Photo Story- Zaverilal Mehta

Both Wadhwan city and Surendranagar are old towns in opposite directions. Wadhwan is a historical city where Ranak Devi was sati on the banks of Bhogava. Wadhwan also had a throne in the time of the British. In a number of states like Morbi, Rajkot, Dhrangadhra, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Gondal, etc., the thrones of Raja Maharajas were burning. After India became independent, Sardar Patel annexed the princely states by erasing pencil letters on a piece of paper. Today, after all these years, the people were happy in the kingdom of the kings.

We have to talk about Wadhwani, whose chilli is popular all over Gujarat in winter as "Wadhwani Chili". Today, the historic palace, which is full of 18 years of art and splendor, eats the dust without any hesitation. The name of this palace is 'Hawa Mahal' which has remained unfinished. Thakor Saheb, who made it, passed away. Completing that palace is considered ominous. So to this day, this air palace has remained air-eating.

Thakor Saheb Balsinhji of Wadhwan was born in Born in 181 and ascended the throne in 19. He had a dream to build a wonderful palace on the shores of Dharam Lake in Wadhwan. During his reign the construction of the palace began and over time it remained unfinished. Called sculptors from Italy for special artwork. Italian artists have created beautiful carvings of gold carved in gold ornaments under a window of the palace. Which is still to be seen.

Famous sculptors from Rome, Italy were invited at high prices. But this dream of Thakor Balsinhji, who rarely studied in college and traveled abroad, remained unfulfilled after his death. After 19 Jashwant Singhji and Joravar Singhji came to the throne. When all these were native states the thieves did not dare to burglarize the houses of the people. No one had the power to remove the stones for masonry. There are no guards or police here.

Then where is the point of cleaning? The first floor of the palace was wonderfully decorated with carvings. To make the second floor on the first floor, iron girders and wooden beams were placed on the wall which have been stolen today. There are only walls left. Handwritten slogans of lovers on the walls. But the steps leading up to Hawa Mahal have been broken by thieves. Independence came in 19. If this air palace could be looted without a master for 15 years, then it became like a robbery and the thieves took away all the precious stones, sculptures and carved windows from inside.

Years have passed since this air palace. When a Bhudev living in Wadhwan came to know that no one owned it anymore, he set up Mahakali Mataji inside. But the establishment was erased as there was no one to go upstairs and pay homage. This Hawa Mahal, located very close to the Mamlatdar's office in Wadhwan, is 15 years old.