Gond and Bhonsla Period Walk. (Part III)
After Baka Baik ka Wada, we proceed to Motha Rajwada ( Senior King's Palace, in Marathi, motha means bigger as well as senior in age, also referred to as "The Mahal", giving an identity to the areas located around it.
After walking through narrow passages and streets for some time, we saw a magnificent and huge gate constructed with granite stones, with a naharkhana. It had nice, antique-looking street lights on either side and was high and wide enough for the passage of an elephant with a हौदा (Howdah).
A simple wooden name plate simply proclaimed " श्री, Senior Bhonsle Palace, मोठा राजवाडा with Sun emblem on either side.". Quite impressive in its simplicity.
With high expectations, we walked to the gate and had a look inside. It was a bit disappointing. We saw a huge courtyard with a fence running on the left. On the right, along the wall, around 14 odd cages built in two tiers with birds, rabbits, a dog and other animals. Further along few twenty-litre RO water drums were kept helter-skelter, a few of them lying on the ground. Dismantling of the bamboo structure was also going on. Overall impression was a laissez-faire approach towards the maintenance of the courtyards and neglect. Some relief to this disappointing scene was provided by a quaking flock of geese waddling around in the courtyard. There were some SUVs, some sedans, all told about 7 to 9 vehicles were also parked in the garage/ courtyard.
On a nicely maintained and white painted wall coat of arm of Bhonsle royalty in shining brass was mounted. It looked good and impressive.
An equestrian statue of Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj with couple of cannons below the pedestal in the centre of the courtyard looked beautiful and impressive.
A two-story facade of the Senior Bhonsle Palace was not impressive at all.
A family tree going back almost eight generations, even before Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is displayed in a Small veranda in the centre of this building.
The family tree and the history of the Bhonsle dynasty were explained by our 'walk' conductor. I must confess I did not pay much attention.
We also saw the armoury maintained at the palace.
A small room. Three side walls of which were full of hundreds of mounted swords, knives, bows and arrows, spears and javelins and other contemporary weapons. An impressive collection.
The Palace is a private property and is currently occupied by three surviving heirs of the Bhonsale dynasty.
After having seen many palaces all over the country, this came as as a bit of a let down.
This wound up our walk and visit to Motha Rajwada.
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