Indore: The state archaeology department has collaborated with Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts (IGNCA) to preserve and restore rare royal paintings, exquisite furniture, and historic interiors at the magnificent Lalbagh Palace, built by the Holkar dynasty in 1886.
The conservation endeavour at the Lalbagh Palace has uncovered numerous architectural marvels within the mansion.A team of 20 expert conservators from IGNCA, an autonomous institute under the Union Ministry of Culture, has commenced the conservation work.
The team is working on the restoration and preservation of antique furniture, rare paintings, intricate carpets, and ornamental gold stuccos adorning the Lalbagh Palace. The state archaeology department has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the IGNCA for a period of three years, with an estimated project cost of approximately Rs 6 crore.
“The conservation work is in progress, and during our conservation efforts, we are meticulously attending to various art forms, including paintings, carpets, antique furniture, and more,” said Astik Bhardwaj, Project Coordinator at IGNCA’s Conservation Division. The expert team is utilising local and originally used resources for the repair and conservation of the palace’s interiors, ensuring authenticity and adherence to historical techniques.
“Our scope of work encompasses the meticulous conservation of various elements, including stucco, antique furniture, rare paintings, and metal lamps, among several other historic interiors,” said Bhardwaj. The state archaeology department has also undertaken seepage and roof taping work at the palace, which stands as one of the prominent tourist attractions in Indore.
According to the state archaeology department, an estimated Rs 9.5 crore was allocated in 2020 for the repair and maintenance of the Lalbagh Palace.
“We have initiated the restoration and conservation work at the Lalbagh Palace. We are reviving decades-old rare paintings, carpets, and other precious items within the Palace. We have engaged IGNCA for certain aspects of the work, which is currently underway,” said Urmila Shukla, commissioner of archaeology, Madhya Pradesh.
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