Below is the picture of Hamir Sar ( Sar=Sarovar) Lake in the city of Bhuj (Kutch) Gujarat.Kutch District is much greener today than many years ago. Due to paucity of rail link, it was a forgotten place for many years after Independence. Kutch was one of the princely state which agreed to merge with the Indian Union in 1948.Till then it was ruled by a Jadeja Dynasty (Rajputs) from the mid 16th century . Rao Khengarji (1548-1585) the founder of Jadeja Dynasty in Kutch built this lake during his period and some folk tale says that it is named after a person named Hamir who first dug this lake. History says that it was named after the son of Khengarji. Spread across 28 acres, the lake is fed by tunnels and canals connecting to the nearby three rivers. This huge lake has a small island in the middle called Rajendra Park which has a small park -cum-garden. A traditional ceremony takes place when the lake overflows its embankments. At this Puja the President of the Bhuj Municipality distributed "ladoos" called Megh Ladoos" to the the citizens of the town. Overflow is a ceremony of joy and revelry as the people of the town feel that they would have water in the lake for the major part of the year. The Lake when full looks enchanting.Since Independence the lake has overflowed only 18 times, the last being 2010.
To the East of this lake is the famous Palace of the erstwhile Maharao of Kutch Maharao Madansinhji (born as Meghraj ji)
The Palace is called the Sharad Bagh Palace and the property covers about 20 acres. It was built in 1867 in the Italian style and was the abode of the Maharao Madansinji. Maharao Madansinhji (1909-1991) was the last King of Kutch state. He was the person who signed the instrument of Accession to the Indian Dominion in 1947, as his Father was in UK when the Independence took place. He was the official ruler from 26 Jan 1948 to May 4, 1948. Madansinhji ( with whom I had the honor of meeting a couple of times) died in London in June 1991 after which the Palace was turned into a Trust and is open to visitors on the selected days and timing. Generally Madansinh lived here during the winters.
The Maharao was a distinguished personality and after resigning as the ruler joined the Indian Foreign Service. He was Counselor at Indian Embassy,London (1953-1956) Ambassador to Norway(1957-60) and to Chile(1960-61). He was also a good Tennis Player having participated in the Davis Cup and also an ace Shikari.
This is the entry to the Office of the Palace as well as the sitting and dinning rooms of the Palace where the Maharao used to entertain his guests. The Palace suffered major damages during the Earth Quake in Kutch in Jan.2001.
The sitting Room of the Palace displays many artifacts of the Maharao, the trophies and Mementos including a trophy from the Wimbledon Tennis Club. The grand tusker displayed is of the elephant hunted by the Maharao in Ethiopia.
Maharao Madansinji was an ace Shikari and here is some specimen of his shikars. The Tiger he shot near Mohna (not Mona as spelt in the picture) on the Gwalior -Shivpuri-Indore AB Road was a huge animal.
The Palace has some beautiful ornamental plants and flowers besides some medicinal plants. The Palace also houses a nursery which was popular once but does not raise and tender more now due to lack of funds with the Trust. The Palace was also a location for shooting of a Bollywood movie "Int Ka Jawaab Pathaar" produced and directed by Pacchhi (brother of Actor Om Prakash)
An everyday scene just across the Gate of the Palace. Like the Pigeon"s people come,live for some years and go way.
