Draft:Benazir Palace

Benazir Palace is a palace built by Sultan ShahJahan, Begum of Bhopal. It is located beside the Taj-ul-Masajid in Bhopal, India.

History
Built in 1877, the Palace was meant to be a summer rest-house for Bhopal's ruler Shahjahan Begum. Overlooking the Motia Talab, one of the three cascading lakes built around the same time to harvest the run-off water from the neighboring Idgha Hills, Nawab Siddique Hasan Khan talab and Munshi Hussain Khan talab.

The Benazir Palace was used to accommodate royal guests during the Begum's time. Governor General Lord and Lady Minto stayed at this palace in 1909. Mahatma Gandhi gave call to join the freedom movement from the very ground of palace in 1929.

Architecture
Located at Motia Talab, the palace is a perfect blend of European and Mughal architecture. The two gates of the Benazir Palace opened towards the Motia Talab and the courtyard in the middle was decorated with beautiful fountains. The doors to the rooms on either side of the palace's main courtyard were fitted with stained glass imported from Belgium and cast iron pillars imported from England were used in the courtyard.

Beautiful fountains reflect the feel of Mughal art. Nets were installed at window panes to allow the breeze to enter. The fine construction and art itself make it unique. It is an H-shaped building, built with steel columns and carved wooden partition, boasts of extensive carvings on its walls and in its hamam' or the royal bath.