Sheesh Mahal

 Prelims: Current Events of National & International Importance | Indain Art and Culture.

Why in the news?

Recently Sheesh Mahal, a Mughal-era palace, located in Shalimar Bagh, North Delhi, was restored and unveiled by Union Culture and Tourism Ministry.

• The magnificent 17^th-century palace, constructed under Emperor shah Jahan’s reign, showcases skilled Mughal architectural elements.
• The building is an important part of the vast complex Mughal garden    complex.
• Construction – Originally constructed of bricks and red sandstone.
• It was intended to be a replica of Shalimar Bagh in Kashmir, which was created by Emperor Jahangir in 1619.
• It is still intact in Delhi outside of Red fort and Humayun tomb complexes.
• The garden and water channels resemble paradise, offering both peace and display of dominion over nature.
• Historical importance – Aurangzeb held his imperial coronation here.
• It also served as one of the British forces camping’s during 1857 uprising.
• Recent developments - the palace and its surrounding gardens now protected monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• ASI undertook Restoration works of palace heritage features, Mughal-style Char-Bagh landscape recreated by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to revive its original glory.

Reference

The Hindu | Sheesh Mahal

Times of Inda