Page:The tourist's guide to Lucknow.djvu/178

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
( 149 )

General Martin. This was the last position held, in force, by the rebels of the city, and was captured by General Outram on the 19th March, 1858. The place is now in ruins.

Within the garden is the tomb of Captain T. Wale, who commanded the 1st Sikh Irregular Cavalry, killed in action on 21st March, 1858, when in pursuit of the flying enemy.

32.—BADSHAH BAGH.

The road over Bruce's Brigde, east of the Chutter Munzil, leads into the Badshah Bagh, which was a Royal Garden laid out by King Nasir-ud-din Haidar. In the centre of this walled enclosure is a substantial stone edifice having an open arcaded hall, well adapted for festive gatherings (such as picnics, &c.), allowed to be held here by the kind permission of His Highness, the Maharaja of Kapurthala, to whom the property now belongs. On the left of the garden, and within the enclosure, is a large building which was sacred to the ladies of the King's harem; and it is here that Kunwar Harnam Singh, Ahluwalia, C.I.E., Manager of the Kapurthala Estates in Oudh, and President and Secretary, British Indian Association, resides during his visits to Lucknow. The garden now partakes more of the nature of an orchard, but it is not altogether destitute of flowers.

The annual distributions oi prizes to children of the Sunday Schools are generally held here during Christmas week. On such occasions the garden presents a very animated scene. The prizes are generally distributed towards the close of the day's entertainment, which consists of outdoor games by the children, for whom refreshments are abundantly provided. This garden was captured by General Outram on the 8th March, 1858.

33.—MOTI MAHAL PALACE.

The Moti Mahal, or Pearl Palace, so called from the fancied resemblance of one of its domes (since destroyed) to the shape of a pearl, is situated on the right bank of the Gumti, a little above the Shah Najaf. It includes three separately named and distinct buildings, now the property of the Maharani of Bulrampur. The Moti Mahal properly so called, was built by Sadat Ali Khan (1798-1814) and forms the northern part of the enclosure, which contains the Mobaruk Munzil and Shah Munzil, or royal halls, built along the river face by Gazi-ud-din Haidar. It was the prettiest building of the kind in Lucknow.

The Shah Munzil was the scene of the celebrated wild beast fights to the smaller animals, and tho combats between