Pic Dat-01 Top floors, Satkanda Palace, Datia, a view from inside
Datia Palace
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
Datia, an ancient town ruled by King Dantavakra, is mentioned as Daityavakra in Mahabharata.
Datia Palace (Datia district, Madhya Pradesh) also known as V/Bir Singh Ju Dev [2] Palace; Govind Mahal; Purana Mahal; Satkhanda (Seven storied) Palace, spread over seven stories (two of which are underground), is 30 km from Jhansi and 75 km from Gwalior, close to the Gwalior - Jhansi Road. The Palace built on a hillock, can be seen from a distance, from both the road and the railway, between Gwalior and Jhansi. [3]
The Palace made of stone (largely red/pink sandstone, mined around Dholpur and Bharatpur, Rajasthan) and bricks, sans wood or iron, a large and famous monument of Bundela art and architecture, was built by the founder of Datia State in Bundelkhand, Bundela (a Rajput clan) Raja Vir Singh Ju Dev. The old town, where the Palace is located is surrounded by a stone wall, traces of which can been seen, as one goes up to the Palace.
Stories and records suggest that Jehangir made Vir Singh Ju Dev, the ruler of Datia, acknowledging the friendship and support received as young prince Salim, in the power struggle with emperor Akbar, his father.
The story goes that Vir Singh Ju Dev, built the Palace to welcome Mughal Emperor, Jehangir, a weak proposition when analysed in the light of facts and/or other evidence. The palace was completed in nine years, too long a period to plan a welcome for any ruler, even if there was provisioning for anticipated delays/ time over runs. [4] There is another story that after construction of the Palace, Vir Singh Ju Dev extended an invitation to the emperor, who declined it.
Datia Palace is stated to have never been occupied by the Bundela rulers or their guests. However, on a visit to the Palace in 1986, the author was informed and also saw signs (walls and windows blackened because of cooking with firewood), that refugees occupied the same as home/residence after 1947.
Pic Dat-02 Grand entrance (facing east), Satkanda Palace, Datia
Pic Dat-03 Upper stories of Grand entrance, Satkanda Palace, Datia
There are at least three Palaces in the region built for (or named) Jehangir [5] (Datia, Gwalior and Orchha, arranged alphabetically), none of which was ever used by Jehangir, suggesting that building/activity in the name of the Delhi/central ruler, seemed to lend strength to local rulers, and possibly raise taxes/levies. These large (unnecessary, unviable, and environment harming) buildings (as in current times also) used public resources, which would sooner or later fall into dis-use and dis-repair.
The main entrance/gate (facing east [6]) is imposing and has elephants, kings riding horses, etc., engraved on the arch, with Ganesha at the centre. The elevation of the Grand entrance (and also other parts) has balconies, open and lattice jharokas (windows) on the upper stories, with paintings on walls and pavilions; and sculpture on stones. The grand entrance (possibly the only one, except a possible surang or tunnel), has a wide exterior wall and a strong door.
Pic Dat-04 Wooden entrance door, Satkanda Palace, Datia
The monument respects precision geometry (straight line, squares, rectangles), symmetry, Vaastu and other sciences and is built as a square, with towers at each corner. Each story (floor) as also parts/divisions of stories - are also built as squares.
While the exteriors of the Palace are adorned with arches, balconies, open and lattice jharokas (windows), pavilions, small chhatris, stone lattice work; the interiors are beautified with Bundela frescos with natural/organic colours (made fruits and vegetables), as in LaxminarayanTemple and Raja Mahal in Orchha. [7]
Pic Dat-05 Some rooms, Satkanda Palace, Datia
The Palace has around 440 rooms most of which are well lit, balconies, courtyards, pavilions, terraces, walkways (open and closed), with ornate sculpting and paintings, some of which despite extensive damage have survived for 400 years.
Pic Dat-06 Inside view of floors, Satkanda Palace, Datia
A view of inside elevation/floors as also the Palace, displays ornate arch doors made of brick and plastered; sun-shades or run-off to protect from strong sunshine and possible damage due to rain; balconies, courtyards, pavilions, terraces, walkways, in open air with low side railing; all built in trabeate architecture style [1]. Ornate brackets support the balconies, like a protruding beam.
Pic Dat-07 View of Chhatris, Sun-shades, Balconies, Satkanda Palace, Datia
A large part of the Satkanda Mahal built from stones, assumes the scientific understanding of features/characteristics of the stone, like consistent density, strength, and similar attributes, that are measured by sophisticated sonographic instruments today.
