BHOPAL: A museum of diverse aspects of arts, handicrafts and social life of Nawab-era been developed at ‘Golghar’ monument in the state capital. The museum will be inaugurated by Culture Minister Laxmikant Sharma on Tuesday at 7 pm. Golghar monument is situated near Bab-e-Ali ground, Shahjahanabad, Bhopal.

The round building was constructed near Pari Park in Shahjahanabad locality of Bhopal. It was christened as Gulshan-e-Alam but came to be popularly known as Golghar. The building was constructed during the regime of Nawab Shahjahan Begum (1868-1901). The round-shape building has 12 doors. Its staircase is also in round shape leading to the dome. Its pillars are cylindrical and doors decorated. The dome has been painted with flowers of purple, yellow, orange, red, brown and green colours. There is a round-shape balcony on the upper story, which is covered with tin shade supported by wooden pillars. Originally, the building had also a Persian style park known as Jannat Bagh.

First, the building housed the office of Shahjahan Begum. Later, it was used as a aviary where various kinds of birds were kept. It is said that in the times of Nawab Shahjahan Begum, threads of gold and silver were kept in the aviary from which birds used to knit their nests. The Nawab had presented some of these to Queen Victoria. In Nawab-era band was played daily in the evening here for amusement.

After taking reins of Bhopal State on November 16, 1868, Shahjahan Begum had built a number of buildings including City Hospital, Taj Mahal, Noor Masjid, Noor Mahal, Benazir Palace, Nishat Manzil, Nawab Manzil, Aami Manzil, Taj-ul-Masajid, Jail Khana (prison), Lal Kothi etc.

Later, royal descendants used Golghar as their office. In later period, it also became office of the government railway police.

Zari work is most famous in Bhopal. Some specimens of Zari have also been displayed here.

People of Bhopal had been fond of literature. Bhopal boasts of litterateurs like Mulla Ramoozi, Barkatullah, Mashooq Ali Khan Jauhar, Asad Bhopali, Gyanchand Jain, Jaan Nisar Akhtar, Iqbal Majeed etc. Besides, information about Nawab-era Charbaits origin and practice has also been provided here. Nawab-era documents like passport, diaries and correspondence of Nawab Hameedullah Khan have also been displayed apart from Nawab-era utensils, weights, Paandan, trays etc.

Glimpses of Nawab-era art, culture and social life have been depicted at Golghar Museum. Objective of the museum is to apprise residents of Bhopal of their heritage. The Museum will remain open for general public from 10 am to 5 pm.