Zakira Mahal, Main Entrance Gate, Kalinjar Fort, Kalinjar, Madhya Pradesh, India.
During the visit to Kalinjar fort, got an opportunity to see a grand and beautiful palace, most of which has been destroyed and it is also a protected monument. There is no mention of the historical background of this palace by the Archaeological Department, it is called Zakira Mahal.
The two-storey spectacular and impressive main gate of this palace is very attractive. The main entrance is an iwan equipped with a multifoil arch in the middle, it is flanked by rooms with hanging balconied windows supported by stone brackets and arched windows built on the ground floor either side of the main entrance. The door frame of the main gate is of carved wood and this is the special feature of this palace that wooden beams have been used extensively in almost all the ceilings of the first floor of this palace. The rubble stone masonry and lime plaster are special. The main gate leads into the Deori which has ornate niches and ceilings. When we reach the open courtyard through the verandah, then we get to know the grandeur of this palace. Rooms and halls etc. were built behind the hallways built all around. The hallways or verandahs are based on multifoiled arches. There are stairs to access the upper floors. This palace can be of sixteenth seventeenth century. From the point of view of architecture and style, it can be built by Chandela kings.
It’s a major tourists attraction located within the Kalinjar Fort campus.
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