Client: Department of Culture, Government of Punjab, Chandigarh, Punjab, India
July 2010 – December 2010
A DRONAH-Eka consortium was commissioned by the Government of Punjab (the district of Patiala is in Punjab) to create a project proposal for revamping the Sheesh Mahal Palace Museum and the fabled Durbar Hall at the Qila Mubarak fort complex.
The Durbar hall, just outside the main fort complex in Patiala was traditionally used for large ceremonial court gatherings and currently holds an extensive collection of chandeliers, arms and weaponry.
The Sheesh Mahal or ‘Palace of mirrors’ was built in 1845 within the extensive gardens of the old Moti Bagh Palace. The museum holds a fine collection of artifacts that vary from costumes and jewellery to paintings, manuscripts, coins, furniture, photographs, crystal, weaponry etc. The museum also holds a significant collection of more than 3,000 medals from across the world, the largest such collection worldwide.
Our role
As part of the Government of Punjab’s revamp of State museums, we reimagined the storyline and displays, and detailed the content for the Museum and Durbar Hall, and provided guidance on collections management.