The Purana Mahal in Deeg is located south to the Rup Sagar, near the Bhawan complex. It was built by the Jat ruler Badan Singh and is noted for its stately exterior. Although it is less refined in quality but in terms of architecture it is superior to the Bhawans. The décor of the palace is influenced by the Rajput school of architecture.
Purana Mahal is planned as a large rectangle, with an interior collected of two separate courts engirded on all sides by ranges of compartments, vestibules and chambers. Normally it is two floored but at certain places it is raised upto three storeyes to emphasise the structural effect. From the standpoint of external grace, favorable location of its chhatris with curved roof is really outstanding. The arches used here are both of engrailed and pointed types.
The obliterated wall paintings inside the gate leading from the eastern court to the inner one are significant. The paintings consist of popular decorative designs on the ceiling and scenes depicting episodes mainly from the life of Krishna. There are also pictures of few Brahmanical deities, besides elephants and horses. The painted figures have a constrained and simple colour format, bold outlines and angular manipulation tending to roundness in the shape of flowing attire.
The features of Purana Mahal are massive, less systematic, and less attractive in interior adornment and the decor of brackets and pillars are relatively simpler in contrast to the Bhawans. This proves Badan Singh"s inclination towards the Rajput style of architecture.
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