Gond and Bhonsle Period Walk. (Part II)

 Gond and Bhonsle Period Walk. (Part II)

After looking at the last bastion, बुरुज, standing of the once fortified walls of the Palace of the Gond King, through narrow lanes and now a main thoroughfare, Kalyaneshwar Mandir Road, we proceeded towards Baka Bai Ka Wada.

Baka Bai Ka Wada means the residential palace, yes, you read it right, a palace, because it was built on a grand scale and spread over a huge area. It was built around 1936 from stones brought from Jodhpur and Udaipur and workmen from Rajasthan and Bengal. It was built for and named after Baka Bai, who was the third and favourite wife of Shrimant Raje Raghuji Bhosle II.

In the front portion of Baka bai ka wada, Shrimant Raje Raghuji Bhosle II held court and dispensed justice. Kotwal ( Police Chief) also operated from the rooms there. Due to usage by Kotwal, this part came to be called Kotwali. A name that remains in use even today. This portion was handed over to the Government of India in 1937 and today houses the Police Station and the Office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police.

After a couple of photos and being informed of the history, we proceeded toward the rear portion of Baka Kai ka Wada.

In 1869, the remaining rear portion of Baka Bai Ka Wada was handed over to Neelcity High School, an educational institution. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Neil City High School, the institution was renamed Shri Dadasaheb Dhanwate Nagar Vidyalaya. It is the oldest and a famous educational Institute in Nagour.

Today, after extensive changes in the wada building by the school administration, only two courtyards and a hall remain from the original building of Baka Bai ka Wada.

While Baka Bai ka Wada now exists only in name after having been converted into a school and a Kotwali (Police Station), it still serves as a testament to the rich history and architectural heritage of Nagpur.