Bhagirath Palace, Delhi

Bhagirath Palace, Delhi

The Bhagirath Palace, now a bustling market, once belonged to the powerful and feared Begum Samru (1753-1836), whose real name was Walter Joseph Reinhardt, a European mercenary known by the nickname "Sombre." Begum Samru rose from being a dancing girl (nauch) to becoming an influential political figure. She aided the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II in various battles and eventually ruled the principality of Sardhana after her husband's passing.

The Palace, also known as the haveli, was constructed in 1808, two years after Akbar Shah II gifted her a portion of the ‘Khas Bagh’. It was one of the earliest buildings to adopt a neo-classical European style, featuring beautiful Greek pillars. During Begum Samru's lifetime, the Palace hosted extravagant parties attended by both Mughals and British dignitaries. However, with her death in 1836, the Palace began to lose its grandeur.

In 1847, Begum Samru's adopted son sold the Palace, and it was subsequently converted into the 'Delhi Bank.' Unfortunately, during the Mutiny, the Palace suffered severe damage, resulting in the death of the English Manager George Beresford and his family. In the aftermath of the Mutiny, the Palace was leased out to other banks, including Lloyd's Bank Ltd. However, it was only in 1940 that the Palace acquired its new name, Bhagirath Palace, after being acquired by its new owner, Lala Bhagirath Mal.

Today, the Central Bank occupies a portion of the Palace, while numerous shops cover most of its area. Though the Llyod's Bank board has faded with time, it still whispers tales of the Palace's many transformations.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Delhi. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Bhagirath Palace on Map

Sight Name: Bhagirath Palace
Sight Location: Delhi, India (See walking tours in Delhi)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Delhi, India

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