As one moves from the lower to the upper floors and from outside to inside the Palace, elements of art and architecture with aesthetic display become finer and get enhanced. The Palace has several small and ornamental chhatris with ribbed domes, and ceilings of chambers finely carved. (Pic Dat-01 & 07)
Pic Dat-08 Jharokas/Lattice windows, Satkanda Palace, Datia
Pic Dat-09 View of the lake from a Jharoka/Lattice window, Satkanda Palace, Datia
Stone lattice work, made from a single red/pink sandstone in different designs on the balconies and Jharokas (windows), can be seen in the upper storeys. Some of the ceiling designs have flowers, petals, symmetrical geometrical shapes.
Pic Dat-10 View of Datia town from a Jharoka/Lattice window, Satkanda Palace, Datia
Pic Dat-11 View of inner Mahal and blue tiles on the right, Satkanda Palace, Datia
The upper portions of the Palace offer a visual treat of blue tiles.
Pic Dat-12 Zoom-in of the blue tiles, Satkanda Palace, Datia
The upper residential spaces are separated by bridge corridors (Pic Dat-01 and Pic Dat-11), in the shape of चौपड़ (chaupad), a game of dice, played in India.
There is a Queen’s Palace spread over four stories/floors, as a Palace within a Palace. (Pic Dat-01 Pic Dat-13 and Pic Dat-14). [1]
Pic Dat-13 Queen’s Palace, a Palace within a Palace, Satkanda Palace, Datia
The southern face overlooks a large lake, and a reflection of the Palace, only at a favourable time of the day, is a photographers delight. [2] This pattern is replicated in the region and other Bundela buildings, and needs to emulated by modern architects/ builders.
Pic Dat-14 Closer view of Queen’s Palace, Satkanda Palace, Datia
Rulers of Datia and few surrounding states were politically astute and maintained good relations with the rulers in Delhi/centre, including Jehangir. Shah Jahan visited Datia, on 19 November 1635, according to historian Abdul Hamid.
In 1818, Datia welcomed the British Governor-General Hastings and in 1902, Viceroy Curzon. The Satkanda Palace is stated to have inspired Sir Edwin Lutyens, in designing the Raisina hill buildings of Rashtrapati Bhawan, North and South Blocks in New Delhi.
Pic Dat-15 Southern side of Grand entrance of Satkanda Palace, Datia
Pic Dat-16 Northern side of Grand entrance of Satkanda Palace, Datia
Pic Dat 17 View of the city from Satkanda Palace, Datia
The entrances, courtyards, windows all give grand views of Datia and the surroundings of hillocks, plains.
Sadly, Datia Palace is one of the unexplored Palaces in India. This author visited it in 1986 with a follow up visit in 2021, delayed by an year due to the Covid crisis.
It has also been stated that the Palace is not on the popular tourist circuit, alongwith others in the region, which may be symptomatic of the underdevelopment of the region. While the same maybe partly true, there is a string of forts (Narwar, Karera, Jhansi, Orchha and Chanderi, Pic Dat-18) and dams/waterbodies (Harsi dam, Madikheda dam, Samoha reservoir, Betwa with a number of dams- Matatila, Pic Dat-19), in the area, for the adventure seeker.
Pic Dat 18 Narwar, Karera, Datia, Jhansi and Orchha Forts
Pic Dat 19 Harsi dam, Madikheda dam, Samoha reservoir, Betwa with Matatila/other dams
Datia Palace is not well-maintained and is in dire need of attention. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) the agency responsible for looking after Datia Palace, spares no effort to display it’s indifference. Apart from the customary stone/ marble block giving scanty detail, information on the website is incorrect. Visitors can also contribute by avoiding Graffiti and other damage. This aspect can be seen in a separate post
Pic Dat 20 Customary ASI Stone, Satkanda Palace, Datia
Pic Dat 21 Avoidable Graffiti, Satkanda Palace, Datia
[1] Author has in posts on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site), twitter (https://twitter.com/rohitkparmar?s=09), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rohit.parmar.5268750/), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-kumar-parmar-841b4724) been writing on diverse topics including historical sites and can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[2] The alphabet V and B are interchangeably used. Use of B is prevalent in eastern India. Similarly, the word Dev and Deo are also interchangeably used. [3] However, access to the palace, as suggested by online maps/routes; and through the narrow road by a car; is very congested/difficult. [4] May not have been a concept so worded then.
[5] Mirza Nur-ud-din Beig Mohammad Khan Salim, Mughal emperor 1605-1627. [6] An important element of Vaastu. [7] Laxminarayan Temple (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.5391688977621157&type=3 https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site/post/paradise-of-murals-rediscovered-laxmi-temple-part-i-rohitkumar-parmar ) and Raja Mahal were also built by the Bundela rulers. [8] Trabeate (from Latin Trabs meaning beam) style of architecture has horizontal and vertical beams to create roofs, doorways, and windows. [9] The queens palace was closed due to repair work, when this author visited the Palace.
[10] The time of visit of this author was noon, and so was not lucky to snap the reflection of the Palace in the lake. A second visit on 22.10.2022, also did not help to capture a picture of the image.
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