6: Bhuj
6.1 Ayna Mahal Museum Complex
Bhuj was within 20km of the fault break, and suffered very severe damage. The palace complex is in the old walled city. It consists of a collection of buildings in a variety of styles, dating from the 18th century. Some of the buildings are of random masonry construction, and have suffered extensive damage and collapse.
Collapse of Queens' Quarters, Bhuj City Palace
Part of the massive perimeter defensive wall to the complex has been damaged; in places, an additional skin of masonry thought to have been added as a repair after the 1819 earthquake has peeled away exposing the earlier wall beneath. The queens' quarters, to the east of the complex, has been devastated, and appears beyond repair. The areas occupied by the relatives to the north, are similarly devastated, and have been evacuated.
a) Overview 
Collapse of City Wall, revealing ancient wall beneath
The inspection concentrated on the eighteenth century building to the east of the complex, which it is considered to contain some unique architecture of great importance. The curator of these buildings, which now function as a museum, Mr P J Jethi, acted as a very helpful guide and source of information.
These buildings are three storeys, and the 450mm thick walls are in dressed good quality limestone masonry. The important rooms are as follows.
6.1.1 Fuvara Mahal (Hall of Fountains)
a) Description
The Fuvara Mahal or music room was used to perform Vraj Haveli Sangeet. The Lakhapatji Maharao (1752 -l761) made this hall in 1752.
The room is at first floor level, and is 15m square on plan. The central area of the room (figure 14a) is approximately 12m square; it originally contained pools and fountains, and constituted the living area. A 2.4m wide open walkway (figure 14b) extends around the periphery of the room; the walkway is bounded externally by 450mm thick masonry walls and internally by a square grid of timber columns supporting the roof trusses, which span in two directions. The perimeter masonry walls rise about 3m above floor level, where they terminate, and are capped by a 2.4m wide roof slab above the walkway.
a) central living area
b) Internal view
Figure 14 - Fuvara Mahal, Bhuj - interior
Figure 15 - Fuvara Mahal, Bhuj - roof truss and clerestory
The combination of the evaporative cooling effect of the pools and fountains, and the natural convection currents set up by the tall roof and clerestory was climatically designed to suit the hot summer months. These attractive and unusual features indicate that a high degree of importance should be placed on preserving the Fuvara Mahal.
b) Present condition
Part of the north east corner of the perimeter walls, about 2m wide, have collapsed. The central three pairs of timber columns on the north side are tilted outwards (ie north) by about 5% to 7.5% (figure 14b), pushing the flat roof strip on this side about l50mm across the top of the external wall, which is also sloping outwards, but only by about 3%. The opposite wall is leaning by about the same amount in the same direction. The timber columns on all four corners of the grid are vertical; the other columns have a variety of tilts up to 2%, but usually much less. There is no evidence of structural distress in the timber columns; one member of the roof truss is bowed and slightly split at one point, but generally there is no other sign of structural distress or of material deterioration in the timber. The central roof slab has sagged very significantly, probably between trusses.
6.1.2 Ayna Mahal (Hall of Mirrors) and Hira Mahal (Diamond Chamber)
These are situated on the first floor adjacent to the south side of the Fuvara Mahal; the Hira Mahal lies within the Ayna Mahal. They are both representative of exquisite craftsmanship adorning the traditional interior space, which was designed to create a climatically comfortable environment in a hot desert climate. The mirrors (pieces of mica) fixed on intricate patterns integrated with the structure increased the luminosity of the surfaces enhancing the brilliance of the ambient light which was allowed within the interiors to develop a soothing effect. Such halls of mirrors with jade were important features to display the wealth and prosperity of the princely families. This entire complex needs to be preserved as one of the very few such examples existing as a record of its era.
The structure of this part appears not to be seriously damaged, but is threatened by the collapse of unstable surrounding buildings. During the earthquake, however, many priceless paintings on glass fell from the walls and were irretrievably damaged.
6.1.3 Second floor rooms
The upper floor of the southern part of the Fuvara Mahal comprises the Darbar Hall and an office room, situated directly above the Ayna Mahal & Hira Mahal. This part of the complex is extensively damaged and one of its walls is precariously hanging over the Fuvara Mahal, as mentioned previously. The roof is also very badly damaged, and the hipped end on the west side is already in a dangerous condition.
6.2 Pragmalji Mahal
This is a massive dressed masonry building thought to date from the l870's (figure 16), and is situated next to the older buildings described above. From an external inspection, extensive damage can be seen at the upper levels.
Figure 16 - Pragmalji Mahal, Bhuj
6.3 Chatris (funeral memorials)
Figure 17 shows that some were totally destroyed in the January 2001 earthquake, though interestingly some survived, despite their apparently rather unstable form, consisting of a heavy roof supported by unreinforced and effectively pinned masonry columns.
Figure 17: Chatris, Bhuj
