3: Ranjit Vilas Palace, Wankaner
Wankaner is situated about 95km south of the fault. The main part of the town is on a plain extending north to the Gulf of Katchchh. Rocky hills outcrop to a height of several hundred metres on the southern boundary of the town. Damage levels due to the earthquake in the town appeared to be generally minimal, and this was confirmed by reports. A settlement of traditional buildings apparently of the type that was almost totally destroyed in and around Bhuj appeared undamaged (figure 7).
Figure 7 - Wankaner - undamaged random rubble buildings
The palace is situated on top of a ridge on the rock to the south of the town (figure 8). The main building is a rectangular block of 2 to 3 storeys, with a central hall, circular corner turrets becoming octagonal and a square central tower on the north façade about 40m high. It is built from dressed masonry blocks, in basalt for the foundations and in local yellow and red sandstone for the superstructure. Floor construction is of timber and metal joists, carrying cast in situ mortar floors. Storey heights are around 6m. The building was completed in 1913, with some additions made 10 years later. The quality of construction is high, with the horizontal joints in the masonry very thin.
Figure 8 - Ranjit Vilas, Wankaner
The main damage is at the roof terrace level. The corner turrets are both very severely damaged (figure 9) and the eastern baradari (single storey penthouse) has collapsed completely. Many of the balustrades of the terrace have collapsed.
Figure 9: Ranjit Vilas, Wankaner - eastern corner turret
The central tower (figure 10) is square in plan. The walls are approximately 900mm thick, reducing above the third floor level, which reduces the mass and weight toward the top. The corner stones appear well keyed together, and the basic structure has not distorted or cracked significantly. At least two of the corners at different levels are braced with a short diagonal steel joist member.The dome on top of the central tower has collapsed, along with part of the clock and some stone work items, destroying two upper floors in the tower, and the steel trussed roof to the hall behind the tower on the upper level.
Figure 10: Ranjit Vilas, Wankaner - central tower
The damage to the palace appears much greater than would be expected from that experienced in the town on the alluvial plain below. It is interesting to speculate whether the position of the palace at the top of a steep, rocky ridge gave rise to amplified seismic motions, or whether the ground motions were of a particularly long period. It appears that some mosques in the centre of the town were also damaged, but these were not inspected.
