Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum which is also known as New Palace Museum of Kolhapur is an excellent specimen of late Maratha art and architecture.
Location of Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum
Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum is a historic building on the Bahvani Mandap, Kasaba Bavda Road of Kolhapur in Maharashtra.
Construction of Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum
Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum was constructed during 1877-1884.
Architecture of Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum
Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum is an excellent specimen of architecture built in black, polished stone. It has been an attraction for tourists. Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum has extensive premises with a garden, fountain and wrestling ground. The whole building is eight-angled and has a tower in the middle. The clock of Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum on it was fixed in 1877. At separate distances there are small towers. On every glass are painted the events in life of Maratha Emperor Shivaji. There is a zoo and a ground lake. The principal south facade of Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum presents a double-storied range, with Neo-Mughal lobed arches beneath and temple-like columns and brackets above. This scheme is interrupted by trefoil arches capped with curving cornices and small domes. The same elements cap the octagonal corner towers.
Ground Floor of Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum
The ground floor of Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum accommodates the Shahaji Chhatrapati Museum, given over to memorabilia of the Kolhapur rulers. Several tourists from across the country visit the New Palace each year.
Collections in Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum
Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum is dedicated to a fine collection of possessions of Chhatrapaties of Kolhapur like costumes, weapons, games, jewellery, embroidery and paraphernalia such as silver elephant saddles. A letter from the British Viceroy and Governor General of India is the other memorabilia. There is also one of Aurangzeb`s swords at the Shahaji Chhatrapati Museum. One section has stuffed Tigers, Tiger heads, Wild Dog, Sloth Bear, staring Wild Buffalo, Lion, Black Panther, Wild Boar, Black Buck, a number of other deer varieties, and a Himalayan Black Bear.
Durbar Hall of Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum
The Darbar Hall of Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum occupies a double-height space in the middle of the Palace. The side walls of Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum display lobed arches filled with stained glass illustrating scenes from the life of Shivaji. The carved columns of Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum with temple-like brackets support the cast iron balcony above. A raised throne is placed at one end of the Hall. The photos include one of the Maharaja of Madhya Pradesh with his hundredth dead tiger, elephant hunts and a series detailing how to train a cheetah.
