Aina Mahal is Bhuj’s most famous palace, a late-18th-century “palace of mirrors” built for the rulers of Kutch. The interiors once glowed with Venetian glass, Belgian mirrors, crystal chandeliers, carved wood, tile-work and a curious mix of European and Indian decorative styles. Today, part of the palace functions as a museum displaying royal portraits, arms, clocks, musical instruments, decorative objects and a remarkable pleasure room with mirror-work and inlay. Although the building was badly damaged in the 2001 earthquake, careful restoration has allowed visitors to still sense its former opulence. The palace stands within the old Darbargadh complex, right next to Prag Mahal, making it easy to cover both in a single visit. For Ghoomein, Aina Mahal is a must-list heritage highlight that shows how global and experimental Kutch’s royal aesthetics once were.
About this place
History & highlights
Aina Mahal was commissioned by Maharao Lakhpatji in the 1750s–1760s and designed by Ram Singh Malam, a Kutchi craftsman who had travelled to Europe and learned glass, enamel and clock-making techniques. He blended these European skills with local craft traditions to create a unique, semi-Rococo interior. Over time, parts of the palace suffered from neglect and then severe structural damage during the 2001 Bhuj earthquake. Subsequent conservation, led by the state and heritage experts, stabilised key sections and reopened them as a museum, preserving at least a fragment of its once dazzling “mirror palace” character.
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