The Maharaja Palace, often referred to as Sarkar Wada, is a collective term for a group of five distinct palace buildings constructed and modified between 1780 and 1856 by the Gaekwad family. The initial building, known as Leeli Haveli, was not originally intended to be a palace. It served as the residence for Sayajirao II, Fatehsinhrao II, Ganpatrao, and Khanderao until Khanderao moved to Makarpura Palace. Leeli Haveli is believed to have been abandoned in favor of the renowned Nazarbaug Palace.
The Wada
Among the five buildings, only two or three remain largely intact, with all their original floors. Most of the structures, originally three stories tall, have lost their second floors entirely. The first floors are in ruins, and the ground floors have been converted into shops. Wooden pavilions once gracing the terrace levels have also vanished over time. The main facades of the buildings faced the road, while the rear portions, potentially built around courtyards akin to the Marathi wadas of Pune, have deteriorated significantly. Consequently, the palaces now appear as linear structures rather than their original, complex layouts.
Despite the damage, historical photographs provide a close approximation of the original buildings. Constructed on high plinths, the palaces utilized a wooden post and lintel system with timber joist floors. The first floor contained public areas such as the Darbar Hall and Divankhanu, while the second floor housed the royal apartments. Steep wooden staircases connected these floors.
The palaces were primarily built of wood and featured long, continuous balconies facing the road. These balconies were shaded by “patra” (galvanized iron sheets) supported by elaborately decorated wooden brackets. Many balconies were enclosed with wooden jalis to allow the ladies of the family to observe purdah customs.
Inside, long halls served as venues for Darbar (court assemblies), accessible via staircases from the main road. These halls included mezzanine floors, also covered with wooden jalis, allowing women to participate in court proceedings discreetly. The halls were parallel to the balconies, designed to admit ample daylight through rows of doors.
The decoration of the buildings included eaves boards, intricately carved architraves, wooden cutwork panels, and cusped arched panels. Interiors were adorned with glass chandeliers and ceilings that may have featured ceiling papers.
During state processions, the balconies and ground floor plinths were packed with spectators eager to view the royal events. However, with the upper stories now in disrepair and only the ground floors functioning as shops, the grandeur of these royal residences has faded into history.
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