Metamorphosis of Distinct Architectural Styles in Begum's Era of Bhopal A Case of Ahmedabad Palace, Bhopal

Technology advancements ,middle-class growth, and cultural dominance around the turn of the 20th century gave India its first taste of modernity. 1 Between roughly the 1900s and 1930s, when colonial displays in the Indies were in full swing, hybrid architecture was created that combined European and indigenous architectural styles to demonstrate how two very different civilizations could coexist together. Modern thought views globalization as the blending of various world cultures, which is the concept of hybridization. Bhopal has a unique place in India's sociocultural and political history being the only princely state with four generations of successive female monarchs (Begums). The aim of this paper is to understand and identify the Hybrid Architectural styles that are blended in Heritage structures built during early 1900’s by Begums of Bhopal creating a historically significant style in that era. The paper discusses the relationship between the indigenous architecture style introduced by Qudsia Begum (Bhopal's first female monarch) and the transition of styles adopted by begums over time, leaving a significant impact in the living heritage city of Bhopal. Ahmedabad Palace also known as Qasr-e-Sultani (built as a Residential Garden palace) was chosen for its unique stylistic combination of British Colonial, Italian Renaissance, and Classical Greek architecture, built for the last begum Sultan Jahan following the tradition of the Nawabs of Bhopal which signifies its importance. The objective of this paper is to identify the composite styles of architecture and influences that have evolved as well as the culture and beliefs that have impacted in the city of Bhopal. And also, to assess the interlinkage and interdependency of the various influences blended in elements of building components of the Ahmedabad Complex