Sheesh Mahal in Patiala

The Sheesh Mahal or the 'Palace of Mirrors' in Patiala (Punjab) was built by Maharaja Narinder Singh (1845-1862) behind the main Moti Bagh Palace. The Palace was built in a forest with terraces, gardens, fountains and an artificial lake. The lake has two watchtowers in the north and the south, and is connected to the Banasar Ghar, a repository for stuffed animals. The Sheesh Mahal, which was a residential palace, has a suspension bridge that is a copy of the Lakshman Jhoola at Rishikesh.
Maharaja Narinder Singh was known to be a great patron of art and literature. He engaged great painters from Kangra and Rajasthan to paint the walls of the Sheesh Mahal with a variety of images pertaining to literature, mythology and legends. Their works depict the vision in the poetry of Keshav, Surdas and Bihari. The paintings also portray Raga-Ragni, Nayak-Nayika and Bara-masa in Rajasthani style. The walls and ceilings of the Sheesh Mahal are rich in floral designs and its interior is a kaleidoscope of images and multi-coloured lights. Amongst the Sheesh Mahal's most highly recommended displays are a series of Kangra-style miniatures depicting the Geet Govind, an epic poem by Jaidev. The Sheesh Mahal draws its name from the exquisitely designed glass and mirror work, which covers an entire section of the palace.

History of Sheesh Mahal
Sheesh Mahal was established in the year 1847. The then Maharaja of Patiala, Narendra Singh is credited with the establishment of this Mahal. The aesthetic sense which Maharaja Narendra Singh possessed was admired and appreciated, and is reflected in the design and decoration of this Mahal to a considerable extent. The Sheesh Mahal is therefore considered to be a tribute to the Maharaja’s taste, who was a promoter of literature, music and fine arts.

Architectural Design of Sheesh Mahal
Sheesh Mahal is a fine representation of the European as well as the Mughal style of architecture. It is a three-storied building and is considered to be modeled on the Lahore's Shalimar Bagh. It has been laid amidst landscaped gardens. Beauty to the palace is added by its backdrop, which comprises of fountains, terraces, an artificial lake located near the Banasar Ghar (a repository for stuffed animals), verdant lawns and flowerbeds. Also, there are two watchtowers at both ends of the Sheesh Mahal.

As far as the interior of the Sheesh Mahal is concerned, it is bedecked by a plethora of skilled painters, who were invited by Maharaja Narendra Singh from two regions namely, Rajasthan and Kangra. The interior comprises of murals, exquisite mirror-works and floral designs on the walls, which may remind one of the Mughal pietra dura. It is marked with kaleidoscope of images and multi-colored lights. The paintings in the Mahal are based on subjects like mythology, legends, Raga-Ragni, Nayak-Nayika and Bara-masa in Rajasthani style. They also illustrate some of the northern India's best classical poetry, written by master poets such as Surdas, Keshav Das and Bihari Lal.

Museum of Sheesh Mahal
Sheesh Mahal also comprises of a museum. The museum is the repository of various types of objects of historical significance. These objects are displayed in various galleries. Fine objects of Tibetan art are stored in this museum, which is inclusive of the sculpture of different kinds of metals. Miniature paintings are also preserved in the museum, along with the huge portraits of the rulers of Patiala. These portraits will be visible to the visitors on the walls of the museum hall. Other objects of great antiquity are the ivory carvings of Punjab, royal wooden carved furniture and a large number of Burmese and Kashmiri carved objects. Some of the rare manuscripts are housed in the museum. Two noteworthy examples of the manuscripts are the Janamsakhi and Jain manuscripts. The museum is also adorned with the Gulistan-Bostan by Sheikh Sadi of Shiraz. History highlights that Gulistan-Bostan was acquired by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan to house it in his personal library. A series of Kangra-style miniatures which is based on the Geet Govind, the epic poem by Jaidev is amongst the Sheesh Mahal's most highly recommended displays.

A further discovery in the Sheesh Mahal collection surfaced the "New Zealand Cross", which was awarded to Assistant-Surgeon Samuel Walker for service during the Maori Wars. Only 23 crosses were awarded. An Order of Council, Wellington, New Zealand in the year 1869, instigated the "New Zealand Cross" in order to reward the local volunteer forces to which the Victoria Cross was ineligible.