Jannat Bagh.

First, the building housed the office of Shahjahan Begum. later, it was used as aviary where various kinds of birds were kept. It is said that in the times of Nawab Shahjahan Begum, threads of gold and silver were kept in the aviary from which birds used to knit their nests. The Nawab had presented some of these to Queen Victoria. In Nawab-era band was played daily in the evening here for amusement.

After taking reins of Bhopal State on November 16, 1868, Shahjahan Begum had built a number of buildings including City Hospital, Taj Mahal, Noor Masjid, Noor Mahal, Benazir Palace, Nishat Manzil, Nawab Manzil, Aami Manzil, Taj-ul-Masajid, Jail Khana (prison), lal Kothi etc.

Shoot & Edit ~ Aquil Jawed

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