Back to an Old Era: Rediscovering Chhattar Manzil’s Nawabi roots
- Arijit Bose
- May 26, 2019
- 3 min read
Chhattar Manzil
Excavations at Chhattar Manzil have been a treasure hunt of sorts in Lucknow, which gives historians and scholars a chance to unlearn and relearn Awadhi history.
In modern times, Chhattar Manzil has turned out to be a treasure trove of historical findings and artefacts that has fast turned into an interesting excavation process.
In the last most significant finds in the city’s iconic structure, the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam has found a tunnel shaped structure that reportedly connects the palace to the Gomti river.
Labourers stumbled upon the structure and found it to be made of ‘lakhauri’ bricks
The Chhattar Manzil has been witness to several discoveries of such structures over the past few years.
Earlier two tunnels from Gomti to the building and Kothi Farhatbaksh were dugup in November 2018.
These waterways and tunnels as per experts have proven that the Nawabs used water routes to travel to palace and back..
Finding of staircases to the water in the tunnel has given excavationists and researchers several leads.
An idol of lord Krishna had a direct connect with Nawab Wajid Ali Shah as he was a staunch follower of lord Krishna and actively participated in ‘raas leelas’.
Not so long ago, a gondola was unearthed at the Chhattar Manzil, the workers who were part of the discovery said that they will not rule out a possibility of it being a royal boat.
The gondola is 42-feet-long and 11-feet-wide and flat-bottomed boat.
Excavations in the 220 year old structure have been on at the site from as early as 2017.
It all started with the discovery of a 15 sq ft room buried beneath a structure that is comprised of a seraglio that was used by the begums. As things progressed the excavators also found a complete storey lying buried.
Among the other noted finds are pillars, wall brackets, doors and windows something that has attracted the interest of historians and scholars alike.
Waterways leading to the structure have created renewed interest.
In the meantime, the UP State Archaeological Department will be establishing a museum to house artefacts unearthed at archaeological sites across UP.
Reports say that the museum will house furnaces, arrow heads and cultural components before the common era ( 1800 and 1000) found during excavation.
A report in a prominent newspaper reads – “Stone and bone artifacts, terracotta beads and other important cultural components too will be placed in the museum, said officials.”
A highly professional team comprising of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), State Archaeology Department and officials of the civil engineering department, IIT BHU are undertaking the task.
The Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam has also found a brick plaque with Major General Claude Martin’s name on it at Kothi Farhatbaksh.
It is also reported that the iconic structure at the state capital of UP will be getting its 1862 look when restoration at the monument is complete.
Built in the nineteenth century, Nawab Sadat Ali Khan paid an ode to the memory of mother Chattar Kunwar.
An exquisite piece of architecture it was completed by Nasiruddin Haider.
The begums spent summertime here because of its cool ambience.
The Britishers took over when the Sepoy Mutiny happened.
By 1950, it was handed over to CSIR who gave it to CDRI later.
As per the ASI, they delisted 11 Nawabi era marvels, including the Lal Baradari, Chhattar Manzil, Kothi Farhat Baksh among others.
They had been given a protected monuments status in 1920s.
In a city that is steeped with history and tradition, the findings at Chhattar Manzil are being closely watched for some new insights into how the Nawabs of Oudh lived and operated. It also gives writers and academicians to brush up their understanding of the Nawabi culture as we know it.
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