Mahal's of Islamnagar

Islamnagar is a village known for the palace of Bhopal's Afghan rulers built by Dost Mohammed Khan. Gardens surround the palace and the pavilion. It is near Bhopal on Berasia Road. Formal gardens surround the palace and pavilion. Most important of the monuments at Islam nagar include Chaman Mahal, Rani Mahal and Gond Mahal. The palaces here depict an amalgamation of the Rajput, Mughal and Malwa styles of architecture

CHAMAN MAHAL

Sardar Dost Mohammad Khan built this palace in 1715 A.D. He was an Afghan soldier of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and was the founder of Bhopal State. This palace is surrounded by an enclosure wall and has two entrances. A Sheesh Mahal with twelve doors is situated near the entrance. A Charbagh pattern garden in Mughal style is situated in the centre of this palace. Facing the garden is a red sandstone platform having a stone latticed screen around it. Arches decorated with floral motifs, pillared baradari, as well as rooms with open courtyard can be seen in front of it. Dost Mohammed Khan is said to have conducted his official business in the baradari. To the north a hammam is built in Mughal style. There is one dressing room in it. The main room can be approached through galleries, where water tanks are constructed on three sides. A copper plate is fixed at the base of one water tank beneath which a furnace is constructed for providing hot water. The second floor of the palace is flat roofed, which has two chhatris on either sides. The architecture of this palace is a mixed form of later Mughal, Rajput and Malwa styles. It has been built by using red sand stone, kakaiya bricks and lime. The style of the dome is particularly distinctive of the monuments of early Bhopal Rulers.

RANI MAHAL

This palace was constructed by Dost Mohammad khan in the year 1720 to serve as a residence of his queens. Shades of the Rajput, Mughal and the Malwa styles of architecture are evident here.